Iron Pot,
October 7th 1882
My dear Mother,

I have just received yours dated August 9th and am glad to hear that all are well at home and that you like the contents of the box. I am glad that since Jim Harrison wrote to you we are very intimate with his family, as the pilot station is only four and a half miles across the river from us, and I told Capt. H that you had a letter from Jim. Chris went up to town last Wednesday week and came down on that side of the river, and had to remain for three or four days at Harrisons as the weather has been fearful but she got home all right on Monday last. We can talk to them with the Flags, ‘Universal code’. I hope that we will have some moderate weather as I have not experienced anything like this year. The ‘Aurora Australes’ have shewn very often and to crown it all there is a tremendous big ‘comet’ visible about 3.30 AM, and with the Transil of Venus and eclipse of the sun it is enough to unsettle our atmosphere, and if that were not enough Archibald Forbes is trying to knock some fear into us with his lectures on ‘Europe in Arms’.

This is the anniversary of my arrival at Iron Pot Island 8 years ago the smallest inhabited dependency of Tasmania and Sir George Cumine-Straken has not yet condescended to visit me. It too bad! I think too many, but hold on, I was near forgetting tomorrow will be the anniversary of our wedding 16 years ago! Well we have much to be thankful for. We are all in a mess at present in expectation of the men coming to give us another room and make the place more comfortable. I mean to try and send Willy to school if possible the beginning of the year, but the expense would be too much for both. So hoping that his may find you and sisters and brothers all well and with love to aunts and uncles from all the wee folk, and love from Chris and kind remembrances to Joe and Mary O

Remain dear mother, ever yours affect son

J.C. Parkinson