Iron Pot Lighthouse
March 15th 1879
My dear Mother 

I was disappointed at not receiving a letter from you this mail altho there were 4 newspapers but hope that all is well with you and the dear ones at home. It is sad to read of the suffering and destitution but hope that you may be preserved through the severity of winter. We have had a very dry summer up until about a week ago but now have abundance of rain which caused a second spring. Our garden has been very useful to us as it is moist in the summer when others are dried up.

Mr Babington has resigned and will shortly be pensioned off and is going to live in the country. Chris is going to town shortly to arrange about Annie and she will probably board with Mrs Cunningham where she is at school. I hear Annie? shows a great taste for drawing and no doubt will get on very well. Business is pretty dull here but I think we in the Colonies have reason to be thankful. As for ourselves we have good health plenty to eat and drink and something to spare. May the Almighty make us grateful for his mercies. The Rev C Chynogui ex-priest of Rome is doing a great deal of good in Sydney exposing the fiendish system. I never read anything equal to his lectures in refuting the doctrines of Romanism and he gives it to the weak kneed protestants. This has been a very plentiful year for fish. We can see them in all directions here. There have been great shoals of Barracouta quite close. The are from 3 to 3½ feet long and are very good eating and we catch them like mackerel sailing. I had a letter from Uncle E two mails ago. He asked me to get some information for him from Sydney and if you have an opportunity you can let him know that I shall write when I get it.

I enclose Chris’s carte so I think you will be well supplied for sometime. You must not expect us to look the height of the fashion as we have more regard for inside than outside, and the Gulls do not seem to pay any more respect to us when well dressed or otherwise.

Chris and children send their love to Grandma, Aunts and Uncles. Remember me to Joe and Sophy and as I am not in writing humour you must excuse this short epistle from

you affectionate son

James C. Parkinson