15/2/1865
5 Regent Road,
Liverpool,
Dear Miss Parkinson,

I am glad to see by your letter that mother and you are well. I would have written yesterday but was not so well, having a cold and did not come to business. The spring is a good time for emigration to Sydney and the emigrant arrives at a season when the extreme heats do not prevail, and as the winter is very mild he becomes acclimatised by the arrival of summer. I am sorry that I do not know any person in the colony to whom I could give your brother a letter as it would give me much pleasure to be the means of serving you or your family but I do not apprehend any difficulty in an active young man obtaining an early engagement at a sheep farm as they are always in demand, and I am certain James would do well there also as the active life would agree with him.

There are some very good ships sail from Liverpool to Sydney as well as from London. I find that Baines and Co. have a ship ‘The Rutland Shire’ from London on the 10th of March and a firm here and E Thompson and Co. have one named the "Mataura’ to sail the 28th of Feb. for that port. The charge for the ‘Mataura’ is 15 pounds. I am not sure as to the charge of by Baines but think it costs the same from London but the ships sailing from this port are in all respects equal to those from London.

I have not seen Mr Montgomery or his wife for months they having left this neighbourhood but hear they live in a street in Everton and are in great measures supported from the little earnings of the school.

I will be glad to see Mrs Parkinson and your brother and would not to be less glad to see yourself, and you may rely on it should I visit Ireland or rather should I spared to do so I will go via Belfast in order that I may call for a short time to see you. Indeed it was but a few days since I was thinking of you and your mother.

Any further information you require I will readily reply to and should your brother go by Liverpool. I will endeavour to have him made as comfortable as I possibly can.

With kindest regards to your mother believe me to be, my dear Miss Parkinson, sincerely Yours,

G.M. Clarke

PS Your chest and things from the tailor have come.