William Moodie – Letter 27 - from Busby, Scotland, 1860

Wm Moodie Letter 27 – Nov. 29, 1860 – 4 pages

This one was a real challenge to transcribe, as it was written so long ago, in black ink, on very thin paper! I think I've got most of it, though, as by now I'm used to William's handwriting and style, and I am now familiar with most of the names he mentions. I did research some of the terms, though, to check...and I've added a list of names etc. below, along with scans of the original letter.

Busby November 19/60

Dear Alexr

I have just got yours of 24th September I am surprised that you have not heard from me for three months. I think that one of mine must either be lost or missing as I can pretty safely say that I did not allow such long space to elapse between any of my letters. I hope by this time that the mystery has cleared up. I agree with you that nothing makes an easier commencement to one letter than making a running commentary on the one last received and I am glad that you have come to my assistance so opportunely with this one, as I have made up my mind tonight to give you a screed.

I am very glad to hear that your Havelock claim has turned out so far very well. I sincerely hope its further promises may be fulfilled for the nonce. I hope your quartz reef speculation may have begun to show favourably by the time this reaches you and I am glad to see that William is content with smaller games of better chances and sticks to his trade in these dull times. I hope that poor Jack made it safely back to Ballarat to take more care how he chases the rainbow in future. I think, at this distance, that much more is to the made about established fields than in those expensive and, so often, fruitless rushes.

We are much interested at present with the state of affairs in your country and New Zealand and I thank you very much for the papers and Punches. Really were it not for the very patriotic steps taken by the Australian colonists, our govt would have cut a sorry figure for years to come.

You wish that I may be a famous ... on the volunteer

p.2) corps started in Busby to keep pace with the rest of the country. I am much obliged to you for your very flattering…..(?) but you will have learnt by my last “apology” that I had to give up connection with the movement altogether owing to great inflammation of the lungs. I was sorry that I had to end, at that time so abruptly and leave myself just at the worst, after the “manner” of the continued numbers of the Blood and Thunder Family(?) Herald.

I went down to Leven for a few days and then down to Rothesay for about a fortnight after which I became well enough to go to my work again. I am ordered to keep within doors all this winter, so for that time at least my rifle must rest in place. I have given up the Band altogether, and for the present, all my singing engagements. A Mr Matt Dow has agreed to sing for me for three months in the church. John is elected leader in the Musical Association. I think I am quite recovered now I have no cough at all and indeed am much stronger of body then I have felt since I came to Busby but I am determined to take care in every way.

Mary is at present in Thornliebank with her sister (Mrs Houston) so that I have frequent opportunities of seeing her and of remaining closer -that golden band that binds us to each other. I have promised to marry her, about this time next year. Another year yet! you exclaim. Yes. I am sorry at it, but I have been so little able to (lay by??) for a long time that it will take all that time to do the thing decently and well. She has been up here several times with her friends and by herself so that both “houses” are quite aware and quite approve of the case as it stands. I may say with pardonable pride that I am as great a favourite in her house as she is in ours and she is highly esteemed by all.

p.3) I love her myself for everything I know about her and not least for the very high regard which she entertains for you, through photographs and by letters. In my more boyish days I made pretty successful practice in character judging by giving “my man” a reading of “Pickwick”. If he read that Life I could safely trust him and always respected him. I hope that anyone that loves A.D. through his letters loves me and I love her in return.

I was down at “Thornie” last Saturday and so missed a “blow-out” with Dalgleish from the Shaws. He and a friend named Burton sent for Geo and James Thompson and James and I to go to Wilsons to make arrangements for a charity concert in Pollokshaws next month, to which we last year promised to go. Burton is a ……(?) (figuratively) - poet. I had set a song of his to music while at home with the cold two months since. I gave him a hint about his stumbling verses at the time, which I think has sufficed for him, if so, it is dirt cheap as a bargain. Dalgleish was very loud in my praises it seems, however I don't think I am far wrong in thinking him a rather indifferent judge. I can't say I feel drawn to a man who, genius not withstanding, affects the black pipe and the “gill stoup” to so much an extent, with such very trivial pretext for indulging. I am sure I was much better where I was.   –

