I won't transcribe these letters - it is way beyond my limited time and typing skills - but I will publish scans of some of them as I go, with maybe some notes of their contents as they relate to the Dick family and friends. Some are easier to read than others; William's writing is neat but small, and the paper in some of the letters is very thin so the ink writing shows through from the reverse side. However, I'll doctor the images to make them as clear as I can. If you click on the images, they will enlarge.
I'm returning to 1854, when Alex first received the letters from William Moodie (it appears he did not receive the previous ones).
Letter
#1 from Wm Moodie to Alex Dick jnr. in Australia
Jany 24, 1854 Bonhill, Scotland
This letter refers to previous letters sent to and from Alex;
also to Alex’s poor living conditions and unskilled ‘slating’ job at Kyneton, Vict. and to local news in Scotland including the conditions in his family trade of engraving
(for fabric printing?) and the marriage of Alpine McGregor.
Letter #2 from Wm Moodie to Alex Dick jnr.
in Australia
June 10, 1854 Bonhill,
Scotland
William
refers to Alex’s having bettered himself (having given up the ‘roofing and
daubing’ work). He talks about his job - he earns £1.4s per week and will be a
journeyman in August, so no longer planning to go to Australia at present.
People/businesses
he mentions are:
- Sandbank Engraving Company (where he works)
- His father (who sold his share in the company)
- Fenton (put out of the company by his father, may go to Australia to his brother James)
- Other engraving works in Dalmonach and Ferry Field (James Black & co); Busbyfield – business is at a 10-year low, affected by the war with Russia
- Peter Robertson – toying with the idea of going to Australia
- Misses Janet and Isabella Scobie (met in Glasgow; where they work; they send their regards)
- Miss Margaret MacPherson – married John Horner a mechanic from “Thornie” (Thornhill?)
- Miss M. Gray & James Hunter (the drawer) – practically betrothed
- Miss Isabella Wilson married to Norman McLeod, steward in the “Glasgow S.S.” (steamship?)
Letter #3 from Wm Moodie to Alex Dick jnr. in Australia
August 26, 1854
“from Wm Moodie, engraver, Sunnyside
Cottage, Bonhill”
This letter mentions:
- Peter Robertson (thinking of going to Australia);
- Saturday evening meetings “a great source of amusement to ‘young Busby’ – John McCubbin the principal speaker (about making whiskey- a contentious subject with the teetotallers)
- Thos McKay who ‘holds faith with the great edification no doubt’
- John Fenton – has sail’d for Australia
- William’s father – details of the ‘limited duties’ he had to perform in the engraving works, before quitting after disagreements about management; it seems he may have been in partnership with his brother JameS, and that Wm was an apprentice there
- a strike at Dalmonach; managers ended up with a 25% pay cut
- Donald Brown – killed in an accident at the Levenbank (?) Print works… details…
- the war with Russia; ‘Militia Rolls’ being prepared for Scotland
- Alex has mentioned rifle clubs being formed in Australia “for the purpose of defending the country”
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