Melbourne
20 February 1888
My dear Chris
We go on the 22nd so this will be my last letter from here.
I was glad to get your last telegram a few days ago. We hear now and then such accounts of the heat of Croydon I get doubtful about your health standing out. However I judge by the wire that you are all right and hope will continue so. In another month your rainy season will be at an end and cool weather advancing.
I see that plant for the railway has been accumulating at Normanton so no doubt it will be laid next dry season and make the place more accessible. I have seen Mr H Cave twice from Croydon – he came and spent an hour or two on board
one day, and I have met him at Scotts since in company with an old man whose name I don’t know but Cave says he has been squatted in your district for twenty years. Of course Mr Cave told me all that was interesting about yourself and Croydon generally.
It is very gratifying for me to know that you are in such a fair way of doing well, and entirely by your own efforts. I have no doubt whatever now that you did quite right in giving up the sea, and as it so happened just at the right time. Your experience at Alpin & Brown’s has just fitted you to conduct such a business as you are getting together. With your natural aptitude I need scarce say that I hope that you will be granted health to lay the foundation of an independence, and eventually find an opening for carrying on a business in a more wholesome climate
I have succeeded in getting my ship full of cargo and at some what better rates than we have had for the last three years – and we have also about 70 passengers. Altogether we will gross over ₤7000, which is satisfactory in these times.
I intend if we get home safely, not to bring the ship out again. For various reasons it is advisable that I should give it up. I feel now when here as if I were a thing of the past, and that I am prolonging my voyaging in the old ship too long. I should like to retire with the laurel wreath and the probability is if I go on some disaster will happen – such as the ship breaking down in some way. She is now almost 22 years old and there must be some weak hidden spots about her that will cause trouble some day. The one reason that would keep me at it is the income desired. I cannot get on without some other source of income than I have from my property at Bedford. That in ships has been a source of loss to me for some years – my own ship being the only one that leaves a dividend. The others show heavy losses. This year will be better than for five years back, and some of the ships will be got rid of in the summer. Keeping them means costly repairs to keep them up to Lloyds requirements.
Archie will have time for his Masters Certificate and if he has to go into steam the sooner he does so the better, If this ship had been good enough to start him in I should place him here, but it would only be loss of time for him and heart breaking as well, for I am certain he would not meet with the success to make her pay. Shippers and underwriters are shy of her, and when I leave her great difficulty will be found at both ends to get people to ship on her at all. Archie has turned out a very smart and sensible fellow and would be sure to get on well in steam, but it is such a dreary long look forward to the highest step in the ladder, and when reached it is no great reward.
If you thought there was anything he could turn his hand to at Croydon I should come out with him and bring some money with me to turn over as we saw chances. I know that in the presence of so many sharp fellows as are attracted to such a place now, there is not much of pickings to glean but still I should chance that. Meantime you are in a famous position to judge where money is to be made, and if by the time I get home you let me know of any thing good I could place some money at your disposal at one of the Colonial Banks in London.
The Croydon Queens you can sell if you get a good profit by and by, but I leave the matter entirely to your discretion – do the best. I need scarce tell you that a thousand or two would be very acceptable and useful to me at the time I am severing my connections.
I have to settle off Jessie and Jean this summer and although they have cost me a good deal of money I am doubtful whether I should be allowed to charge more than a moiety of their expenses to their estate. The Court of Chancery are very stringent on this head. They are both inclined to be extravagant and would spend any amount of money. I shall not be sorry to shake them off, so that there should not be any knotty matters in connection with them to settle after my death should that happen soon. Besides, Mater will be rid of a responsibility which has caused her a good deal of anxiety and trouble.
You will be glad to hear that Edie and Mater are capital friends now, and Edie has certainly improved herself in various ways very considerably – not the least in the good sense she shows. She has fallen in with an exceedingly nice family in Sussex where she is as happy as she can be, and seems to be treated with great confidence and respect.