Geo Thompson is going to work in Higginbotham’s in Glasgow in about a 6 month: He is precentor in a U.P. church in Glasgow. John Nimmo is still where he was. He is very glad to hear that you have not forgot him. David Alexander and Alpine are well too. David wrote to you when I wrote last. John tells me to tell you that in holding up his wean for baptism, David had its heels on to the Minister and altogether cut the most awkward figure. Don't you pity the poor fellow.

p.4) Trade is got very brisk for the season of the year. So much anxiety presents as to the events of the coming spring on the Continent that all speculation is next to dead. So we are kept working principally on stock orders. Yet who would grudge a temporary slackness in trade to deprive the world of the splendid advances she has made within this year on the road to Liberty and Worldwide Fraternity, Hurrah for Garibaldi! God save him for further usefulness.

We have got the field road and the village lighted with lamps now. The appearance of the village is much improved in consequence.

Next thing is a good supply of water which is just as you left it except that the bridge well is filled up, and one dug at Durham Terrace, just opposite your old close. The engineers have been surveying this district recently for the purpose of projecting a Busby Railway. I hope it may find favour in the eyes of the t….(?) and plentiful. Busby to Glasgow in 10 minutes would Would be quite a treat, besides perishing on the top, or sickening in the wet(?)-strawy atmosphere of the tenpenny omnibus - the opposition coaches always being on the top of the next hill but one to that over which you are steaming, when you happen to select that mode of passage - pence, sixpences.

Dear Alexr I am not quite sure if this is an average letter, but you must excuse me at present from saying more. I send a newspaper or two occasionally when anything good happens to occupy their pages. I hope you get them all right. I sent a book of the Review in which you will find the Busby Corps (87th Lanarkshire) at full muster. (W. Field has accepted the captaincy of the 8th Company in the Southern Battalion (Glasgow) A Miller is promoted to be lieutenant and Chars Wakefield appointed….(?).

Now Alex I close with best wishes from all at home and I hope it will find you in good health, as it leaves us, - ever yours William Moodie

Names of people, places etc. mentioned in this letter:

Places in Australia:

Ballarat (Vic.)

Havelock mining claim (see attached article from Ballarat Star - probably the one referred to, as Alex mentions Smythesdale in his journals) -

                                      -Image courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia

Places in Scotland:

Busby

Leven

Rothesay

“Thornie / Thornliebank

Pollokshaws / “the Shaws” (from Wikipedia - Pollokshaws was originally a village predominantly dedicated to weaving in the 17th century)

Wlisons (Hall?) in Busby

Durham Terrace – where well has been dug (in Busby just opposite Alex’s old close)

People:

Alexr Dick (A.D.) – recipient of letter in Australia

Jack (John Dick. Alex’s brother) – in Australia

William (William Dick. Alex’s brother) – in Australia

Matt Dow – singer replacing Wm in church while Wm is unwell

John (William’ brother, John Moodie)

Dalgleish (from the ‘Shaws’)

Burton (friend of Dalgleish)

Geo and James Thompson

James

Mary (Rankin) – William’s fiancée

Mary’s sister, Mrs Houston (Jean)

John Nimmo

David Alexander (had ‘wean’ baptised)

Alpine (McGrigor)

W. Field - has accepted the captaincy of the 8th Company in the Southern Battalion (Glasgow)

A (Alex?) Miller - promoted to be lieutenant (of Busby Rifle Corps?)

Charles Wakefield appointed ….(captain of Busby Rifle Corps?).

(Garibaldi) 

Misc.:

“Punches” – (from Wikipedia - Melbourne Punch (from 1900, simply titled Punch) (2 August 1855 – December 1925) was an Australian illustrated magazine… modelled closely on Punch of London which was founded fifteen years earlier.

Family(?) Herald. (from Wikipedia - The Family Herald: A Domestic Magazine of Useful Information & Amusement (1843–1940) was a weekly story paper launched ... in 1842... initially a ‘penny weekly’)

“Pickwick”. (from Wikipedia - The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club (also known as The Pickwick Papers) - Charles Dickens's first novel)

Review  - of the Volunteers Rifle Corps, including the Busby Corps (87th Lanarkshire)

"The Gill Stoup" ("O weary on the gill stoup"), - ballad - Sanderson (Edinburgh), 1830-1910

'Higginbotham’s' in Glasgow

Scans of the original letter (click on the thumbnail below for a larger image: