19 Anerley Park
Norwood.
London SE
14 September 1888
My Dear Chris
I have not heard from you for some weeks. We are going the 23 so this is probably the last time I will write to you until we get out. Be sure and have a letter at Melbourne by the middle of December.
I don’t hear much of your place Croydon. It is never mentioned in any but your local papers. Clayton and Rawson show me your local papers but they do not give much idea of what goes on daily in such a new field. I hope all your enterprises are prospering and that you keep in good health.
Alec tells me the cold is very extreme. This is good in one sense for toning you up after the extreme heat.
I know how much business you must have to attend to and writing so continually is very tiring. I should be sorry to have so much to do in that way but as you have chosen to live out a track it must be followed up closely and diligently to achieve success. I sincerely trust that this will be attained without detracting from an honourable and upright character or, suffering in health.
When you have a little time to spare don’t fail to send a few lines to Mater and your sisters and uncle Robert who is a most worthy excellent man in his own peculiar way and has really a great affection for you and all your brothers and sisters.
May is still in Germany and we wish her to remain for another year to make her knowledge of German complete, but we are not quite sure if this can be carried out. I am writing today to try and arrange this.
As you can understand with all my burdens my expenses are great and I find I cannot afford to give up my ship yet. While, my people (D&M) are of course anxious that I continue in the Sobraon so long as we can make her pay as she has done and this year they have made a very substantial increase of my salary as an inducement.
Archie is with me. He got through his exam as Master very creditably and I left it in his discretion to remain with me or join one of the steamer services. He does not consider the inducements in steam sufficient so he remains.
Baker is here after making three voyages as 3rd – with no chance of a step. He would give anything to get out of it again. The good services are over crowded.
From all I hear Queensland is not generally in a flourishing state. Mackay is in a very bad way. Rawson tells me, however if you find plenty of gold in your claims Croydon is bound to go ahead. I hope to get a good account of your doings when I come out.
Matters at home are much in the same state except that Jesse has gone from us being of age. I have given her the portion of the money
I held for her and Jean was married on the 28th. Her husband is a very decent sort of fellow but neither he nor his people are quite the sort I care about.
I have not met or heard anything of Brandon for some time – neither have I heard how the stone he bought with him has turned out. You can tell me at Melbourne. I hope the result will be to put up the shares to good value and I would not hold them when you can sell at a profit. Without the claim (…) (…) of turning out a ‘gem’ this dabbling in gold is a risky business. The prizes are few and blanks many.
I would be glad if you could come and stay a month in Melbourne in January or February and get away from the excessive heat, but am afraid this will be impracticable.
Freights are good outwards this season and I have my cabins filled with passengers so that I do well.
When is your railway to be opened? I would much like to come round and see you. If any man of your acquaintance should be coming round and you can’t come yourself let me know who he is and where to find him.
I shall not write again except I hear from you, so good bye and with much love from all at home.
Ever your affectionate Father
Jas A .Elmslie
Tell me if you have heard anything of Harry Douglass. Lambert is still 2nd so also is Cooper who is in the same ship with Baker. What about J H White (…) do you know him?