Letter
to friend Alex in Australia, from Busby, Scotland, 30th June - 19 July 1861_14 pages
This letter has a section torn out
of the top/ bottom of each page (see scans below). I have attempted to
transcribe from page 5, but there are some gaps (.....) and some words I am
unsure of (indicated by ?). I have added in paragraph breaks for ease of reading.
The first part of the letter
refers to William's friendship with Alexr and response to letters and
newspapers received from Australia. William is pleased that Alex is well and in
good spirits, that he is planning to look for a wife, and that his business is
prosperous. Wm also hopes that Alex’s brothers are doing well.
William has been “so entirely
engrossed this summer (with) rifle drill and practice that everything else even
to reading and writing has been allowed to fall into neglect or disuse”. (p.4)
After commenting on Alex’s news of
the Great Werribee Review, William describes his own news:
p.5) At home, the first ……. which
engages the thoughts of the ……. is that same volunteer movement. I speak of
course of Busby in particular. We had a march one day into the Clincart brae +
met the Glasgow companies of our battalion - turned with them and went down to
Eastwood Park, near Thornliebank (uninvited) and visited Mr Wakefield. It was a
cold night and cold cheer for all, but in a week or two after, he made noble
“amends” by giving the Busby company a fine treat before his house when we were
reviewed and exercised to the satisfaction (professed at any rate) of all
beholders.
After that there was a match got up
between two “shots” from each of the eight companies, on the occasion of
opening our regimental ranges at HangingShaw on Mr Gordon's estate at
Aitkenhead, Lady Isabella firing the first shot. A fine gold mounted cup was
presented to the fourth company, the winners, by some gentleman in town. Robert
Strang of The Peel House and I were the two shots(?) from Busby but we lost, (most unfortunately?).
Great dissatisfaction …. amongst
p.6) all behold(ers at what ?) appeared to be barefaced (cheating?) such as signalling as outers, shots
which got close to the bulls eye, and others that were outers, as bulls eyes.
It turned out afterwards that they
had made the mistakes unknown to themselves, for the very simple reason that
they did not know the one from the other, the targets were so horribly ill
painted and dirty. However, much to my mortification, we lost the cup, as they
would not agree to shoot over again under better arrangements. Strang and I
challenged the fourth in our wrath, from Captain downwards, but they have up
till now, declined to shoot, although repeatedly spoken to on the subject by
our Lieutenant.
Then again a great many marches followed, always headed by our
fine brass band. Practising too was resumed at the targets with renewed
determination. Now we have had two matches amongst ourselves for the purpose of
picking two to represent the company (at?)
a battalion match prepara…. ….losing the Wimbledon represent…. Hall, Lieu. Alex
Miller,
p.7) Sergt Strang, privates ………….
(the foreman joiner’s son) and Jas. …. (Robt (?) Craig’s son) + Lance Cor’s John and W Moodie were the last seven
to stand, so it fell out that our averages (that is John's and mine) were
highest. I had 33 points in 30 rounds equally divided at the three ranges 200,
500 + 600 yds + John 29 points. Bruce had 24, Craig 20, Miller 19, Hall 18,
Strang 17. Then the “battalion match” followed some nights of hard practising
in which John carried the day by a long way, making excellent shooting at 300
yards, 10 points in 5 rnds (?) , his
score being 1.1.2.3.3. Of course this can be beat but it happens very seldom.
We fired 20 rounds each at the ranges 200, 300, 400, and 500 yds. John scored
25, I 18, Corporal Jardine (5 Coy) 15, Cor’l Mitchell (5th Coy) 14. Then
followed two captains or 3 and other commissioned men.
The four highest were to
go at the general expense, as was understood at least, but the captains
demurred to pay the expenses of men whom they had expected to beat. So our own
officers ….. Inglis (?) + Wakefield
have undertaken …… … up at their own expense ……….. Glasgow
p.8) unfortunate(ly?)… …. as best they may. I hear
that …….. of them is withdrawing from the number and that a Capt. Cochrane is
going in his place. Our Lieu. told me a day or two ago that Cochrane offered to
go in one of our places “provided we were not paying our own expenses”, a
meanness which he would not submit to at all. As he said he told Cochrane very
plainly: we are now on the eve of going, this being Sunday and we start on
Tuesday afternoon.
We are making pretty fair practice although it would be altogether
out of the question to expect prizes among so many first-rate shots. However I
hope you will not set it down to vanity when I tell you that we have each of us
beat, here at Busby, the pick of two Glasgow regiments besides our own.
