| Title: | Beale, Joseph Sr to Beale, Margaret, 1853 |
|---|---|
| ID | 4478 |
| Collection | The Earth between them: Joseph Beale's letters home to Ireland from Victoria (1852-1853) [E.Beale] |
| File | beale/12 |
| Year | 1853 |
| Sender | Beale, Joseph Sr |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | clerk |
| 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 | 816 |
| Genre | sending money, prospects, sons doing well, encourages his wife to emigrate asap, correspondence |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Melbourne 7 mo: 13th 1853 My ever loved wife, I wrote thee early this month expecting some ship would sail for England. That letter contained £20 for thee, last week I wrote again and enclosed £25 more (d'ft [draft] on London). I also wrote to Eliz'th in answer to one reed from her on yesterday and I enclosed to her for Lhee the 2nd of exchange for £25 and the third of the £20—so far as I can I will indeed assist thee as is only my duty—but it is not only my duty, but a real pleasure to me to relieve thy mind from anxiety about means of support and comfort for thee and my much loved children. The £25 bill is to be divided thus, £20 for thyself, £1 from Jos'h to Mary Brophy, one pound from him for Sarah and one from me i.e. £2 for Sarah, £1 from me for Margaret and £1 from me for William. Yesterday I ree'd thy truly welcome letter dated 3rd of 4 month—never mind what the mill sells for, if thy father will advance the passage money for thee and the children, I promise thee if I am living to hand thee the am't the day thou lands with interest to repay him with many thanks. At present we are earning £600 a year as clerks with every prospect of an advance to each of us, this is a certain income, so far as anything human is certain, and surely we can live well on that even here. I know we could earn much more in a rougher way, but my mind is more at ease to have the boys in most respectable society, much more so than they cd have in Mt. Melick. Taking thy advice I bo't on yesterday for them a dress coat for each, a waistcoat for each, 2 trousers for Jos'h and one for Francis— they are clad in first rate style, and 1 dress far better than I ever did at home. This is a great change from the rough, dirty manner they lived in when on the roads—the change too from the society of runaway sailors and convicts to the society of gentlemen, where a bad word ts never heard, makes me much better reconciled, than when we earned much more money weekly—and I am sure so wilt thou, in fact, I could not desire any place more comfortable for them than their present situation. I write thee every particular ab't ourselves, as I know it will interest thee. Well my darling come out at once, don't bother thyself with business any longer, come here and thou wilt receive (if we are living) a warm, affectionate and loving welcome from those who love thee best of all in the World. Don't hesitate or delay at all if thou canst obtain means for I am very uncomfortable without thy society, tho' everything else is agreable—I can say no more on this subject, I tell the truth and nothing but the I have rec'd all thy letters to 4th mo. 3rd inclusive, but as yet HO newspapers, I called today to enquire for them, but there was a notice posted that no newsp'rs would be given out for a day or two, or until those by the late mails were sorted. I am very desirous that thou shd receive the first £20 by the "Harbinger" which sailed (I think) 18th of 5 mo. She made a fine passage out here (64 days) and I hope she will return as quickly, if so, thou wilt get some little assistance soon after this date. Well, the "Harbinger" will I trust be only the harbinger of better remittances for thy acct—in future 1 shall remit to thy father for thee, if he advances the fares for thee, he can keep what I remit ag't the advance, and if he hesitates he can send the bills on to thee. I shall send £20 monthly—the Union Bank here on the London and Westminister Bank—I can do no more, but this I shall do from my heart. I think if thou were to speak to him, thy mother, and brothers, they would not refuse, at all events, this is (lie place for thy comfort, thy ease of mind and body, in fact relief in every way. I am sorry to hear thou looks old and careworn. I think I am more grey than when I left Ireland, but I am more lusty and never in my life enjoyed such good health, the boys, too are in good condition, fat and ruddy and Jas Kennedy is ab't twice as fat as when he left home. My dearest love to all the children, kiss them for me and believe me to be thy unalterably aff'e and loving husband J. Beale. |
