WCP1291

[1]

Columbia¹. October 12th 1854.

My Dear Mother.

I just write a short letter to thank you for your long one dated from Stoke Newington and am glad to find that you are enjoying yourself by visiting such a kind friend as Mrs. Haggar. I am sorry to hear that Mr. Wilson has had such misfortunes with false friends, but hope he will be more successful in Australia, where I have no doubt he will do well, as he is more fitted for an energetic life in a foreign land than in the polished society of England. I am glad to hear that Alfred² is doing well, but I have not yet had a letter from him and do not know wher[e] to address to him, but I hope to be able to look over his letters to you soon. I hope that your fears as to the fate of George Webster may not be realized and that he may be so busy in obtaining the needful as not to have time to write, but such a long silence must cause his parents much uneasiness. I have received several "Times" and some "Bells Weekly Messengers", but no "Illustrated News" yet. I am quite disgusted with the tardiness with which the war³ goes on, There must certainly be something wrong, or the Russians might have been thoroughly thrashed before this, the winter will soon close operations without scarcely a movement being made by the Allies, while the Turks unaide[d] have been victorious in several engagements. You appear to have got hold of some erroneous impressions with regard to the company’s stock reallizing [sic] 30 per cent a month, which you consider enormous, and so should I too. I think I mentioned that it would pay about 30 per cent a year. The fact is that during last spring and summer it paid a dividend of 4 per cent a month and for the last two months, owing to scarcity of water it has not paid anytging [sic], and probably will not for another month, or perhaps two, but still from 25 to 30 per cent per annum is here considered a pretty good thing, although it may not come up to your expectations of California Speculations, but when I tell you that more than one half of the Water Companies in the state are in a state of bankruptcy, and that there is scarcely another one that pays such good dividends as ours, you may perhaps think that it is not so bad after all. We have just had a smart rainfall storm, the first since last June and I am consequently very busy and ther[e] are indications of an ear early winter. I shall try if possible to start on the first of November, but probably I may be obliged to defer it till the middle of the month, and in that case I cannot reach you till after Christmas, as I shall probably h have [sic] to stop in New York a few days. However I have set my mind on visiting England this winter as it is the only time I shall have a chance so shall start as soon as circumstances permit, and hope to find you all well and happy.

I have paid a visit to the "Big Trees" so called which are well worth seeing although all that is said of them is not strictly correct, but I hope to be able to give the description by word of mouthasoon [sic], so will not enlarge upon them now, although much might be said as I suppose there are scarcely any trees in the world equal to them in size, and they all grow upon a spot about one hundred acres, and no other trees of the same description are to be found any where else in the neighborhood, which has been searched in all directions for several miles.

Hoping yourself and all the family are in good health, I remain

Your affectionate son | John Wallace