Alexr Dick _Letter No. 38 from Alexandria, Scotland, 1859

Letter #38 to sons in Australia        

           

                             Alexandria 9th.March 1859

My Dear Son,

In yours of 12th.Dec'r you mentioned the October mail had arrived and brought no tidings of the 'Agincourt’. I can feel for your disappointment when the Nov'r mail arrived and no tidings.

It created some concern on board the 'Agincourt’ when Nov'r advanced and no appearance of a change of wind to blow us up the channel that we might catch the Marseilles mail. But there was no help for it. We passed almost all the vessels we saw, but she could not come near enough to the wind's eye to get into the channel. And so long a continuance of east wind at the season of the year no one on board had ever seen or heard of.

I am at the table at Daimonach, doing the same sort of work I did there 30 years ago, at about half the price of what was going then and 25 per cent less than what was paid at the time Kibble failed. What makes the matter look worse their is still less paid at most works in England. I have no fear but I will keep myself comfortably, but I could not recommend any of the Australians that have a wife and family to come home to make their bread by block printing.

I hope Jack's hurt was not severe. Sound limbs have done little for him since he saw Port Fairy.

Your half share in the Old Gravel Pits has done some good to all concerened, but I fear it will be drawing to a close now. William's something was unexpected and I feel thankful for the attenion I have received from each of you.

Give Mrs. King my compliments. I hope her young daughter will be long spare; her mother's pride, her father's joy. Great success to Mr.& Mrs. Tweedie; it gives me pleasure to think of them. I hope fortune will smile on them. I hope John Leckie lectures like a Christian and not in the strain of our fanatics.

It is pleasant enough to be invited back to Australia. When I have authentic information that the firm of A, J & W Dick are in want of an old man to wait in their store in their absence I may try the sea again. But I have done quite enough in a speculative way. There is certainly some difference between a Victorian Dec'r and a Scottish one. But I think our Scottish Dec'r had the better of a Victorian June. We have had a mild winter. I have seen no ice since I left Dublin and little snow; a good deal of rainy weather but it had not the Australian chill.

John White, junior, is still in the steam vessel between Panama and Valparasio. His wife gets money regularly; she has no family. John White, senior, is printing in a sewing warehouse at 16/- per week: he means to stick at it.

I heard nothing from Busby since my visit about your friends, so I take it for granted they are in their usual. James McIllop, the gate keeper, and his wife died some twelvemonth ago. The 25 at Kilmarnock failed and paid 1 /6 per pound, the shawl printing shops are busy just now. Colinslie is going again. Block printers are doing little at Busby. Our new machine shop at Daimonach is getting forward. Some of these will begin in a day or two. Each cylinder will have an engine.

The hubbub about war is still kept in the papers. I expect there will be war about the Italian question. Napoleon III seems to frighten Europe in the style of Napoleon I The name and war seem associated in all minds. And so our rulers are preparing a fleet and army lest Napoleon should come over on the sly, freebooter wise at midnight and lift London without waking the sleepers!

So Derby and Ben & co. are to give us a reform bill. I trysted a paper with a copy of it, but I am disappointed. I will try and get one. Their bill does not satisfy reforms. It is not worth the botheration it will cause.

I have got the "Glasgow Banner" for you, a "Commonwealth" also. I paid David Maxwell. He took no interest; he has been very kind. James Moody has a fish shop in Bonhill, He guts and washes cheerfully, but he expects engraving. John Anderson, millwright, that went with us in the 'Euphrates' is still in Warrnambool, doing well and writes to his friends come, come, come. Shipbuilding is still flat, otherwise trade is good.

Auntie, Annie & Sandy are all cheerful. Walter Smith is still inspector for the poor; and a jolly one he is.

I have fallen in with sevral old acquaintances and John Donald, A. Young and some more of Busby hands are in the shop with me. It is grass grounding after machine we do. Two tables are set together and one tea re r does two men and gets 16/- per month. All the tearers are above 13 years of age.

Your accounts of Australian progress are not cheering, but the future of Australia no one can foresee. Other crops may be introduced and succeed and your dry sandy soil may yet be found suitable for some profitable sort of fruit trees &c.

I hope you have got up a step with Chalmers & Co. and that something more suitable than digging will turn up for William & Jack. I bid you goodbye for the present, hoping brotherly love will continue.

I am your affectionate father,

  Alex'r Dick

I have not lost hopes of Arithmetic, but I have not got it to my mind yet.

Names & Notes on Letter #58

'Agincourt’

Port Fairy (??)

Mrs. King &. daughter

Mr.& Mrs. Tweedie

John Leckie

John White, junior

John White, senior

James McIllop & wife

Napoleon

Lord Derby

Ben. Disraeli

David Maxwell

James Moody

John Anderson

'Euphrates'

Mary Russell, Annie & Sandy

Walter Smith

John Donald

A. Young

Chalmers & Co.

 - transcription and Names/Notes by Ian A Scales, c.1989

Extra Note: Alexandria is a town in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. The town is situated on the River Leven, four miles north-west of Dumbarton. – C. P.

Scans of the original letter (click on the thumbnail below for a larger image):

Alexr Dick _Letter No. 37 from Glasgow, Scotland, 1859

Letter #37 to sons in Australia

                        Glasgow, Jan'y 10th. 1859

My Dear Sons,

A good new year to you all. I hope you are all cheerful and buoyant as befits young men!!. And long may prudence, fortitude and truth erect each brow undaunting. I had a letter from John, conveying his kind wishes and affectionate regards. It is well none of you joined the Port Curtis rush. I see it is a dead dead failure.

I see in the papers extracts from the "Argus" of the 15th. Nov. the labour market is sadly overstocked. But your reform bill has passed the assembly and is likely to pass the council and should the Victorians have the judgement to return men of cornmonsense and thorough education to the assembly and not chattering Magpyots a land bill suitable to the wants of the colony and other reforms may be looked for and that will help matters.

The OGP's mending, so may the Nightingale and I hope Jack has ere now seen gold in satisfactory quantities and I hope our friend John King is a light hearted man rejoicing over a good job.

Auntie is in her usual and Annie and Sandy are still employed. We have had fine mild weather since I arrived, I do not remember so fine a new year's day. Barrowfield got very slack. I had the promise of a table at Daimonach. Robert McGougan is fore man there and I expect to begin in a week or two. Daimonach Company are putting up a shop for 12 cylinders. The printing, cutting and engraving were little depressed during the last panic. Some other trades suffered severely. Shipbuilders, engineers, masons have not recovered. McGregor of Todd & McGregor is dead. I saw Jammie Pollock; he has been a good deal idle. He is now employed at Stirling. He thinks William and Jack have lost little by their unfortunate trip. Mr. Wylie is getting into the sere and yellow leaf; he does nothing now for Mr. Harper, a small spec for himself now & then. Joe Docherty got married last week to a Miss Brownlee. He works with James at £2/10/- per week. James is doing well. Tessie Docherty got married to a shopkeeper. They sell findon haddock, dried fish &c. Peter Robertson is an engineer on a Government steamboat; he has a good job.

There is a man in the White Flat company named John Monach. I wish William to let him know I have got a direction for his brother, James. I am informed by a man from America that a letter directed to James Monach of the Printwork at Rahway, New Jersey will find him. Mr. Monach has a printwork there and two machines going and one of his brothers is with him. Mr. McDougall, Crum's manager at Busby, is now landowner in America; his clerking son is ploughman.

I hope you got my former letter as you would be somewhat anxious when no news of the 'Agincourt’ arrived with the Nov'r mail. To all my friends in Geelong, my best wishes and new year compliments. I have sent 3 newspapers. But there is nothing of great importance in the news way. The rumors of war are but idle stories as yet. I hope there is yet Peace and Prosperity and sweet sunshine for all.

I am your affectionate father

         Alex'r Dick

Names & Notes on Letter #57

John (Leckie?)                                                        

John King                                                                

Mary Russell, Annie & Sandy                                 

Robert McGougan  

Mr. Crum  

McGregor, of Todd & McGregor

Jammie Pollock

Mr. Wylie

Mr. Harper

Joe Docherty

Miss Brownlee

James Docherty

Tessie Docherty

Peter Robertson

John Monach

James Monach

Mr. Mc Dougall

- transcription and Names/Notes by Ian A Scales, c.1989

Scans of the original letter (click on the thumbnail below for a larger image; note that pages are not in reading order):

 Page 4, 1

Page 2,3

Alexr Dick _Letter No. 36 from Glasgow, Scotland, 1858

Letter #36 to sons in Australia   

                     

                                                                                                    145 Great Eastern Road, Glasgow
                                                                                                                 10th.Dec'r. 1858

                                                                      Safe & Sound                                   

My Dear Sons,

We got safely into Queenstown on Saturday the 20th.November, 121 days. I and several others left there. I got to Cork, to Dublin, to Belfast and to Glasgow on Thursday the 25th.

