| Title: | Beale, Joseph Sr to Beale, Margaret, 1853 |
|---|---|
| ID | 4479 |
| Collection | The Earth between them: Joseph Beale's letters home to Ireland from Victoria (1852-1853) [E.Beale] |
| File | beale/13 |
| 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 | 1625 |
| Genre | socialising, news, friends, buying clothes, misses his wife, prospects of buying a ship |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Melbourne 7 month 27. 1853. I really cannot tell thee, my ever dearest Margaret, when my last letters left this city, whether by the "Eagle" which cleared yesterday, or by some former vessels. 1 now begin for the "next opportunity" [the next means of conveying mail].—I shall begin by commencing with first day morn'g last, the boys accompanied me to pay their first visit to my kind friend Debby Thompson. Her husband and she accompanied us in a very pleasant walk, through the Botanic gardens. John [Thompson] went with the boys, while Debby and I talked over our own concerns, we returned to dinner, in Colonial style, everyone waited on himself. John Thompson apoligized [sic] for not having things nicer, I told him a tent life [had] prepared us for everything, and his table was luxury compared to what we endured—Now to something more interesting to thee my love. Debby told me she tho't it almost cruel, that her bro'r Jas would not allow "my eldest son (who could with a little instruction from his father) earn £3, £4 or £5 pr week here, to join us." Soon after we met Edward E. Barrington who got into a deep conversation with Debby. This occurr'd at the side of a ferry, the master of the boat called out several times to Debby to get in, or he shd have to leave her for the next trip, her husband called to her, but she seemed fixed in deep attention. At last we got her to join us and the secret was unravell'd. "Jos'h, I heard good news, my son is on the way out"—I heard no more ;it the time but on yesterday D.T. called on me at the office, and told me she had a whole batch of letters from home, that in add'n to her son some confidential young men of her bro'r Jas' were coming out with abt £800 worth of goods, but on talking the matter over we tliink the goods selected by him will not pay, they are diielly articles of clothing. Now I bo't for myself a coat, silk waistcoat (almost too nice for me) two pairs of trousers, 2 pair for Joseph and 2 waistcoats, a trousers and waistcoat for Francis and a nice coat for each for £6.19.0—and on seventh day even'g last I bo't them 2 nice silk cravats for 1/8 each. I looked at them on first day, as they sat before me with secret pleasure, two fine sons, dressed as gentlemen and looking so remarkably well—thou wouklst be delighted / think to see them. On second day my employers called me into their private office. They told me my salary should be £300 a year, that I was too hard worked and that they had an offer from a young man to assist me, they handed me his letter and his letters of introduction to read. Their desire was (they said) that I slid relieve them from all care of looking after monies due and that I slid see that accts were collected and go in and out as I wished, and in the season to judge wool for them. Soon after, Debby Thompson called on me and I was grieved at what she read from her father's letter, he wrote that thy father opposed thy joining us. "Oh she exclaimed, it is madness, downright madness to' use his influence in such a way"- well, I don't say it is madness, but it is unkind. Since I began this Joseph said, I hope from my gdfather's refusing to let my mother come to us, thou wilt let him support her. In fact we are greatly annoyed that with all our exertions we are to be disappointed. Frs jumped off his chair in his hasty way, well, father there is no use in working if the children are not to be benefitted. I wrote the above some days since but had no time or opp'y to finish it. After the most delightful weather during the past week, we have today (1st day 7/31st) wet, so I devote it to finish this letter. 1 went over on 6th day morn'g to see D.T. She said she was sorry she read her father's letter to me, that it made me very silent. Oh, I sd on reflection I tho't thy own good sense and love for a husband and children would bring thee [Margaret] here where thou wouldst enjoy everything chat means could procure in this colony. Since I commenced this letter, with the full approval of both my fine sons, Wm. Robinson and my old friend John Daly (formerly of Tullamore) I enter'd into a speculation to build a vessel for the trade of this town. Capt'n Moreton,- who is a first rate ship carpenter, and who commanded a vessel from L'pool to Montreal for some years, leaves by first opportunity for Launceston, there to build a vessel on our joint account. I find cash, and he finds skill and labour, and when built we shall either work her on our own a/c, or sell her and build another as we may deem advisable. I rec’d from my employers my first months salary on yesterday, a cheque for £50 for myself and the boys—Well only think as I do with heartfelt thankfulness to the Giver of all good, that here I am with my sons in the enjoy't of perfect health, and with such prospects before us—and that when thou and my dear children who are left in Ireland arrive here, I shall land you from my own vessel, and convey you to a comfortable home, if life be spared—don't delay, come off as soon as possible after thou receives this, and thou wilt I believe never regret it, We are to call our vessel the "Margaret". Last evening Captn. Moreton called on me with the plan of our vessel, and he said "is it not strange Mr. Beale that here 1 am in Melbourne for two months and could get no one to join me with cash, but today when seeking for a passage to Launceston with this plan in my hand, two merchants said, we did not know before that you were a shipwright or we slid have had you employed long since." Well my love I am well satisfied at our prospects and I hope I may be thankful as I ought for all my blessings. A few days since I was conversing with a very nice gentleman, whose company I often enjoy, a Dr. Cutts from Eng'd. He asked me if I knew anyone of the name of Jacob in Waterford [Ireland]. Yes, I sd, I have relatives there, I had two sisters married there to persons of that name. "You don't say so Mr. Beale!" with great surprize, "then you know Geo: Black?" Yes, what about him? So I heard Geo's history from boyhood to this day—he is now at the diggings, in a store, doing no good, in fact Dr. Cutts lent him £100 which sum he would take £50 for—No man but a working man has any chance here, he must work either with body or mind—at my right hand is Harry Fisher doing nothing since he came out, nor I believe never will do good here or elsewhere. Wm Robinson is doing very well, and will I believe be a first rate man in this colony. We have in this house an elderly gentleman and his wife, she was a Willan, nearly connected with thy father. I promised to take a walk with her today, but the rain prevents us. I shall probably add more to this before the next vessel sails, so for the present I say dearly and most aff'y farewell, my dearest love to all the children, thy fond and attached husband J. Beale. 2nd day 8 mo. 1st even g. This evening the "Chusan" arrived from Sydney, she calls for our mails via Singapore and India, so I suppose this letter will visit many countries. After finishing the within the day cleared up and we had a delightful even'g. I walked with Mrs. Willan and her husband thro' the botanic gardens and by the vineyards, they greatly enjoyed their walk. John Thompson accompanied but Debby was ill in bed. I purposed calling to enquire for her tomorrow but today was extremely wet, and I fear tonight will be the same, and if so, I shall not venture. I expect this letter will leave on the 3rd. I enclose £5 2nd of exch'e which please remit Joseph R. Pim, I sent him the first by last mail. Well I cannot impress too strongly how glad we shall be to have thee here, to make thee really comfortable, and to free thy poor anxious mind almost worn out with care, from any necessity to employ either body or mind to assist us—throw away everything except what will bring thee out, say £300. If the mill concerns dont bring so much and that no one will advance the means we shall do so ourselves, but this will cause a delay of a year, and a year at our time of life is a serious portion of our remaining time. Thus to be separated from each other is a very great trial—indeed I may say, the only one I have to bear, and at times it is hard to bear. Again dearly farewell thy ever fond and aff'e husband J. Beale. P.S. I have no time to write Eliz'th or anyone else, let Sarah give her extracts. [Written on back:] D. Kennedy very well and very faithful |
