1897
South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii, Canada, USA
September 9th, 1897
Perth
My Beloved Angee,
I must now bring my letter to a close and am thankful you have not to wait so long for one as when I was in New Zealand. Have had a busy day at Freemantle and this City and the weather has been tropical for several days which for me always means a wet shirt as you know.
Mr Davey and I spent a very pleasant evening with Mr & Mrs Williams at Claremont last night – and I was delighted to see the dear fellow in such a comfortable little house which he has built. Mr Davey speaks very kindly of him and appreciates his simple hearted loyalty and common sense in the business. Lysacht's business is a very large one out here and no wonder when you see the building going on in every direction.
I am meeting with fair success for P.F.&Co. in this colony and have taken some nice orders and have the promise of many more before leaving. Mr Davey has returned this afternoon – I may meet him again at Sydney which he intends to visit as well as these parts.
Last night I had a tap tap to my door just as I was turning into bed – on opening the door found Mr Davey outside with another gentleman called Scamell he wished to introduce, so these visitors came in and sat for half an hour while I was in full pyjama dress.
Mr William's was telling me about this Mr Scamell who was a Baptist minister once living at Bideford but has left the Lord's work and gone into the profession of a share broker. Mr Williams had invited him to spend the evening with us but something had hindered his coming. I met him again today so that he has seen me in my day dress too. Mrs Williams is a daughter of a Mr Heywood a draper of Bideford and is a nice little woman – their house is called "Devonia" and is for the moment really in the Bush – the made road is not far away but they have to walk some little distance over sand to reach their little mansion. Mr Williams is a little tiny man and remarked that if he could be mixed with me and averaged we should make too fair sized men – he is a much smaller man than his father. His mother is still living and is at Westward Ho! She is a little over 70. Now with much love to Arundel & Harry & their beloved wives & households & any enquiring friends & a sevenfold portion for yourself believe me my dearest Angee.
Your very affectionate Husband
God bless you my beloved.
Perth, Sept 10th 1897 – all well