We had no severe weather all the way. We sailed from Melbourne with a fine breeze and got clear of land in fine style. But the wind turned right ahead and we were long in getting around Cape Horn. But those that been round before said they had never seen the weather more moderate. No frozen sails and only one slight fall of snow. We had a fine breeze from 40 South, then a few calm days, but we got north in little more than 90 days. But the wind was right out the Channel and we sailed south and north for a month, but could not get east. At last the want of water and provisions made the captain put into the Cove of Cork. We got a small supply of provisions from 2 vessels at sea.

We had about 100 passengers there, 22 in steerage. Experienced hands got their passages under the advertised prices, £18 & 20 for £20 & 25. We had lucky& unlucky diggers, lucky storekeepers and a miscellaneous addition & old lags to boot, the provisions were abundant for 80 or 90 days and though the biscuits were grumbled at, I was better off than in the 'Euphrates' to the last, so I felt somewhat contented. On the second day of our voyage an under-steward was dragged overboard by a bucket of water he was drawing. One passenger died; he was sick when he came on board. And a passenger had his shoulder dislocated. A heavy sea came over the ship and dashed him against the bulwarks. I see the 'Agincout’ has got safely to London, I met with no accident and kept in good health and notwithstanding prophetic discouragements, I cooked & washed & dried with the best.

I found Auntie and family all well. Sandy's master failed and the cap-making failed. After going 4 months idle Sandy got into a grocer's shop at 6/- per week. Annie is learning the power looms.

On Friday the 26th. I delivered D. Tweedie's letters and parcel and J. Leckie's letter. Mr. Veitch is weak but cheerful; he was dressed. Mrs. Veitch is in her usual health. They had many enquiries about Australia and their daughters & they are writing per mail.

On Friday evening I went to Busby and delivered Mrs .Crosse's (??) letter and parcel. Her father is still at the fireside and her mother is somewhat active yet. They have a lodger. Ingles &. Wakefield are still flourishing and getting up 4 more machines viz cylinders. The block printers were tolerably employed during the commercial pressure. There are 4 pentagraph machines at the work and more engravers. Mr. Dow left for bad health. Mr. Galbraith is back. Mr. Thompson is off. Hugh Glen is foreman cutter. The tables are out the Glasgow shop. Mr. Crum has built a house near the bridge on what was Wallace's ground. The cutting of the road a Cr urns is finished and there is a new road to the field, it runs through the gardens and about the Henlinn house. Altogether the village shows signs of improvement. Mrs. Hunter left the store with a competency. Mr. Duncan, the baker, has it. Mr. Hugh McLechtie has a ready money grocer's shop, but he is still with Crum. Mr. McLoued, the late Bella Wilson's husband, has married her youngest sister. They were proclaimed in Carmunnock, but no clergyman would marry them. They are off to America to get married there. D. Alexander looks better and Alpine looks manly and his wife looks well and healthy; they have 3 children. All nonsense about Mr. William getting married. John Nimmo is still at the work, as usual. Thomas Gentleman is dead. Bauldy Galbraith and his wife are both very poorly. David Paul is still with Mr. Glen, it was all nonsense about him being back to Busby. Robert. McFarlane, that lived bat & ben with us lately at Busby left of his own acord and turned hawker of tea. John McCubbin has a shop in Crown Street. Young John has got married, but he is rather hard up in the Golden Land.

I went to Leven on Monday the 29th. I saw D. Maxwell and family; all well. I told him I had a few sovereigns (14) and that I ought to pay him, but I would wait to see what turned up for myself. There are no changes in D M's family since we left. Mrs. Humphreys looks better. Marjory Wilson also seems improving. James Wilson is doing well; he is an engineer at Dalmonach. But Joseph Wilson has shown decided symptoms of insanity; he was a few weeks in the Asylum. He is now living with a farmer. He is quiet, but does nothing and takes no interest in anything. Wm. Moody had a fever; he is better and at his work, but he does not look well yet. Deliechep (?) is going again. 2 of the McAlnes are the Company. There were no other failures on Leven and the works have been fairly employed. James Dick is still in Oswald Street. He does little business, crowing a youth of labour with an age of ease.

There is a good deal of print cutting going on at present for the spring styles. A great, number of wrights were idle and many are idle yet. Mr. Simpson kept throng. Ralph McArthur is still with him. Fortunately for himself, his parents would not give him money to take him to Australia. His brother, William, got married lately.

