Belfast,
April 25th 1862
27 Lonsdale Street,
My dear James,

I cannot tell you how grateful we all feel when your last letter arrived (on your birthday?) with the welcome news that you and all on board had escaped from a watery grave which I am sure you all expected. The Lord has been very kind to you and has heard all your prayers. He is the only friend in time of need. I often think of the situation you were in and wonder how you were able to cling to the ship but life is very dear to us all and my James is still I trust spared to be a blessing to me and all his dear sisters and brothers. I was grieved that we would not write often to you but not knowing where to send a letter only to Calcutta before you arrived but it was well you got them. We have had letters form you the one dated Octr 1. P. de Gale came when I .. it as I was then very ill and I do not think or Dr Aicken either that I would recover as it was very nearly turning to fever and my strength would not have stood that but thank the Lord that he has spared me a little longer. I trust for good and to live more to Him who has died for me and for you all. That letter relieved my mind as I was getting very uneasy about you but we did not know where to send a letter to you. Was it the abcess? that was ill when you left Calcutta. You must have felt much at not hearing from home and having no kind friend to nurse you but thank God that you were restored before you left and I trust will be a new man when we shall have the pleasure of seeing you at home please God. How many dangers hes brought you through both on sea and land and has taken much care of your life up to the present. I trust as I am writing both to Falmouth and Queenstown. I hope you will call at the P office where we have been directed us. Mr . ……. said there was no agents of his in those towns. I would not have known of the disaster only the letter I saw in the post man’s hand and I asked where it was from, as the girls have told us what was in the paper knowing I would have been so alarmed but Mr Carmichel assured us in his letter that all on board were safe as the girls wrote to him to know before I heard anything of it. But the Lord has spared you my dear child for a good purpose. May your life thus given back be spent in the service of God. I trust you will be brought back safe and that you will be changed character. I feel very dull when I think of the parting again but God can overrule all for good if we only trust in him. I hope the letter will be in time as C Cotter told me 70 days was the usual passage from Mauritius?. Its time now to let you know that all are well at home. William and Sam are getting on very well in Mr Euarts establishment. They are both in the office and seem to like it very well and giving satisfaction to their employers. Georgy is getting on very well at school. He got a large book the National Magazine as a premium at the Easter holidays. He is learning to draw and also to write? Aunt is well and always enquires for you and was happy to hear of your escape. I must now tell you that Mr Pilson has at last consented to take our Agency and Nelson is to give up at May which I am very thankful for as he was too long putting us to more expense than we were able to bear. Mr Pilson has been and is often asking for you. I think we will have great satisfaction having him for agent as he is so punctual and so much afraid of us getting into debt. He is to give me an allowance for each month till we are all right again. The girls have been doing great work to assist us getting new clothes. Frances is still in Mr Carlisles as he would’nt part with her after Mary leavings them, and I think will be going to the Great Exhibition in London which is to be opened next month. Frank is like one of the family. A great many people will be going to the exhibition. From this I suppose you will not be too surprised to hear that Dr Aicken Jr is to be married the 16th of June to Miss Hall of Birkenhead an only daughter I suppose with a large fortune as that is what men look for now. I wish my dear James had a good wife and something to make the pot boil brown but he must trust for all things. Frank has just been here and sends her love to you. Poor little Pat Cherry has just departed. I was so sorry that he died before you came home. He was such as dear wee thing but its a …. We are all in health. Only my spirits are low but I hope the fine … mornings after so much wet will be of use to me. I think I told you in one of my letters that Joseph Nelson has married to Margaret ….. William Nelson was married last week to a Limerick lady. Miss Berry also to a widower. She is his 3 wife. Miss Addy also to Dr Hayes. I fear I will not remember all the news. Miss Walsh is also married the Killough School Master. Mr Shiels is dead and has left a great deal of money to build Almshouses in different places. One in Killough after some time. I was in hope he would have left us a little as it would have been very acceptable at this time but the Lord will provide. Poor John Magee had drowned in Donegall Quay some time ago. It was supposed he was in drink. He was a great loss to his family and I feel much as he was our last .. and…. We were all so sorry for him. I was in Killough about a month ago and the garden of the cottage is all well? and looks so well. The yard was paved last season. Miss Lascelles is but poorly. She had a kind of fit some time ago but recovered. She is weak and she hoarse and she cannot put .. to the long .. May the Lord prepare her for that great change. Mr Surch was well and all here glad to hear that you were safe and well but how more so than Mary King and … Sallie. Mary is pretty well but Sallie is still mourning the loss of poor David as the …. has heard of. Caroline is living with Mr Matthews in this town and they are very kind to her. I thought I would have had more news from home but I am sure you will be glad to hear that we are all alive and in good health and need not say that we will be thankful to see you safe home after all you have passed through. I wish I was more grateful. It was a mercy that your chest was saved. I was nearly forgetting to tell you that I had a letter from Mr Trimble. Kate Rogan tells us of the death of her father. He died last March of abscess on the liver. He had every attention from his family and lived with Nannie and her good husband. Kate is married to a Professor Trimble a very good man. He is much older than her and is a widower with a large family and has grandchildren. Mrs R was as well as they could expect and will live amongst her children. Willie is married to a French lady and they had only one letter from John. He was in San Francisco and was tired Kate said of life’s battle. We wish him to go to them. America is still unsettled and not likely to be otherwise as the war is still going on brother against brother. It is very much against the …try and has done harm here but it was a mercy that England was not involved in war with the Americans. I will feel very anxious till we hear of your safe arrival and trust the Lord will hear prayers on your behalf. Its no wonder I would feel as if there was an … to but Mr Carmichel told me to direct to the Post Offices of both places to be kept till called for. I think it best to send this now but will feel easier when both letters are gone altho it may be too soon. The girls would have written but are very busy setting up their clothes for the summer. All your sisters and brothers unite in kindest love to dear James. Hoping we have a few lines perhaps before you arrive and now dear James with every wish and prayer for your safe arrival.

I remain as ever your affectionate Mother,

A. Parkinson

I think it would be useless to tell you what I have felt on your arrival .. as you must know a little of it but I do feel deeply for your situation at present as you are not in the position you ought to be in but take God’s way and I do trust all will be well yet.

Good by again and may God bless my poor wanderer with grace and this will keep harm from every thing that would be a discrace to himself or his old dear family … as you will have great need of looking to God when you come on shore. May you be kept by power divine as wver prays your anxious mother ACP

Excuse all this and the writing as I do not feel quite well today and am a little nervous. Sarah Moorhead has a little daughter. I think we told you she was married last year to one of the fire brigade? and is very conformable. Dr Merrion’s second daughter is dead. Mr Moffet died very suddenly of apoplexy?

% (letter torn along right edge)