Letter to friend Alex in Australia, from Busby,
Scotland, 17th Dec. 1861_4 pages
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.
Busby
Decr 17th/61
Dear
Alexr
Immediately
after I posted my last, I received yours of the date September 23rd, with three
papers for which many thanks, the more so that they do contain much that is
both interesting and new. I was very sorry to see that you have just come to
that time, in my correspondence, where the lapse occurred which was so
painfully felt at the time, and yet so sincerely apologized for, on my part,
that I had long accounted myself absolved from the blame, or else forgiven.
I
cannot now recollect the dates of my letters at that time. I think I only
missed three mails, and yet, having heard no word of a mail being lost, it may
have been four, but I hope that, by this time, you have got the hawk in hand
again and the broken end “pieced on” to the new yarn.
I was
so taken up with rifle practice and forecasting for a certain Auspicious Event
that I had the necessity forced on me of leaving alone that which should have
been done, if not first, at least among the foremost; that is to say if kind
remembrances may have any power to call, or claim on, reciprocal attachments. I
was glad to think that you were so well pleased with my Wimbledon “success”.
The pleasure I would naturally have felt in being so firmly upheld by the
unknown “Theta” was considerably dashed by the pecuniary facts of the
case, as they pressed on me then; but now that the crisis is safely passed,
that weight is removed, and I can afford to feel flattered by your kindly
enthusiasm and friendly praise.
You
have heard how I have prospered in this same game since then. Since I last
heard there has been nothing worth recording. A few of the best shots are out
now and again between two o'clock and sundown
p.2)
on Saturday afternoons keeping our hands in and no more.
I told
you of having won the first distinction as “Marksman”, the Silver rifle and
three stars on my sleeve. Owing to something or other we have not got them yet.
Mr Hall has not given the least sign of any intention to resign yet, so there
is a coldness, on this account, thrown over the proceedings of the corps, at
least so far as regards our intimacy with Mr Miller at the drills.
Hall has fallen
considerably in my estimation since he left here. He has shown himself to be
possessed of a very large amount of narrow minded opposition to the gentlemen
who have made us, to all intents and purposes, what we are - who have been most
liberal, if not lavish in support and encouragement of the corps. You see I
have entirely forgotten the treatment which we received in the Wimbledon
concern so far as they were to blame. I am more and more convinced that Hill
was the cause of all that, as he has been the cause of much more general
dissatisfaction since by his exceedingly selfish behaviour between us and our “honourable
members”.
He made a remark in his speech, when returning thanks to the cops for
the handsome present received from them, that night he left Busby. After going
over various matters, he came to lay out some suggestions, for our consideration,
relating to the getting of new uniforms; these he closed somewhat abruptly by
saying that he thought “some of us would not require new uniforms”,
accompanying the sentiment with a laugh. I hear that he is going to Germany
soon to fill a situation. I hope he may for all our sakes.
Trade,
with us, has taken a sudden and somewhat unhealthy start within a week or two.
It looks like a speculation on the faith of Cotton being soon procurable at the
“Southern Ports”. I hope it may
p.3)
not prove of short duration. I was going to say, instead of that last danger,
something about Redpaths, Western Banks, Snowy Rivers and then finish up with
Bulls Runs, but besides being far too “strong” it was going to lead me into a
subject which is not worth our while at least for a mail or so, viz. “America,
Federal + Confederate”. So with this caution to pass on to more homely and more
congenial topics.
We
have had the pleasure and profit of hearing two lectures delivered, in aid of
the Dorcas Society, by the Doctor’s brother Free Church Minister in Aberdour,
Fifeshire. The subjects were a few interesting passages in the histories of the
villages around Busby, Old and New Towns of Mearns, Eastwood, Pollokshaws, Cathcart,
Carmunnock, East Kilbride, Eaglesham and Busby. Necessarily, we got merely the
gleanings from so rich a field, some nevertheless of great interest and moral
beauty- especially those of the “Covenant” days. I cannot go over the twentieth
part of it here, even were it desirable, but I merely mention it to show that,
occasionally, we have even in the “Wilderness” places (I suppose you know the
planting of that name) things of priceless value unfolded to view.
Have
you ever heard of the Ancient British Village which was found on Overlee farm
some 40 or 50 years ago. Above 30 rude huts were uncoverd, and the remains of coal
found lying in the fireplaces in the floor. They were built of slabs and
stones. About 5 feet high and 8 square inside. Nothing of iron or bearing the
least traces of its acquaintance could be discovered. Neither of bronze. A few
querns or stone hand mills such as are known to have been in use before the
Roman Period were all that testified of active life. A very rude urn was also
uncoverd containing a kind of ashes in it conveying in a dead but universal
tongue the story of a Sunbeam and a Moth. The coals are supposed to have
p.4)
been got in the burn at the foot of their gardens Who knows.
Only
one other curiosity will I mention. I speak only as a stranger to the story of
the place would, and as we used to do many and many a time. You remember the
ruin of the little water(?) mill at
the turn of the glen opposite the new mill or rather below it. At what we used
to call the “Mill (?) turns”. Mr Ross
gave a very pathetic sketch of the life and death of an old miller who owned
and worked in that mill about the middle of the Seventeenth century. Parker he
was called. He had been “out with the Covenanters,” took part in the Skirmish
of the Pentlands was one of 100 taken prisoner, and one of a dozen or so
beheaded in Edinburgh. He is mentioned in Dodds’ book on that struggle, a new
work, or nearly so. The mill remained in the family possession until the cotton
mill started about 1790, within a year more or less, and is still remembered by
the old folks as Parker’s mill. I must hurry to a close tho’ as quickly as
decency will permit as it is very late and tomorrow is post day (19th).
Mary
and I are getting on most happily together and enjoying fine health. She sends
her regards with mine and I hope the union will be strength and sweetness. All
our folks are well. Father is not doing anything yet, but is looking out
hopefully. John is to sing at a soiree in the “City Hall” on the evening of
January 2nd. This brings me to the new year which is coming around. Never one
comes but I think on those we spent together. The wet and the dry, the late and
the early. In hopes of seeing it myself I wish you a happy new year and
many many returns. I hope when you answer this that things will have improved
with you. Give John's and my kind regards to Jack and William, and now Alexr
with best wishes for yourself and those you like best, I remain as ever
Your
sincere friend Wm Moodie
Scans of the original letter (click on the image below for a larger file):
p.1
p.2
p.3
p.4
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