Your letter of the 10th.Sept. was in Camlachie before me. It was pleasing to see the state of affairs were even seeming to mend with my young men. Next intelligence may be more cheering still; Alex'r in the Custom House, monster nuggets in the O.G.P., Jack's hole turning out its thousands and all sweet sunshine, food and dress for all. William had a poor share of good things in Australia, but he will be a little more comfortable now for some time; and I trust you will all continue in love and unity. I have taken no steps yet to get employment as it would scarcely do to be going out in a warm shop till I get a little accustomed to the climate. But from what I hear of the state of trade and printing, I have no fear of no getting on comfortably. I think you may rest contented on that score. There are stirring events in the papers at present. I send you a post.

There was a distant relation of my mother's, a James Robertson, in the steerage. He had been out 12 years. His father was a captain in the army. He was a bank clerk by profession and he had been sometime agent for a bank with £500 a year. He went to Australia as a bank clerk. When he got a little money he started business. A drunken partner ruined him. Made money as clerk again and started business; got a tee-total partner. He was a fanatic gambler and ruined the concern. Made money as clerk again, started business. His partner went out one day and collected some heavy accounts and was never heard off. He thinks he had been waylaid. Made money as clerk again, started a dairy. His partner was cowfeeder, but he did not attend to cows and he found fault, with him. When Mr. R was away his partner took away the best cows and sold them and disappeared. He says he thinks there is something in the air in these accursed colonies that makes men dishonest. He says he scarcely ever found an honest dealer; that with an honest partner he could have made money at every business he tried. When he went to buy he took a dray with him Barrels of flour, chests of tea, all were opened and weighed before him; got them on his dray and went home with them. My wife and friends were writing to me all the time to come home, but like a self-willed jackass, I would not go home without money. But health failed; he had been long sick. His friends sent out plenty of money to take him decently home. The money was sent to a minister; he was cheated again. A steerage passage was taken for him. A pretence made that all the money could not be got. He thinks this is just a picture of Australia. Other men in business were defrauded. He, several times as a professional man, had been employed to examine bankrupt's books, one cheating the other in them all. Take my word for it, he would add, you will never find me in these damned colonies again. The day we sailed, an acquaintance in Melbourne offered him £1500 a year, food and bed, to go up to the diggings and keep a store for him. He said he would easily get £150 a year in London to begin with.

Auntie, Annie & Sandy have their compliments to you. Auntie got her fifty pounds and they get £12 a year, so they are not amiss. James McIntyre had died of dropsy, it appeared, a few days after he sailed, but the physicians in Melbourne had not suspected dropsy. They had told him they thought the voyage would cure him.

I think I will try a table at Barrowfield. If that does not suit, I will try and get into a seewing warehouse in Glasgow. They pay printers about 15/- & 16/- per week; that will do. Give my best wishes to all my friends. I have a grateful remembrance of their kindness. I hope John King and Cunningham Gray have got a job to their mind.

And I hope whatever betide to hear of you all doing doing justly and loving mercy. I posted the letter from Mr. Mains to her brother.

I am Your Affectionate Father,

Alex'r Dick.

Names & Notes on Letter #36

Mary Russell, Sandy & Annie

D.Tweedie

J. Leckie

Mr.& Mrs. Vietch

Mrs .Cross

Mr. Dow

Mr. Galbraith

Mr. Thompson

Hugh Glen

Mr. Crum

Mrs. Hunter

Mr. Duncan

Mr. Hugh

Mr. Lechtie

Mr. McLoued

Bella Wilson

D. Alexander

Alpine

Mr. William

John Nimmo

Thomas Gentleman

Bauldy Galbraith

David Paul

Mr.Glen

Rob't McFarlane

John McCubbin

D. Maxwell

John McCubbin Jnr

Mrs. Humphreys

Marjory Wilson

James  Wilson

Joseph Wilson

Wm. Moody

McAlnes

James Dick

Mr. Simpson

Ralph McArthur

William McArthur

James Robertson

Jas. Mcintyre

John King

Cunningham Gray

Mr. Mains

- transcription and Names/Notes by Ian A Scales, c.1989

Scans of the original letter  (click on the thumbnail below for a larger image):

 Page 1

 Page 2

 Page 3

 Page 4 

" Musings Aboard the Agincourt"

William Moodie – Letter 17 - from Dumbarton, Scotland, Nov-Dec 1858

Wm Moodie Letter  - Nov-Dec 1858 – 8 pages

- Notes and some ‘Google’ transcriptions. Scans of the original letter pages are below.

Dumbarton Nov’r 21st 1858

The first few pages of this letter are responding to comments of Alex’s, and local news is not mentioned until page 3.

J Rattray-  “ Since I last wrote I have not heard any word from J Rattray in Syria, but it seems he was on the eve of going as secretary to a government officer away to India, But some change at their silk Mills induced him to wait”.

