William Moodie – Letter 11 - from Alexandria, Scotland, Jan. 1857

This is the first of Wm's letters to Alex in 1857. I will post more as I get them scanned and edited.
The paper is thinner than previous letters so the writing is harder to read, but most words are still legible when the image is enlarged.

Wm Moodie Letter 11_Jan 1957  - 8 pages 

Jany 28^th, 1857   - North St, Alexandria,  Scotland

Alex has had no significant success in his gold digging ventures in Ballarat. It seems Alex would like Wm to advise his brother William to return to Scotland, but Wm  is hesitant to do so; Jack is asking after ‘his Miss Rankin’ who is still single (- a relative of Wm’s Mary Rankin?).

 Wm recaps past news from Australia - J McIntyre (died); Stevens – poor health

Wm’s father is still in Turkey – Wm & co. are unlikely to go there as unlikely to get an engraving job (need to have friends in high places, are wrong religion). Wm senior dislikes everything about living there except the short hours and good pay.

A few pages of philosophical musings (and avoiding talking about Love) and comments domestic politics & foreign affairs (Britain ‘going into two wars’ – with China & Prussia)

Local news & affairs –

• “old” I. McNeil (? Or McM—l), Millburn cottage,  died about a month ago and was buried in Bonhill churchyard trade still dull; work available only part of the time
• Wm is aiming to become a Teacher of Music theoretical and Practical
• William has also been working on a design for a steamship (?) propeller (design in his last letter), but his father thinks something similar has been tried unsuccessfully before. William snr and another engineer in the Mint (in Turkey) have been trying something ‘in the steamer way’ with success at 25 miles an hour
• The ‘Literary’ society  - still going…
• ‘Monthly Teetotal meetings’  are well-attended, thanks not to the speakers but to the musical entertainment provided with Wm’s help
• The ‘singing party’ is very popular in the Vale (of Leven); it has had 8 engagements, including at Helensburgh; it is to perform at Kinross and possibly at Glasgow for ‘Vale folks’