Bagshot near Huntly, Bendigo, VICTORIA, Australia.
Dear Brother Charles,
You requested me to write as soon as I got your letter but it has taken me about 6 months before I have made a start. I have had so much writing to do this last few years that I was glad to put it off all I could. Very often I have had 10 or 12 letters to write on a Sunday. Being Shire Councillor, Correspondent of the School Board of Advice and Secretary of the Odd Fellows Lodge I think I may be excused. We have a splendid Education System here its Principal is Free, Secular, and Compulsory. The Board of Advice has to watch the interest of the Schools, to assist those that does not send their children 30 days in each quarter, to school to advise the Government on matters connected with the schools. The Roman Catholics are carrying on a great agitation just now against the Act. They condemn it as Godless but it is no such thing. They demand a separate grant from the Government to establish schools of their own, this I hope they will never get, they have the same privilege as the rest of us, therefore should be satisfied. I have just had to contest two elections, my three years both for the Shire Council & Board of Advice having expired. I am proud to say I was at the Head of the Poll for both places, but I find these public positions take a lot of time, some money, and no profit. We have only heard from Fred once since his wife left to return to New Zealand, they had not then met but I think my letter would enable them to find each other, I have not heard of Jacob for some years, the last letter I never answered., for I felt so annoyed at his conduct, I therefore suppose his wife will not write to me again, and I don’t know where he is. I think it was a great undertaking for you to go into such a large business, I hope trade is brisk withyou, we hear bad accounts from England, and there is great complaints here and many out of work, I believe it is the same in every Country under the sun. Look at America there has been much distress there the last few years as anywhere, You seem to think it is the Tory Government that is causing distress in England. There is no Tory Government in America. If you had so much Democracy in your land as we have I think you would get sick of it. There is a lot of Fellows here which has got the gift of the Gab goes spouting about the country making as parcel of flats believe this, That and the other. At last they get put into power, becomes Minister of the Crown, and receives from one to two Thousand per annum and that is all they are looking after, That Embasy that was sent from herewith five Thousand pounds to pay their expences was nothing in my opinion but a swindles, as if we could not settle our disputes without appealing to the Imperial Parliament. For Goodness dont go in for a Republic of England I know the Country could be Governed with less than half the amount which is used, so could this place. If you had a Republican Government England would cease to be the Greatest Nation on Earth, I am proud of her, and hope this Colony will never be sivered from her. Our crops are now growing being from 6 inch to 18 in eighth, our harvest is about Christmas time we consider so far the harvest will be pretty good. I have 40 acres of wheat and oats together. I now make hay of most of what I grow and cut it into chaff. I find it pays better than growing all wheat. Willoughby was getting on very well with his land, but through his Wife and her Family he has sold out and gone to another piece near her Parents, 50 miles away. How much money he got for it I dont know for I had not the patience to enquire. They have parted with their Children’s Birthright, it was like a little Estate which ought to have been in the Family for Generations. Fred is up working with Willoughby. The last letter we had they were all well. Willoughby is like you he has 2 Daughters and 1 Son. Ellen has 4 sons and 1 Daughter none of the rest is Married yet. Our youngest child George had an accident and got his leg broke he was on a swing at school and it broke down he was just left off his crutches and is getting better. He is 7 years old. I had a letter from Philip & Polly Straw a long time ago, and I believe I never answered it, I think they lived in Birmingham then. If you see or hear any thing of them give them my best wishes. There is so many of you if I was to write toyou all it would be tiresome you mi9ght let one another see the letters. Sarah is quite handy to you. I am glad she is comfortable. Is she going to live and die an old maid. There is a lot of old Friends I never hear a word about. I would like to know what has become of George Williams or any of that Family, also the Hopewells, the Goldsmiths, and the Descendants of Uncle John’s Family. Then there is our Ned as bad as he has been I should like to hear whether he is Dead or alive, or whether he has any Family or not. Then there is Dick and Tom. Poor Richard I often feel sorry about him he used to seem to be put on more than the rest of us. Mr. Richards that used to keep a stockiners shop in Rices Place where father and me used to work, had a daughter Mary, I should like to know if she is dead or alive and whether she ever got married. If I hear any thing of Fred I will let you know next time I write, and I intend to try and find out whither Jacob is dead or alive, his children are getting on pretty comfortable considering how they were brought up, but the worst of it they are Roman Catholics after their mother. It is bad for the two Sects in intermarry, something generally goes wrong. It is about time to conclude being 9 oclock on Sunday night so best wishes to you all from Phoeby as well as myself. You never sent me your Wifes name. The following is a list of the voting for August 1879
Board of Advice Shire Council
Gornell 77 Shore 116
Busst 120 Coady 194
Holmes 134 Clay 227
Rutherford 207 Eastman 268
Tootell 217 Tootell 308
Your affectionate
Brother
John Tootell