- William’s father (in Constantinople) - “My father is still doing well in the mint and now that the Jedda massacres have begun to slip out of remembrance he says the capital is far more peaceable than it was, but I doubt unless I can afford it to go to Aden from Scotland I never will have the chance from Constantinople as there are no….  at all for the like of me”.

“About home all is going pretty well at present. Mother and all the rest are in good health”

Wm describes his brush with scarlet fever and the somewhat dire treatments he was given (p.4-5):

“I myself within five weeks have been brought within arm’s reach of death’s door. I recovered again by the peace and goodness of God.

I had been singing too much and my throat got sore. I got a cold one night and next day (Friday) went to my work, before two hrs I fainted away on the floor and had to be led to my lodgings. I went to bed and before night it was evident I was in for fever. Next day I fainted again on a chair as they made my bed. By this time it was time to get the doctor so it was scarlet fever he said I had got. On Sunday Monday Tuesday and Wednesday I got worse and the three following days I was raving and got my head shaved and blistered for 18 hours, besides my temples leeched.

Jack arrived from Busby to see the last of me but after a sleep of 12 hours, on Sunday morning I wakened in my perfect senses, although weak in my body from a severe case of mercury I had undergone while delirious. I was threatened too with water in the head so that was the reason of the mercury doses being given. It is now nearly a month since I got the turn and I am glad to say I am getting a strong as ever.

My throat which had ulcered during my illness and was burnt half a dozen times is now quite well. I have been at my work all week and have got on first-rate except a wounded knee I got at a fire which broke in Ship Terrace of which you will see an account in the papers I send you. I had been doing what I could to assist some of them to flit when I was driven against something and got severely lamed, but I am glad it is getting better.”

Dec 6th

p.5 - a note about Alexr Dick Senior (now returned to Scotland): “Since I wrote the foregoing I have seen your father, and got your kind letter and portrait from him. I knew you at once although I think it  has the fault of nearly all photographs, a heaviness around the mouth and neck.  I will send you mine someday when my hair grows again, and Mary's when the consumation (?) has arrived.  Your father was in good health and looked very well in condition. He was just passing on his way to Glasgow so he didn't wait above half an hour. We have been with the Maxwells all night. I will try to get word how he gets on for work and let you know without fail. In some quarters the printing trade is very brisk. In the Vale and Busby for instance but I believe it is very dull at Barrhead and Paisley.”

p.7 - some gossip about Busby & Dumbarton: “There are great talkings about a railway to Busby again; if it goes on I will let you know for curiosity’s sake. About Dumbarton trade is very dull; all the yards in the town are on three quarter time comma and a short allowance of hands.”

William gives an entertaining account of a local fire (p.7-8):

“Another fire has taken place just at the back of the old one. I have sent you a paper with a notice of it. I was assisting to carry out the wood and when the bulk of that was eased I took to the water and got charge of a gang of men. You may know how low the tide of morality or patriotism has sunk when I describe my gang. First, we had to coax them to help at all and then when we had got the fire engine ready to start they threw away their buckets and demanded their pay beforehand or else a ‘round of beer’ (in the land of Forbes McKenzie at 3 in the morning, the fire doing its work all the time).

The end of it was that no beer came so the fire engine had actually to pack up and go home. I got a number persuaded to try another little engine like Crum’s at Busby (after carrying water in buckets with other firemen as far as from Wilsons door to McNaught’s Corner for about 20 minutes) we kept it going for about 5 minutes when I cry got up again for beer.

The man who had got charge of that motive power had got ‘jolly well drunk’  so ‘no beer’ was what Echo answered to the cry;  down went the buckets again and this engine had to make off too, not for want of ‘willing hands’ as it afterwards turned out, as I had taken a turn up to the precincts of the fire I found there were so many anxious to help, ‘when it could be seen that they were doing any good’, that the hose pipe of our little friend was lined on each side by a row of earnest and devoted men heedless of the dangers which thickened around them, determined to stand to their duty till daylight did appear.

There were at least 100 men holding up the empty pipe for half an hour after the water man had resigned. I think you would hardly have believed that of the Dumbartonians but it is true. The paper says something of the efforts of the fire engines - it is all humbug. When I went to my bed I saw a man pumping at a pump in the street the only water supply which existed”.

The letter closes with some general and personal comments.

Scans of the original letter (note format of pages – p.4&1, then 2&3 etc.); click on thumbnails for larger images:

Page 4, 1

 Page 2,3 

Page 8, 5

Page 6,7