Bedford
8 September 1881
My dear Chris
I send this thinking it will reach Aden before your ship and we all hope it will find you well; all goes well at home. The weather for the last four weeks has been wet and disagreeable but healthy. We have not gone away from home except for a few days and find ourselves better off than those who aid us.
Jessie and Jean your cousins came here for good at end of July and are now part of the family. They seem nice girls and fairly clever. A governess is coming here to teach them and the others until the new schools are ready next year where they shall go for a time. There is nothing to tell about your brothers and sisters – they are all flourishing, the little ones especially.
I hope you will get leave for a week when you come to London but I would advise your being careful not to ask for leave except when you know that you can be well spared. By judicious diligence and application on your part and with the help of my friends at headquarters I have no doubt of your getting over the early steps quickly, which is of great importance. But do not speak of or let it be known that you depend in the least on any outside help, but rather show in everything that you do and say that you depend only on yourself.
I am very anxious to see you get on, and quickly, and trust that you will not only be blessed with good health but also make the best use of it. The race for places now is so great that it is only those who make themselves conspicuous by superior merit and diligence that come to the front, and although you are now but one of the juniors in a large company, still in a few years you may be in the front rank. Only a few of the multitude really do well or attain any position. Let yourself be one of those.
The old ship is full of passengers for the outward trip so that avoiding accidents we shall do as well as usual. Northey goes in the ship. Hoare has joined a new ship building at Glasgow as Chief. She is to be 2000 tons equivalent and for the Sydney trade. I don’t know of any other changes that would interest you.
Captain Williams has been very unwell for some months and is in a critical state of health. I do not think he will live through the winter. This may bring about changes.
The Trinity House I think I may give up all thoughts of. There is but little chance of vacancy being filled up for some time, and when they are I shall be too old.
Captain Lambert is fairly well but not strong, don’t fail to go and see him and Captain Bayly when at home. Mr Hill the secretary of the P & O is an old friend of mine. If you came in his way make yourself known to him.
Be sure and write on your arrival home to me and say how you have progressed. Mama will write to meet you at Port Said next week. She is very busy now.
With love from all the household
I remain, your loving Father
Jas A Elmslie