I will
write soon again and give you an account of our journey south and all about the
grand tournament, meantime I warn you not to indulge in any very high
expectations of our success for it takes so very little ……….. a fellow for
firing that before I………….. shot I may see my fate …………. before (?) me.
p.9) We are not very (busy at the ?) works just now owing to ……… war going
on (or should I say “going to go on”) in America. We expect tho’ that after
Wimbledon and Glasgow Fair things will take a turn for the better.
My marriage arrangements are still
being developed. I believe Busby has but newly heard the news. My brother John
is going to act as bridegroom on the occasion. It is fixed for the latter end
of August, but no further, till we see about a house, which is going to prove a
difficulty I fear. You congratulated me so heartily and sincerely in your last
that I can ask for no more. The only injustice you did me was in saying too
much in my favour, +perhaps not the only injustice you did yourself was
believing it.
All our folks are well pleased with
the wife I have chosen, so that is a great comfort. Mary is keeping well and
desires to be remembered in my letter as wishing you well.
At home (here we are?) all
p.10) in good (health?. Your?) father has not got any …. employment yet. I am
afraid he is perhaps waiting on some sort of place which may not readily be
found. We can only hope and wait.
John Nimmo and D Alexander are just
chugging along as usual in the works, and busily engaged with A. McGregor and
some others in attending to the concerns of our new Co-operative store which is
doing well as yet, selling, at much lower prices than the other shops, much
better articles, generally. They sell about £100 worth per week just now -
ready cash, which, considering the population of Busby and the number of other
shops in the trade, is indicative of a good business.
I am going to give your father a
reading of the papers you sent. (He is?)
getting on pretty
p.11) well, but not (much work ??) at all. Indeed the block (printing?) is completely disorganised
as a trade.
I forget whether or not I told you
of the break amongst the engravers here, owing to the introduction of more
pentagraphs. Only three die cutters are kept now; the others, of whom John was
one, were turned over to the copper branches, at the usual wages for that work.
The machine men who were thrown idle got to work at the pentagraphs, so that
although all reduced in wages, they were not thrown idle at a critical time.
Our foreman is at his old job again
and I have lost my “rise”. I saw that I would not be comfortable so, I spoke to
Galbraith repeatedly to reinstall him again. However, had Galbraith went round
the men officially and told them I was to remain the foreman I would have cared
little for anyone's jealousy, but he had not the firmness for that although he
wished …. suffered himself to be drawn ……. in a
p.12) way that ……….. endure,
considering the way … …… I thought I should do my duty. I gave Thomson a devil
of a blowing up for interfering with what was not his business at that time. I
so managed to get let down myself with dignity and without flattering him that
it was because he deserved it that he was put on again.
So ended my first reign
or rather regency. I am not at all covetous of the honor, for, with such an
indecisive mortal as Galbraith, it is not very desirable, but the moral effect
of the reign ((reign again-) regency) has not been lost on the rest and perhaps
not on the masters either.
Now Alexr I have endeavored to bring up my journal
to the present date. I hope its accounts will bear auditing honorably. Where I
have still fallen short, the will I know remains credit for the deed. May it
prove so with both of us, and so save us from sequestration, when we stand
before that Great Court where so many are found bankrupt. With this last wish I
close this hurried and longsome letter (never
….) I am not falling off
...Regards, W Moodie
PS. Robertson ………..
p.13) Dear Alex,
…… (too?) soon for the mail. Jamie Cunningham ... my
letter back so I have opened it to say …. we have got back from Wimbledon
without gaining any prizes except a few pounds at the “pool targets” which help
to defray expenses. The company here led us to expect that they would pay for
us, but at the last minute we found that they would only go the length
of five pounds between us. As we were all dressed for the “bus” + our luggage
away we could not draw back or we would have done it to a certainty.
You will see by the papers that I
managed to do pretty well, although not well enough to win. We never had seen
anything allowed for “windage” here owing to the sheltered nature of the range
so when we first fired there, on the open plain, in a strong wind we were
completely put out. However we profited by the lesson after the first day’s
misfortune. We were only in for the “Queen's prize. We saw a few of the London
sights, of which I will write more in my next, meantime in haste, I remain ever
yours W Moodie
p.14) * The author not (having?) the least intention of being p……….
this passage put in “the fuel of ……”…..k up the measure; but since rereading
having formed the resolution of “doing” something magnificent, one of these
days, in the blank verse line * has thought fit to put brackets about it and
leave it so that prose or blank writers may choose whichever suits them, when
his works become quotable in the literary market, either by the pound or yard.
-----------------
*for which purpose he means to give
up music, rifle shooting, engraving or whatever interferes with the one “grand
design” ---
Scans of the original letter (click
on the image below for a larger version; note
the order of the pages p.4-1, then p.2-3 etc.):
p.4,1
p.2,3
p.8,5
p.6,7
p.12,9
p.10,11
p.13
p.14
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