| Title: | Moore, Sally to Pettit, John, 1866 |
|---|---|
| ID | 4168 |
| Collection | Argentina - Pettit |
| File | pettit/8 |
| Year | 1866 |
| Sender | Moore, Sally |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Destination | Melbourne, Australia |
| Recipient | Pettit, John |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | cousins |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 1063 |
| Genre | ilness, photographs, correspondence, family, war, friends |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Buenos Aires, August 25th 1866 My dear John, I received your letter from St Kilda and also that of the 25th of August for both of which I am very thankful. I am sorry to ____ of your second accident, how you must have suffered. Mama was afraid that you would be lame after the second break until we received your last letter in which you inform us that you are nearly well. By this time I hope you are as strong as ever. We received your father’s likeness it was long expected as well as your own, how well and stout he looks, poor Mama was so pleased to get it. I often think how pleased my poor father would be were he still living to hear from your father and yourself and to see your likenesses and poor Uncle Mike too who was so affectionate to all his nephews and nieces, he looked upon us all as upon his own children, how he would have liked to see them, we lost a second father when we lost poor Uncle Mike but God’s will be done. There have been great changes in our family these few years past but if some have gone we have you at all events and it is a comfort to my poor Mama and us all to know that you are well and your father and to hear from you so often. I was sorry to have had to disappoint you last month which was my month for writing to you. I was not well what is strange for me as thank God I am seldom sick. I think I have not been three days in bed in ten years but last month I was not able to write from a nervous attack which however only lasted a few days. I only tell you to let you know that it was not through carelessness I did not write. I sent the papers as usual. I wonder you did not get the papers you tell me you did not receive of last November. I have sent them regularly every month since the opening of our correspondence excepting one month. I think it was that Mag and I sent them a few days later by the French packet. I receive your papers regularly indeed I often wonder that letters and papers come so regularly from such a distance when some from Europe are often lost. I had a letter from Fanny lately and she intended writing to you I think by this mail, no letter however has arrived from her for you and the mail leaves tomorrow. We are expecting either Fanny or her sister Anita with some of Uncle James daughters in to town for the ceremony of my cousin Maggie’s reception which is to take place in a few days time with two others, one of them a second cousin of mine and yours too. You enquire about our boys as we call them, although they are all men now. I am happy to say they are all unmolested so far although there is a call for more men for the war. It is said that the government of Buenos Aires refuse to give any more and offer four million dollars to enlist soldiers instead, this is a disastrous war for our country, the accounts from the army are fearful. I am afraid we won’t have many returning after it, the native people are disappearing little by little, one meets in the streets about ten foreigners to one native among the male population and so many families in mourning, and from all accounts no sign of its termination. You cannot appreciate fully the blessing of peace until you have passed a while in a country like this. I am sorry to hear of the great drought in that country. We know too well what it is, this winter has been unusually rainy for ten years we have not had so wet a winter so we hope to have a good summer this year. I enquired of Margaret Roach about James Howland (same name of embarkation ticket to Australia in 1852). She says that he called on her with his wife some time ago but that she thinks he has left the country since, but she is not sure, we will inquire and let you know the next time I write. There was a Mr John Connor I believe he is a relation of yours came out many years. Mama desired me to tell your father that he is married and has a large family and doing well. There was a man named John Murphy who came in the same vessel and who brought a recommendation from your father who is also living in the camp and well to do he has been home to Ireland lately and is back again. Mr Brown was down lately and paid us a visit, he desired to be remembered to your father. I believe he intends coming to Buenos Aires with his family to live soon, they don’t like the Rosario. Mr Bookeys family are all quite well. I will send your father a likeness of Patrick Bookey his Godson soon, his sister Kate promised me one for that purpose. There has always existed a sincere friendship between our family and theirs and continues to exist as warmly as ever. I had a long conversation with Daniel Croswell lately about your father and you, he desired to be kindly remembered to your father and yourself, you wish to know if they have called on him for service. I cannot say but at all events he or his brothers don’t serve, perhaps they have sent men in their places which many do by paying them to take their place, these are called “personieros”. Now my dear cousin, I will conclude this rambling letter hoping to hear from you soon and to receive your looked for picture, of course you have long since received ours. I sent them in January last I will try and send you some more of your cousins soon perhaps by next mail, we are so numerous that it will take some time to send all our likenesses. My brother joins me in best respects to your father and yourself. I am dear John Your affectionate cousin, Sally Moore |
