Letter to friend Alex in Australia, from Busby,
Scotland, 16th Nov 1861
This
letter has been transcribed using Google voice typing (apologies for any
inaccuracies or grammatical oddities). I am also having trouble with the text
formatting in the posts, so apologies if the fonts look odd!
I have
inserted some extra paragraph breaks for ease of reading, and the numbers at
the start of lines show the start of a new page, e.g. p.2).
Scans of the original letter are
included below the text.
The first pages contain greetings to Alexander and extensive
comments on two books William has read by Dickens and Thackeray.
On page 2, William begins his news:
When I wrote last we were just on the eve of a “momentous
struggle” down at Hangingshaw. I don't remember whether or not I gave you all
the particulars of the match. I think I did. The day was rather windy, so like
a cautious Scot I went from the target to the different ranges trying the
effect of it. To this I attributed to the success that afterwards befel. Busby
had very little difficulty in taking home first and second. Otterson (a lapper)
getting second. Busby was daft with excitement you may be sure
and I had to slip through the crowd and make off to prevent a “carry”.
The Glasgow men were much disappointed, more especially as the
they had planned a protest and actually had it read by the Adjutant before us
p.3) all. It ran to the effect that to competitors from the 7th
company (John and I) had waited away from the sham fight at Pollokshaws for the
purpose of practising at the Hangingshaw targets. This was completely false and
was got up (we were told by some of the Glasgow men), by some of our own
company. I gave the excuse for absence that I had to wait to attend to Mr and
Mrs Rankin who happened to call on us just that day. This was fully
satisfactory the Lieu. Col. Dreghorn said, although he said “absence
from the alleged cause would have made no difference”. This was
particularly galling to some of the supporters of the protest.
Before stepping to the front I took the (excusable, I hope)
liberty to pin on the medal I had won at home shortly before and had brought in
my pocket “in case”. The prize is a “Whitworth” by Ingram of Glasgow, a very
good plain substantial weapon. Our own shooting at home has been brought to a
close at least what is called the “first period”. I have had the honour and
luck to be first marksman in the company and so I am entitled to the “rifle and
three stars” on my sleeve.
If you know anything about such things you will have an idea what
kind of figure we will make when I tell you that 61. 60. 56. + 55 are the five
highest. You will see too that I had to work for my honours. The scores stand
thus.
L.C. W. M....(Moodie) from 150 to 300 yds 26 points.
400 to 600 yds. 18. 650 to 900. 17 - 61
Sergeant Donaldson _” __” __” __” __” 32 _”_ __” __” __” _” 16. _”
__” _” 12 - 60
L.C. J. Moodie _” __” __”
__” __” 29 _”_ __” __”
__” _” 16. _” __” _” 11 - 56
Sergt Strang _” __” __” __” __” 29 _”_ __” __” __” _” 13. _” __” _” 15 - 55
We challenged the “Shaws” corps to a match at 200,500 +700 to come
off this month, but we have got back word that they cannot take us in hand
untill the spring. They are not wanting who try to make out that they are
afraid of us, but this is all a mistake. They are in no way short of pluck.
p.4) I wish they were. They have beat all before them, as yet, +
are even yet are taken up with matches. I will let you know how we get on if
ever the match does come off.
There is nothing new scarcely transpiring here in a public way.
Trade is very dull at present. Ever since the “Fair” the field has been off on
Saturdays. Yesterday however, we were on again. Some say it is only for a push
of some order. I am sure I hope it may be permanent, “Married Man”, you know. I
wish the American Concern would either go on or give up. You have no idea what
uneasiness there exists on all sides at the prospect of the winter. The Cotton
Association are pretty confident of better things by next season, but how to
get there is the difficulty. The block work here is just about finished again.
Your father has left, as you will likely know. He seemed to be pretty
comfortable while here, although I know Busby is not what it was to him when
time was young, when bullets, brass cannons, Marryat + total abstinence were
all in all to us.
Mary and I are getting on happily in our new opera. I have written
it, but I assure you it comes very far short of expressing in all its fullness
the depth of the meaning to be inferred. By looking at the surface of a married
life you can do no more than guess the joy contained in the
heart. You must really experience it to know it.
I am near the close of my sheet Alexr and I am afraid I have not
satisfied you. I have no time or I would try to mend it, however I will try to
make a better of it next time I write, I hope when it arrives you will be in a
position to say something positive about that young one with
the hair and eyes and angular hands you know.
Mary sends her regards with me not merely in word but in deed and
truth. Remember me to Jack and Willy. I remain yours sincerely Wm Moodie
p."4a") I forgot to say that I have finished a Glee the other night.
I think myself that it is perhaps passible. Some who have heard it played seem
to think it is pretty good. I don't think I will let Dalgleish see it at all.
You must pardon one offence in connection with it. I wrote the words myself.
I wanted to get music to express the sounds heard coming from a distant Cathedral,
say early on a New Year’s morning. Heard at times loud and solemn, then
plaintive, fitful or wailing, hopeful and prayerful as the case might be.
Trying to guess the words through the music.
I cannot approve of such attempts on the whole, but I
have this to plead that unless I did it myself, no one else would do it at my
request. I said to Mary that a man might compose music from a weakness or an
unhappy fertility in construction, but to begin to write poetry (persistently I
mean) he must be blindly, hopelessly, fatally “crackit”. WM
Scans of the original letter (click on the image below for a larger file):
p.1
p.2
p.3
p.4
p."4a" (script across p.4)
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