Derwent Lighthouse,
April 18th 1885
My dear Mother,

I received your letter dated February and card also a few lines from Frances and am glad to hear that you are all well. We are in a pretty mess. All the dwellings and outbuildings are to be pulled down and new ones built. The Assists are to have a 3 room cottage each with veranda and store. Ours is to be 8 roomed with outbuildings and in all I am sure it will cost £1600. The Marine Board are to pay for the board of 4 of the children in town and Chris and the three youngest are to remain with me. It will give them a chance to go to school although we will be divided for some time and put to great inconvenience but I hope it will be all for the best as the present qtrs are very limited. We have nine workmen here now so we will be able to form a detachment to fight the Russians although lighthouses among civilised nations are respected. I will send some seed when I get it. The gum ought to grow at home in sheltered places but the C. gooseberry will not stand frost. We are all well thank God at present and Chris keeps better. Charley’s stomach at night is very often out of order eructations with disagreeable smell and stomach swollen. I suppose fluid Magnesiua would be of use. I see the "Ethel" has arrived so Sam ought to have got his gum leaves and distil "Eucalyptol". Annie has been over at the Pilot Station. I brought her home yesterday and she and Maria will go up to town to a friend of ours and I think I will get Willy and George on the Arm so they will be close to home. The colonies are all alive to give the Russians a warm welcome if they come but I hope that there may be peace. All these things ought to make us use all diligence to have our name entered in the Book of Life for everything below here is very uncertain. May we all be kept from sin nor grieve the Father who has been so long suffering to us.

I received a letter from Uncle E but am too hurried to answer it by this mail. So hoping that this may find you all in good health and with love from Chris and all the children to Grandma, Aunts and Uncles and hoping that you all may be preserved in good health

I remain,

My dear Mother,

Ever your affect son,

James C. Parkinson