Letter to friend Alex in Australia, from Busby, Scotland, 16th Jun.
1862
This letter included the letter from May (in the last blog post), as it had been returned)
Busby
June 16/ 62
Dear Alexr
You will be thinking that this very little note will scarcely
repay the trouble of reading but I enclose another within it of still less
pretension and verbosity which I am sure your “gallantry” as well as your taste
will at once admit to be the most valuable of the two, shewing that it is not
altogether the quantity of paper consumed which makes the letter so much as the
real living, breathing regards which are hidden among the foliage and flowers
of speech.
There hangs a tale by this same note (no.2). Mrs Moodie wrote it
at my request. I had so little time when it came near the departure of the
mail, that I felt I could not quite please you, and yet
p.2) I could not think to let it away without an acknowledgement,
at least, of the receipt of your splendid present. for this reason also I
thought it might show more gratitude were married to send a few lines herself.
Well, well this was all done in course and I went away to post it and a paper
with the account of the “Shaws” match, just as I was going away to sight my new
rifle at a range near Partick.
I had forgot my bullets and in the hurry back posted the two
without affixing stamps, so back the letter came from Edinburgh - too late to
send away again. I suppose the paper is long since consigned to the furnace. I
am writing now on the eve of a trip to Edinburgh where a County rifle match
comes off. I can only hope for luck.
p.3) Whether or no, I will send you a paper containing each day’s
shooting. In a week afterwards I go to Wimbledon, so you see I have my work cut
out. I have written to and heard from your father. He is coming to see us
before he sails. I have our photographs ready to send out by him. The two are
in one frame so that we must be looked at as indivisible even in “Morocco”. --
I have had the pleasure, today, of - what you never could guess, I
am certain, - of the introduction to Mrs Peter Robertson. He and she were down
thro’ the field in uniform. Honeymoon, week first, day seventh. Gold laced cap.
White gauze veil, double ringed finger. White lace mantilla.
p.4) White silk waistcoat. “Exhibition” crinoline. I had little
time with them but indicated you as a faithful correspondent, notwithstanding
Peter's inclination to think the contrary. He looks a good deal older for the
ten odd years that have flown since the old hot & cold time when Peter and
I used to speak to you without addressing each other. He is on leave & full
pay 12 pounds per month, has a nice looking English girl for a wife. I don't
envy him at all, and wish him and his all heart happiness. See if you cannot do
something now, for I shall certainly blame your pluck(?).
Mary joins me in sending our warmest regards to you with best
wishes and compts to John and Willie. With apologies for unusual brevity I hope
to hear from you soon. I remain yours as ever,
Wm Moodie
John sends compts to you as well
P.S. I open this to say that yours of 23rd April has arrived for
which I am very thankful. Glad to hear that all is well. WM
Mary's best thanks for her nice letter. She is very proud and
flattered at your friendship.
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 for a larger version; note
the order of the pages p.4-1, then p.2-3):
p.4,1
p.2,3
p.4 extra
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