Letter #48 to son Alex in Australia
Renton, Aug't 17th.1860
My Dear Son,
I have received
yours of the 6th.June and William's also. I will look after a portrait of Queen
Mary and a trusty private hand may turn up. Your five pounds will be little the
worse of that. It came unexpectedly and it was all the more pleasant. I did not
take a spell. I am now better but the pain in the side is not quite removed.
I spend a good
deal of my spare time in walking about, I keep on good terms with my shop mates
and everybody. I go to Mr. Max well's shop now & then. I keep quite
cheerful. I had a visit from D. Paul. He wears well; he is still with Mr. Glen.
Jack Blisby is colour maker at Ferryfield at 30/- per week. He has a wife and
two children. Will Campbell at Busby died some time ago.
William seems
to have his eye on the Snowy River diggings while he writes. I hope Jack and he
have got as much cash as will serve their turn. It will be a long travel. It is
most foolish of the Sydney Government to make provisions &c. dearer at
these diggings by taxing the Murray trade. Provisions, tools will be higher
than many will be able to pay for, though the greatest encouragement were given
to all traders. The diggers will look on themselves as unnecessarily oppressed
and may have a squall with the Government and their officers too.
I suspect that building in Ballarat is falling off
as well as the diggings, and that it would have been foolish to invest, in a
brick house that would soon not be worth half the cost. I hope your spec. in
the Havelock will meet your sanguine expectations.
Block printing
at Kilmarnock, Paisley, Barrhead &.c. is flat, flat, and cutting is in a
similar state. A new fabric to give a new impulse to block printing is
anxiously looked for. It is not expected that the former styles of shawls will
revive. Our summer has been rather wet and few hot days so our crops will be
late and our markets are high. 5d &. 6d for stake, fresh butter 1 /3d. There is no
appearance that this season will bring the markets down.
Mr. Strang, Mr.
Maxwell's son in law died at Ayr. His business has been dispersed of. Marjory
is now a widow with four children. I have not learned what money remains for
her; she is still in Ayr.
I see you
Victorians are preparing for getting the interior of the country explored and
what is more important, getting new crops introduced. Nobody knows what a
producing country Australia may turn out. Even the borders of your deserts may
yet be valuable for there are useful plants for all soils and all climes. It is
a pity of your country that your so taken with the charms of rantin speakers. They
are generally the greatest fools as legislators, ignorant, conceited proud and
selfish. You have not a hundred men, I believe, in your country fitted for
being senators, and half of these have not the time to spare. So I have no
doubt but legislation would have been much better dispensed by the Colonial
Secretary than by the colonial parliament. It is men of good education that
know when to abandon the perfect measure for the practicable and can discern
what is, and what is not, for the welfare of the country. In no occupation is a
knowledge of the past history of every country so indispensible, so valuable,
as in legislation. A clear and sound judgement, an honest, and generous mind
are not easily found.
Bob Meikle,
cutter, that disappeared has turned up. He had enlisted as a soldier and was
sent to East Indies; he has written to his friends.
! hope Jack
& William will be in better spirits next mail, success, a brick house
&c, &.c in view.
Cherishing a warm wish that your prospects may not be blighted,
I remain, your affectionate Father,
Alex'r Dick.
A paper to J>M>Dick, Ballarat.
Names & Notes on Letter
#48
Mr.Maxwell
D. Paul
Mr. Glen
Jack Blisby
Will Campbell
Mr. Strang
Marjory Strang
Bob Meikle
- transcription and
Names/Notes by Ian A Scales, c.1989
Scans of the original letter (click
on the thumbnail below for a larger image; note the order of the
pages p.4-1, then p.2-3):
p.4,1
p.2,3
No comments:
Post a Comment