Letter #9 to son Alex in Australia
Busby 7th.March
1854
My Dear Son,
Though I wrote a few days ago I again take pleasure of writing with Ann
Cairns. I have sent a Black neckerchief and a few
newspapers. Nothing worth noting has occured since my last. War with Russia
seems the longer the more inevitable. It will all be on foreign shores so we
will not feel the direst effects of the hostile armies. Some trades are suffering
from the derangement of our trade with Russia and Turkey.
William has gone to Leven today to visit Mr. Maxwell and look out for
cutting. Printers and cutters will generally have rather a poor summer.
Australians turn their hands to all jobs, but it has not been so lea red at home. I hope you have got a
comfortable job by this time and you by no means regret your visit to the
farthest verge of the earth.
Should we all wend our way to Australia and have the good fortune to
live some little farther portion of our days together we will rejoice over the
adversity that turned you adrift and landed you at the Antipodes, it will
surely be a pleasant day when we meet again. The anticipation gives a pleasant
feeling. John & William behave just as you saw. Jack has contrived to get
some weeks of dancing at last. Peter Robertson is anxious to go out to
Australia and hopes to manage it this year. I hope you contrive to do a little in the literary way and likewise to add to your
stock of education. A little to a little will tell through time.
J. Nimmo. If you have no mosses at hand you will perhaps get some-thing else for him. He is very keen to
have some vegetable class. They will be oddities here. He thinks your letters
are getting eloquent. You must increase your stock of knowledge and someday we may see you editor or something
better.
Cuningham Gray informs me that Mrs. Veitch has had a severe attack of cholera
for about 8 hours, but that she is now getting better and out of danger. A
gentleman that was a humble clerk in a bank in Glasgow a few years, engaged in the Australian trade, made a large sum but is now
bankrupt for £350,000. Trade is falling off and the banks are putting on the
screw. We are seeming to do a fair quantity of spring goods at Busby and your old chums have no claim
to particular remark.
A handsome tombstone has been erected to R. C. Gay in Carmunnock
churchyard by some of his friends. I will go up and see it and let you know
what it says of things past and things to come. May we all get wiser and better
as time wears away.
I remain. Your Affectionate Father, Alex'r Dick
Direction for Annie Cairn’s uncle
William Grant, care of Mr. Brown, Baker, Lonsdale Street Melbourne.
Notes & Names on Letter #9
Ann Cairns
Mr. Maxwell
Peter Robertson
J. Nimmo
Cuningham Gray
Mrs. Veitch
R. C. Gay
- transcription
and Names/Notes by Ian A Scales, c.1989
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