Bendigo 
September 30th 1856
Dear Mamma

I received yours on Sunday, enclosing a piece of cake, but neither you nor Cath told me who were the happy cupple, you said Catherine would tell me all about the marriage but she did not say a word about it. Surely it cannot be that you are a mother in law already. I am very glad to hear that Father is better and hope that the bracing air of Killough will refresh his constitution. There has been a great rush some weeks back to the new Diggings at Dummolly ??, which has left this place very dull with regard to business, but I was afraid to go as I have been so often unfortunate. There are about 25000 people there now and several have done first rate. The sinking is from 50 to 25 feet. I am very comfortable here and will most likely continue in the same place during the summer. The party I am working for is from the Co. Monaghan the name of Goold, and I am boarding with a man and his old woman of the name of Neison from the Co. Antrim so I am among my own country men. You must never be under the apprehension of me forgetting you, for there does not a day pass … my head but you are in my mind’s eye, here when a person is left to his own resources, without one that he can call by that little word, that means so much, a friend. The mind naturally reverts to one’s earlier days to her especially, who was wont to chide his wayward footsteps, to direct and advise him and to whom he could inbosom the inmost recesses of his heart. Oh no Mamma, I will never forget you and hope that ere long I shall be in a position to return, and tell you a long story, for you must remember I am not in a drawing room where the very air, and ease of the apartment put you in a loquacious humour. Mr and Mrs Little are well, one of his sisters was married to a Mr Clark a merchant from Monaghan. I have never heard of Benjamin Thompson and George Little, have you? Thos Tate is in Melbourne, he was in Bendigo but I did not see him, I have never received any newspapers from you yet. I hope Father will continue better and will expose himself to much. Give my love to Father, Aunt, Sisters Brothers Mrs and Mr Surch Miss Lascelles, Mr West and believe me yours affect

James C Parkinson