Bedford
22 July 1887
My dear Chris
I forgot if I wrote to you after receipt of your letter from Croydon of 12 May.
Alec has written once or twice but in a very unsatisfactory way. He does not seem to be able to explain himself. His classic education has not taught him to write a letter or even to tell in simple English what he means to say. As soon as you can find something fit for him to do near you – it will be the better for him. Living as he is amongst a lot of rough young fellows he will get into bad ways.
I have not seen any account of Croydon in any newspaper but people at home live in perfect oblivion of what is going on in our distant colonies. Except you happen to strike a rich vein of gold and cause a stir, people are not to be moved as they were in 1852 when the first news of gold being found came home. The whole people in these islands would have rushed out if ships could have been found to carry them.
I hope you will soon make a pile and get out of the horrid climate you must have in the summer away from all sea breezes and well into the tropics. It must be unhealthy unless high, which it is not.
I think when you write which I hope will be often tell us what the elevation is and the class of country. You want plenty of water for the immense amount of washing to be done and if you are suffering from drought as we are here, it will be a case of clearing out for a time.
Our house here is let for a time of five or seven years. Mater will be glad of the change, it is such an out of the way place in winter and I find it a great nuisance to travel so far often.
Edie is at home with me at present – so also is Jessie for a short time. Jean is engaged to be married to a very good and desirable sort of man. This will take place next year. Jessie has one in hand but is on the lookout for another. She is staying as companion with an old lady at Richmond and is only here on a visit.
If I come out in the ship again it will be to hand her over to Northey for the homeward voyage. I should then take a run round Queensland and pay you a visit at Croydon if I stay long enough and find travelling easy.
I see Charles Rawson is floating a mine but as I have not seen him I can’t tell you what success he had met with.
We are all well and there is no news of interest.
I sincerely wish you the best of good fortune and that speedily so that you may get away from the country and enjoy something of life here. We would send you some papers if certain of your ever getting them, but there is really nothing of interest to read. Europe is at peace and likely to be so for some time. We are trying to pacify and keep the peace in Ireland which is hard to do but the Tories will succeed in spite of the old Nannie Gladstone and his tail.
Love from all at home – your loving Father
Jas A Elmslie
Harry Douglas has gone out to try his hand in Queensland.