Lancing
29 October 1891
My dear Chris
When last in town the elder Balchin ???? so much enjoyed . I only saw him for a five minutes, to discuss your business affairs was not possible. I am going up to London on for a few days next week and will then probably find time at ???? leisure.
I have not opened a credit at the L.C.bank but have drawn money.from current account at the???? in p???? for your purposes. Ross Bros have not asked me to pay for their shipment but will do so if repairs ????. I keep some cash free which I do not object to ???? your shipments and assistance generally on the condition of regular repayments and interest.
If I had abundance ???? have all the help you could desire under the present circumstances. I am dependent on income from such investments as I have made and have no prospect of getting an income from any other source, so that ???? use economy with what I have to take care not let any of my capital ????. You know how the people jostle and ???? with each other for place, wealth and power all over the colonized world, and can imagine how small the ???? is if one like myself who has been running in a ???? for many years, getting into another groove late in life, there are so many on the outlook for the crumbs.
However I may drop into some place worth having by ???? if my previous good luck still is with me. If I had a sufficient income to take my ease and roam about a bit, I would prefer freedom to place or position – I have no greater ambition than to enjoy the world and life in my ????.
Archie got to Melbourne on the 6th inst. You will be sure to hear from him. Should he come home by the Straits perhaps Alec could meet him at Thursday Island but it would only be for a few ????.
The Times weekly edition of this week will have some interesting reading of the deaths and characters of .???? and ???? Parnell. The last man who had the ability and courage to have taken a leading place in the Councils of the Nation had he been endowed with that high sense of honour and integrity which does not seem to be possessed by Irishmen. Firstly he accepted a large money gift which destroyed his independence and then to ???? his friend’s wife.
Two ???? that cannot be washed ???? old Henry Parkes of N.S.W. has failed to ???? any business successful but politics and although he ???? all times impecunious , he was never dishonest and not accept money gifts from his admirers and colleagues. He kept a mistress before his wife died and married her soon after, but that is not a crime, only an indiscretion readily forgiven.
Will write next week – which is your mail week. No letter since that of 4 August.
Love from all to Alec and yourself.
Your affectionate Father
Jas A Elmslie