Letter to friend
Alex in Australia, from Busby, Scotland, 14th Apr. 1862_6 pages
William
thanks Alexander for his last letter and refers to two picnics undertaken by
Alex “about the New Year time” which were “unsuccessful”, possibly owing to the
scorching heat. It seems that there has been a potential attachment mentioned
by Alex, as Wm writes:
I know one thing is for certain, and that is, that a time
is coming in which you will be required to leave &c and cleave to &c
and that she shall be with thee one &c.
A picnic is a dangerous thing. You cannot go by rail
subject to an “official” eye, not to speak of having to possess yourself - far
less of having repeatedly to prove your possession - of a sordid vulgar ticket.
Neither is a Steamboat the proper thing. It must be either
a delightfully packed car, an oar-boat with a nautical nymph at the tiller, or
- or not at all.
William
continues on page 2-3 with further musings on the possibilities when going on a
picnic “in company with the first person, singular, feminine…”
He
also comments generally on other news and topics such as cricket, politics
etc., thanks Alex’r for the promise of a present for Mrs Moodie (“Victoria in
1862”), and waxes lyrical about the joys of the married state.
On
page 3, William talks about the local economy:
We are beginning now to feel in our trade the effects of
the American war. The engravers’ wages were broken 10 percent about a month ago
and now the field has gone on five days a week for how long no one can tell. I
am much afraid it will be a tough job to recover our old rates again.
p.4) However we must just submit to the pressure of
circumstances in the meantime.
It is rumoured that Mr Galbraith is about to have through
some disagreement with A. M. who, since Hall left, has become unusually
troublesome.
There are still a few alterations going on in the field.
All the old landmarks are being removed, so that I have no doubt you would find
it difficult to recognise it now. The paling runs along the planting(?) hedge
from the “gate shop” to within a stone's throw of the sluice near the head of
the lades(?) and then runs down straight to the burn at Bonnington.
The rifle movement has again commenced with the Spring.
Capt. Miller jun’r presented the thirteen marksman with their badges at a
concert in the “drill hall” (gate shop) the other night. A silver rifle and two
stars. Your servant distinguished by three stars, having made the highest score
at the longest ranges (650 + 900 yards 17rnds the next being 13-) besides the
highest at the combined ranger as I told you before- 150 to 900 - 60 rounds -
61 points-
The other night on coming home from my church practice in
Carmunnock I was surprised by Mary drawing my attention to a long roll, with a
letter accompanying it. This was a beautiful engraving presented by Mr William
Hall as a memento of a very little act of kindness performed to J. Shepherd
when he was in his last illness and which he seemingly had discovered and has
never yet forgot. I was quite at a loss what to say in return. I made a kind of
reply, but was only iIl satisfied with the manner of it.
p.5) I esteem the gift much more for the way it came than
for its value, but even that is considerable. Indeed it is, just as Mr William
feared it would be, so large that it it will only be after a removal into more
commodious apartments that we will be able to hang it up to view.
I was in Glasgow a week or two since and called with one of
Mr Ewing’s books. He was very glad to see me and, after a little chat, told me
he would take it very kind if I would give him a call every time I was in town.
He sent me out one of his compositions, privately printed. I gave him a Waltz
in return which I wrote in Dumbarton for a little cousin of that friend of mine
in Syria - of whom I never hear a word now. Mr Ewing was highly pleased with
it, so he said.
I intend giving him a copy of a Scotch song I think I told
you of once: ‘Jessie Paterson’.-
Thirteen of us were down at Cowglen sighting our rifles on
Saturday for the match, which comes off at the end of this month, with the
“Shaws fellows”.
I shot very badly but our average score was good, so that
we are pretty confident we will not make fools of our friends here, whichever
way the trial goes.
I had a message into the town afterwards and fell in with
your father for a minute only. He is getting on very well for health and
spirits too, but I think he would go out to Australia again if you could give
him encouragement. I only think this, as he did not say it.
P.6) He is out in Busby at times so I made another request
that he would come up and call on us, but he always seems to me to feel a
shyness in coming, maybe it is because I was so long married before I asked
him, but really his apparent shyness made me shy too. I was disappointed at not
seeing him that day he gave up work last, and wrote to him apologizing for what
might appear to him, my indifference. I saw him since then much better and now
I believe he is quite well again.
He had just time to tell me that you had struck a balance
and found the business good. I am proud to hear of it. I, and all her know you
here with whom I have talked on the subject, most sincerely wish you all good
fortune. I hope John and William are still doing a good stroke in their line
and enjoying good health above all. Give them my best wishes.
I must now draw this hurried epistle to a close, hoping
that I have forgot nothing of importance, and may consider it something more
than a “duffer” over which there hangs a doubt. Mary sends her best wishes
along with her regards, and I am happy to subscribe myself, once more, your
sincere friend
William Moodie
P.S. I hope the papers per this mail may reach you as they
contain some interesting news from “tother side” regarding that “cussed war”.
This
letter has been transcribed using Google voice typing (apologies for any
inaccuracies or grammatical oddities).
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 (click on the image below to open a larger
file):
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