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Original Transcription:
…us all in our ordinary Stait of halth and Blissied be the Lord for
it. I am hapay to enform you that we had a nother Latter from May
on the 21 Curnt and She was will and liken her plice in the Visel the Shiep
Salled on Thursday 22 for a Stralia ther is about 600 in the John Diveees
the Captens Nim is Hughes if all is will thay are in the Bay of Biscea
thes Day o may the Lord go with them and protick and comfort all.
Mr Jonston Rittes to hes Sisters and us he touk abot and wint down the
River befor thay Saled and Saw Mary and Battsay they wire
Corrected Transcription:
…us all in our ordinary state of health, and blessed be the Lord for
it. I am happy to inform you that we had another letter from Mary
on the 21 current, and she was well and liking her place on the vessel.
The ship sailed on Thursday 22 [July] for Australia. There is about
600 in the John Davies. The Captain's name is Hughes. If all
is well, they are in the Bay of Biscay this day. O, may the Lord
go with them and protect and comfort all. Mr. Johnston writes to
his sisters and us. He took about [turned around] and went down the
river before they sailed, and saw Mary and Betsey. They were…
Historical Note:
James and Agnes Archibald are living in Edinburgh, Scotland with
their daughter Christian and her husband Andrew Smaill, who owns a grocer
and mercantile store. This letter was probably sent to their daughter,
Agnes Kerr, and perhaps also to their daughter, Jessie Murray and their
families. "Mary" is one of James' youngest daughters. She is
emigrating to Australia on the ship John Davies, under Capt. Hughes.
A diary was kept on this ship and can be found at this webpage: http://www.alphalink.com.au/~minky/hlc/hm/hm02.html
The "Bay of Biscay" that was mentioned is the body of water inset
between the coast of France and that of northern Spain. We are not
sure who "Mr. Johnston" is.
If anyone has any additions or corrections to these historical notes,
please email me: [email protected]
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