I reduced our family expenses a good deal by leaving Bedford, but the cost of moving is great, especially if the house wants doing up and the landlord won’t do it, which was my case the man I took it from was a member of a good old firm that had failed some time before, and he had the house on a very easy lease, eighteen months of which had to run. The landlord was a minor, strange to say of my name, the solicitor could do nothing more than give me an exemption from repairs &c. at end of lease, so I spent the money myself ₤85, and will claim it when the lease expires. I pay ₤75 for a house that was formerly let at ₤125. The value of property has gone down so much in this neighbourhood, as the suburbs extend out.
A word about the sliver boom here two months ago. The collapse expected came partially and was again checked by good reports. This week past has again been as excited as before. Mr Cave tells me that your people are more eager to deal in the various Broken Hills than in anything local. An end must come to this and you will have a turn no doubt. Still it is hard to tell how long the traffic in shares may go on here so long as they have so much cash sent from the Old Country. I am only afraid the whole thing will end in a great collapse, caused either by the failure of finding the mines of bullion bearing quartz in the numerous offshoots from Broken Hills, or a war breaking out in Europe, which would be fatal to all ???? all over the Colonies for a time. Those provided with cash would then have a good opportunity of securing something valuable ???? a property or mines.
Gold seems to have no attention from the men who are so eager after silver. In fact they are mostly ???? and the wise ones are investing in gold. You have both gold and silver. Consequently your mines will have great attention before very long. The brokers here have been having a good time of it; so far as getting commissions you but the run on a good many of the leading men has been so great that they have to spend a great part of the night making up their books, after an exciting day.
The yarn of the day is that one very successful man (his name is not given) has had so little opportunity for sleep for some weeks, he has got into the way of doing without it (sleep) altogether and just finishes his work by daylight, has a walk in the sharp morning air, bathes, breakfasts, and is ready for another busy day. Sunday is his great difficulty as he has become unable to sleep except during the sermons.
Slade I think has done good because he has just taken a partner. I don’t see much of him. They take a thousand pounds from new members of the Exchange here now. I suppose you are a member of your Exchange. I am told your partner Creaser is at Brisbane, is that so?
My impression is that you will have but little chance of floating your claims in England for some time to come. So many bogus affairs have been put on the English market. In this Colony and NSW people will be hard to draw for a time. Your course ought to be to secure good interest in the claims that are sound with the management if possible, and hold until the favourable moment comes, which it is bound to do. At present the whole of the English investors attention is drawn to Victoria and NSW in mining and land, as well as building – all of which have been run up to an absurdly fictitious value. In fact city land and house property are more costly than in the City of London — the corner block next to Crosby’s office is now being rebuilt. Mr Crosby who is here now told me yesterday that twelve years ago he was offered the land and building on it by the mortgagee for ₤1800 freehold. It is now valued at ₤100 000 and is being rebuilt by English money which will never see two per cent, if that. However whatever happens Melbourne is bound to go ahead. It will have a serious reaction after all this, but the result will only be to change the men who are the kings now for others, and the same thing will happen again and again when I and you are gone from the scene. When you are well lined this will be the place to come to when the depression is on, for investments.
I think you ought to get Alec into the way of helping you if he can be made capable. He can do no good at drugs without he except to make a living. Could he not do something at mining engineering, assaying or something in which the best of what genius is in him may be dislodged.
The day is blazing hot and my paper is so dry it won’t take the ink. I must end for tonight and add something in the morning if any fresh ideas come in my mind.
Hoping to hear good news from you when we get home, and trusting in the maintenance of yours and Alec’s health.
Your ever loving Father
Jas A Elmslie
I thought of sending you a lot of champagne, but find the cost of freight and risk of plunder by the draymen was so great I thought it better not. If you would like anything sent out to you let me know and I will ship from home. I am afraid you have not many luxuries in the grub way a few cases of Cross Blackwall specialities as a stand by would be useful. You ought to feed well and only drink what is really good, but I fancy one wants a little sustaining and moderate amount of good stimulant is not a doubt wholesome especially where there is so much exercise of the train. Good claret or burgundy is the best wine without a doubt – a bottle of good champagne when you feel low is an excellent stimulant and better than all else. I am almost sorry I did not send the champagne, if only for yourself, so probably I may do so still. Will keep this open until I determine.
20th noon.
I find it won’t do to send the wine at this ????
I will write Alec before I go.
JAE