January 21st 1876
Iron Pot Lighthouse
South Arm 
Tasmania
My dear Mother

I received yours dated November and 3 newspapers safe and was glad to hear that you received the shells safely at last. As soon as I can conveniently you shall have something Tasmanian of more value. Mrs Upton has been down here a short time and Chris took the opportunity of making a visit to town but is back again, and we are to have other visitors this summer so we shall not be very lonely and we are daily expecting the "Master Warden" Admiral Bernard to inspect the station as the buildings have to undergo repair. We have had very little fine weather yet very wet and windy but not so severe as in other parts of the world. Baby continues to thrive and promises to be the fairest of the flock, but your letter about her name arrived too late as she had been Christened before we received it, but as you say we will consider the next as settled. By this time you will have received our photographs. I should have told you that George has a swelled face when it was taken from the effects of whooping cough, but the children at present are all quite well and although we are isolated from many good things we are also separated from many evils. I see also Sam’s name in the papers and I hope that he may continue to go ahead successfully. Please ask if he could produce a good pack for us as we are afraid to get the children vaccinated here as Annie had an abscess under her arm after she was done so I think good blood is rare in Tasmania. I hope that I shall soon see George’s name in the paper and with you hope that he may prove a good and useful minister in the old Irish Church. Mr Babington is well and I know will think a great deal of the handkerchiefs. Chris is well and desires to be affect remembered to you all as also does Mrs Upton. I captured two curious fish the other day and sent them to the museum. They were called Jew or Elephant fish they have a head something like a rabbit and a proboscis?. Give my love to all and remember to Joe and Miss L and Aunt E and believe me ever yours affect son

J C Parkinson

PS I am sorry to hear that poor Bessie is ill and hope that she is well ere this.