Hobart Town,
March 23d 1874
My dear Mother,

I received your kind letter and also one from Sam. Also 4 newspapers. I was not going to write this mail, as I had nothing of any importance to communicate but I knew that you would be expecting a letter so I thought it better to save you the disappointment. I am glad to hear that George is getting on successfully in College and that Sam has given up his roving ideas. Perhaps when he can write M.D. after his name he will be able to take a trip to the Antipodes as surgeon of a passenger ship, and then can if he so pleases come and observe the growth of the off set from our parent stock. I sent you our "Mercury" summary and hope you will receive it, as I have sent papers this last 3 or 4 mails. Please say if you have received them. I am glad to hear that Kate is so pleasantly situated. I hope sometime soon to send you some shells and other curiosities, particularly stones of a fruit called Quondon? which are strung and worn as a necklace. This has been a very dry summer and we expect potatoes and butter to be very dear this winter but thank God we have a better prospect than we have had. All including Chris, Annie Willy and George are pretty well and send their love. I have had William Johnston’s likeness framed and it looks well. Our institution here languishes very much but is very lively in Sydney where there upwards of 100 Lodges. Also in Melbourne, Queensland and New Zealand it is active. The Church of England here is fast going over to Popery through the efforts of a Jesuit bishop and his son who under the guise of ministers of that Church are using every effort to unprotestantize the Church. I read of the good work at home among the Churches. We want it very much here.

With love from all to all,

I remain,

Ever your affect,

James C. Parkinson

J.C. Parkinson