55 Queensbury St
Carlton
30 March 1886
My dear Chris
You asked me in your last letter how Father had arranged about money for me.
He left ₤25 with Mr Crosby for me and gave me ₤3 the last night. Therefore, as my board is eighteen shillings a week and my salary five shillings, I shall just get through if my salary is raised to ten shillings a week in June, which may not happen.
I had some little trouble the other day in drawing money for the first time. Of course Crosby’s office is closed at our lunch-hour and so I had to leave my work. I went twice, waiting an hour the second time, without finding Mr Crosby in.
Another difficulty was that I had never seen Mr Crosby, therefore Chris, being able to go out almost at any time, went there and fortunately finding Mr Crosby in, made arrangement.
I hope that this year when the ship comes out again, something will be arranged about me. Of course I don’t live to go on always unsettled as to what I am to do.
My great wish is to join you, as soon as possible. Father was rather undecided about that at the last, for the night before I wrote you my last letter he had told me that I must have my things ready so as to go off to you at any time. But about two nights afterwards he told me that I was not to go to you on any account. And, on the same night Archie, who before had advised me to go to you if you wished me to it, changed his opinion.
According to what Mr Rocke evidently arranged, before he started for England, which he did at the same time as the ship, I ought to have been moved to another part of the firm, but the other seems to have different ideas.
I always spend my evenings at home, except when I go out to friends’ houses, of which I have only two to go to – that of the doctor who came out on the same voyage as Chris, and a Mrs Merton to whom Miss Reisky introduced us.
I think that already I know how to make, with the help of the British Pharmacopoeia, nearly all the drugs that we make.
I will write again soon.
With best love.
I remain, your affectionate Brother
A B Elmslie