May 11th 1866
125 Argile (Argyle) St
Hobartown
My dearest Mother,

I suppose that you will be both surprised and pleased to see that I am back in the old place once more and it appears like a second home, for of any place I have been there is not any I like as well as this always barin the ‘old sod’. It is a beautiful place and so healthy after the horrid places I have been in. I am staying with Mr and Mrs Sculthorp who was so kind to me when I was ill. In fact if they were relations they could not be kinder. I have received 21 letters on my arrival as I only as yet have partly digested and am very glad to hear that you are all well and hope that by this time you are completely recovered. I am sorry that I missed the last mail and hope that you got the latter which I sent from Hong Kong stating that I was coming back to the Colonies. There has been no letter from you this last six months but I suppose you will have written on receipt of the H K letter. You need not fear of any letters going astray as I received all you sent including 2 Bank orders of £2 each and Maria’s and Sams letters? Maria is a dear sweet wee sister and I hope she may get someone worthy of her. Mr Sculthorp had a letter from Sam enquiring for me and I have written to him to say that I am returned and that I shall make a point to seem him some-how. It did surprise me that that he was come out. I hope he may succeed. I am glad to hear of Au.... Rs marriage and wish her all happiness. I have seen her husband but I should rather that some of my dear sisters were settling and hope that they may meet with someone calculated to make them happy. I intend to break the ice toward the latter end of this year but not to the person I mentioned so it is well that you have not spoken much of it. I have seen so much unhappiness arising from marriages with unsuitable partners that it has made me careful and I am too old to fall in love with a pretty face so I have broken off with Miss S. although it was not altogether my fault. I have been introduced to a Miss Christina Coates who as far as I can judge is the right sort to make a good wife. She is of English parents born, I believe in India, and a member of the Church of England but I shall give you all the particulars in my next and will send her ‘Carte’ if matters are arranged but you need not say much yet (last page missing)