| Title: | Beale, Joseph Sr to Beale, Margaret, 1853 |
|---|---|
| ID | 4475 |
| Collection | The Earth between them: Joseph Beale's letters home to Ireland from Victoria (1852-1853) [E.Beale] |
| File | beale/9 |
| Year | 1853 |
| Sender | Beale, Joseph Sr |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | store keeper |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Destination | Mountmellick, Co. Laois, Ireland |
| Recipient | Beale, Margaret |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | husband-wife |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 1052 |
| Genre | correspondence, prospects, connections, news, decease, mail, his sons doing well |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Melbourne 5/20 [1853] My dearest Love, Today I rec'd thy truly acceptable letters of the 18 of 11 mo. and 22 of 2 mo. (that of 12 mo. is not to hand). Joseph and Francis are both here and all are well— (in consequence of my forefinger being strained by a young horse I can scarcely write). I gave Jos'h thy letter. He has bought a horse for "Joseph and Francis Beale". They are getting him shod, but just learning that the "Harbinger" is detained for a day to give time to answer the letters rec'd by two mails which have arr'd from Eng'd I add this line. Thou need have no fear of any improper indulgence on my part. We are all working hard to make you comfortable, we think of opening a store at one of the diggings from whence Jos'h has just returned, and we think that ultimately thy residence and mine will be either Sydney or Hobart Town, but I can tell thee more in my next. I don't owe a shilling to anyone in the Colony except to Wm. Locke and he told me not to repay him until I wanted no funds. I find myself respected by the merchants here and I am thankful for it. I now think J. and F. are provided for, for life. They can do well with industry, and they are very industrious. I am not surprised at S.S's failure, I long anticipated it. He will do no good here in my opinion, and we here have earned our means so truly hard, it will not easily be extracted from us. If Monordreigh sells for as much as will bring you out, I care for no more. If not we shall be longer separated, for we shall find the means ultimately if life and health be spared—I write this on a counter where I have been buying a pair of boots and find it very difficult to do so in consequence of my finger. Joseph has thy letters so I don't know that I have any questions to answer. In haste for [the] mail and with fondest affection for all Thy truly loving husband, J. Beale I intend to write more fully for next mail. "A few more last words". Melbourne 5 mo: 21st. 53. Last night I lodged with Wm. Robinson (who keeps a boarding and lodging house for respectable young men). After breakfast I took my stand and waited at the P.O. window and had a search for thy missing [undelivered] letter, which I rejoiced to have found. I read it alone and from my heart I kissed the memento [the lock of hair and poem you sent me]. I shall treasure it indeed. J[oseph], F[rancis] and I have talked over your perplexities and we shall send you £10 every month until you leave. I feel so revived in mind since I rec'd all your lettersl Thy 5 all to hand and all replied to by the one mail! AH rec'd in one week, tho' five months have elapsed since the 1st to the last were written!!l Frs just came in from the country and I have handed him Sarah's—I enquired of Win. Robinson if he had heard anything of [my brother-in-law] Geo: Black and he said smiling "Yes, a young friend of mine was in the next tent at the diggings with George, who borrowed of him £100—my fr'd is very uneasy ab't it." As thou says my letters are only for thyself—keep this to thyself please.—Dan Kennedy send by this mail £5 for Kitty and will send £5 by next, he will do his part. I am sorry to learn of Eliz'th Pirn's decease, she was a nice young woman. I know it will be a great trial to her bro'rs and sisters and her aged father. [My cousin] James Beale must be in great error ab't Bi-monthly mails only, the people here never would submit to it, but there are such numbers of sailing vessels arriving, that every week letters can be sent, and except the "Shanghai" and "Hellespont" steamers (which left Eng'd on the same day) and arrived here in 64 days each, steamers have been beaten by sailing ships (no, I believe the Harbinger was next, 66 days), this last vessel leaves the head early tomorrow morn'g. and the P.O. remains open until ½ past 5 this even'g for letters by her.—Thou mentions Henry Macquillan. I asked Win. R[obinson] if he had seen him, he said "Yes, but he died at Sydney."—but while here we must endeavour to earn an honestly [sic] livelihood for our children's sakes, tho' we know our days are short and very uncertain. I believe Josh and Frs can now do for themselves and leave my exertions with their assistance as heretofore for the rest of the family. They have not alter'd nor did I ever hear a murmur from either ab't their privations. I am sure neither would return to Ireland. "The hope of reward (I might say certainty) sweetens labour." I do my best for them to keep them warm and :is comfortable as I can, but I often blame them for not keeping their persons more cleanly. I got up early one morn'g this week boiled some water, and made Joseph wash himself thoroughly. Thou would laugh to see how dirty he was on return'g from his journey, he bo't however a pair of long, watertight boots for himself for £4, and I bo't for him on his return a warm pair of woollen cord trousers and since then a strong pair of half boots—for Frs the same—and the same for myself. I intend rem[ainin]g here tonight to attend meeting in the morn'g and shall then walk out to my tent. Kiss all the children for ine, give my very dear love to sister Mary, bro'r T.T. P[im] and my respects to all enquiring friends. Thy fond loving and aff'e husband J.Beale I am indeed thankful that thou and the children were all well. I hope ere very long to embrace you all. Thou could write "Via India" the overland mail, whenever it sails, the newspapers will tell, enquire of T.T.P. to keep a lock out for thee. |
