Received 1-9-92
Answered 19-9-92
Lancing
27 July 1892
My dear Chris
Your letters of 16 and 30 May have been in hand for some time – came quicker than those formerly.
I write by the Straits if the steamer left London on the 22nd. I note all you say and quite disapprove of your thoughts of leaving the Balchins. They have done your business so far very well, giving you the benefit of all discounts and rebates. They pay ???? cash prompt for all purchases and get but their commission for and laying which is not much.
If Kennaway or others give you four months credit you may depend they put on ????. You would find it hard to get your business by others so well as the Balchins have done. If the Testament of friendship is added to that of a desire to see you succeed combined by honour and good faith, this combination is not to be met with commonly. You cannot blame him (the ????) for declining responsibility, he has a wide field of business on his own hands, all of which is not in a flourishing condition.
I have given him a letter of indemnity to make you to get the documents when they come, of course trust that you will meet the drafts at 90 days regularly and give me notice to this effect by mail. I don’t want you to send me any money until you have a free hand which I hope will be soon for your sake and all concerned.
My illness left unpleasant effects which are gradually disappearing, but meantime made me anxious and irritable, especially as I do not see my way to employment of any sort.
Business generally shipping in particular is in a most depressed condition – lots of ships laid up and good men wandering about the ???? most all the colonial houses and members of the London houses have ???? their establishments considerably. Jas McEwan & Co and McLean & Rigg have discharged the bulk of their staff no business. The young men of F Green & Co are in daily expectation of ???? sacked and so are many others that I come across in the ????.
Mr Moore intends to clear away from business as soon as Mr Devitt returns from Sydney where he is at present ???? will not be until next May. Possibly he will ask me to ???? the ships in hand, if they don’t dispose of them.
Meantime ???? insignificant are the shipments for the Colonies. The main steamers leave less than half full at 12/5d rates, and sailing ships will have to be sent out in ballast for the wool season. ???? chance of getting cargo for even D & M ships.
Archie will be here next month and with matters as they are I don’t know ???? to advise him to do. The service he is in is a wretched affair ???? what hope or prospect is there of getting a better place ???? ???? and as things are with you I don’t think Archie would care to join you. Although I have no doubt but ???? soon make a good business man, on receipt of this ???? you might reply prompt and say what your need is this ???? get here probably before he had to go again. The ???? a profession is played out, it is but I read and cheese at ???? and if a poor devil happens to meet with a mishap he ???? go.
The City of Chicago got on shore on the Irish coast the other day in a fog. The captain had instructions to keep up a ???? high speed and arrive at the time named on pain of dismissal ????. Well he did not get into port but grounded just outside ???? failed to get his ship off, landed his passengers ???? ???? behaved generally like a good and brave man. He has his Certificate suspended ???? dismissed the service. A man in such a case is between the devil and the deep sea, and for what reward work house, or at but a Trinity Almshouse.
I went to the firm you mentioned in your last and saw Mr. Hewson. He does not seem pleased at the way you have be ???? them. They were at considerable pains to collect a large quantity of well got-up samples of various goods, and naturally expected to get some orders through you. But nothing has come – neither ???? value of the sale of their samples. You had better look ???? this matter.
I saw Tasman a week ago. He seemed to be hopeful of eventually doing a good deal of business in ???? with you. I told him that my opinion is that the present stagnant ???? the Stock Exchange offers a favourable opportunity ???? this class of stock, there being but little risk or liability????. There are always a number of men who must be ???? ???? something.
Forbes has taken advantage of this state of things much to his profit and Tasman with his assistance will no doubt do the same. He will have told you his plans ???? office arrangements. I think that his interests would ???? Forbes and meeting each other frankly about business was the right thing to do, and will tend by your advantage. I have not seen Forbes for some time but will tomorrow, if the ???? crowd about his door is not quite so large. He is a ????.
We are all well at home, the holidays are on now. The boys have done well at school. Noel is growing a big fellow. You better have out as a clerk by and by. I am studying his training at school and will take him away early next year and put him to something.
Edie and May are quite well, and doing as well as can be.
Affectionate regards from all at home including myself.
Jas. A. Elmslie
29 July
Have seen Tasman this morning. Your business looks like flourishing. I will get as many customers for you as possible, but at present no one seems inclined to part much but it will come. Tell me of anything good that may be turning up.