1897
South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii, Canada, USA
September 7th, 1897
Perth, Western Australia
My Beloved Angee,
We landed at Albany on Saturday last at sundown after a very pleasant voyage from Adelaide – Mr Davey had wired for a bed at the principal hotel and was provided for but I had to seek lodgings elsewhere in a second rate inn – they had refused 20 that evening but the hostess seemed to look with compassion upon me and promised to make me up a bed in the drawing room which I accepted thankfully and through mercy got a good night's rest – outside my room was a nice balcony facing the King George's sound and the morning was very fine and the whole scenery around a fairy land. Spent a quiet day and met Mr Davey in the morning and went for a little walk – he left by the afternoon train for Perth with many other of our steamer passengers who were too late for the train on Saturday night. It is over 300 miles to Perth and takes nearly a day. I wanted to have the Monday for my business at Albany and left in the afternoon for Perth – there were no sleepers on this train but the station master kindly gave me one side of a first class carriage and I got on pretty well especially as I bought a nice cushion for a pillow – a very real comfort through the night. We left Albany at 5.30 pm and reached Perth at 11.30 this morning – the night was beautifully clear but very cold but the morning and noon like India so very warm and the sky cloudless. This place has grown very much since my last visit and is now quite a grand city with a very first class hotel which is crowded mostly with people who have suddenly become very rich through the speculation on the gold fields at Coolgardie. Have met with some encouragement in the business am thankful to say – have also met Mr Davey and the young William's who is managing their Freemantle house – dear fellow I was glad to see him and could see his dear Father's face distinctly in his own – Mr Davey and I purpose spending tomorrow evening with him and his wife at a place called Claremont where they live – it is between Perth and Freemantle about 5 miles from each place. I sent P.F. a cable on Sunday evening which I hope they will repeat to you saying that I purposed leaving Sydney Oct. 11 for Vancouver – the words were "Sydney October 11 Vancouver" I had previously advised them to write me there for 2 weeks & after that to our New York address from whence they will be re-directed as I advise them. Trust you are keeping well and enjoying the cooler weather which I dare say you are now getting. I see by the paper that you have had a severe storm all over the coast of England but it did not say anything about floods – I dare say you thought of me. Thro' mercy I am preserved in good health and it is a pleasure to get friendly greetings from those who remember my previous visit. The Lord preserve you all is my daily prayer. Thro' His mercy we may hope soon to meet again now. I am pushing on.