Henry Edward Hall to W S Hall, 9 May 1858

Letter

Title:	Henry Edward Hall to W S Hall, 9 May 1858
Identifier:	archives.org.au/Henry_Edward_Hall_to_W_S_Hall,_9_May_1858
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Date:	1858 May 9 Sun
Authors:	Henry Edward Hall
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License:	This work is free of known copyright restrictions.
Related people:	Henry Edward Hall · William Shakespeare Hall
Related places:	Wongong
Keywords:	Transcriptions by Ian Berryman · H.M. Wilson Archives
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File: H_E_Hall_1858_05_09.doc File:H_E_Hall_1858_05_09.pdf

Typed 19 August 2012 by IB from an undated typescript, and checked against MS

Transcription

Wongung

May 9^th 1858

My Dear Shakespeare

I have complied with Henrys request in answering his letter in duplicate I have written 4 letters to Henry 2 to Sarah & one to you since Henry & Sarah both state that they have not received any the seven were before I had the misfortune to communicate to you the loss of your dear Mama that letter was directed to you both Sarah it appears has got her last — We are very much astonished at the information contained in Henrys last letter by that it appears that the goods he got on credit of Cohen was all that remained and which paid for this place your Brothers feel it very much that we should have done so much in improving the place & now a stranger will get the benefit — Henrys supposition of our renting the farm after it is sold was one of the strangest of his strange ideas you and he also know that there is no run for cattle on the farm and that we are obliged to rent a run in the hills at £10 & one on the plains at the same price which I can assure you is as much as we are able to do if the farm was sold for £800 at 5 per cent that £40 and the £20 £60 a rent we could not pay in deed it would be folly to attempt — But as it appears he has no other way of meeting his liabilities it must be sold and we must leave it while the farm was kept there was a home for every branch of the family but as soon as that is gone we shall be scattered your Brothers particularly Frank wishes you to inform us in your next letter if there is a probability of getting a situation as overseer on a stock run a situation he is very capable of giving satisfaction in and what would be the probable amount of salary in your part of the world and if you think there would be a chance of renting a farm with stock on such terms as might answer their purpose they had commenced clearing a large piece of land but in the present state of affairs it would not answer them to diminish their slender resources on work that they would receive no benefit from they are now plowing with two ploughs and sowing with a third we have got in about 26 or 28 Acres and shall finish in 10 or 12 days more the whole is well manured except 9 acres, which was fallowed — For myself I must go to the Murray and I have no doubt of getting a living on it but I cannot start without means last year Frank was at the Blackwood and tho’ we had plenty of Bullocks and a pair would have been quite sufficient to have got in my crop Andⁿ did not think he could spare them tho’ I should have finished long before they began to on theirs I had 15 Acres cleared & fenced but was obliged to abandon it this year owing to the death of your dear Mama I could not leave Wongung as we were some time without a female servant and now tho’ we have got a man & his wife I am compelled to superintend the most trifling parts of the house keeping and with all my care and attention it is as much as I can keep things going on decently I have only been once to Perth & twice to Fremantle since you left for the diggins I have not been in that time into any neighbours house except twice to Bickleys — I have completed a Trellis from the Gate to the top of the Garden and another the whole length of the top fence it extends upwards of 180 yds which as there is a double row of Posts & battens makes the entire length of the timber more than 360 yds the Vines are in a very flourishing state and will cover it completely this next summer there is a double row of Oranges & Lemons up the East side of the Garden they are looking very handsome with the Fruit turning yellow the little Loquat tree bore a fine crop last year it is now completely covered with blossom which perfumes the whole of the lawn at the back the mulberries produce from two to three bushels yearly and will every year increase there is a row of fine apples the length of the top of the Garden several of them had a nice crop this year the pear tree bears well it produced pears this last year that weighed one Pound & a quarter good weight each we had several bushels of Almonds I wish you had an opportunity to crack some and partake of the preserved fruits & jams of which we have plenty you must excuse my filling the paper but I will make it up next time as the person is waiting who will take it we are all well Latitia expects an increase to her family shortly I believe they are getting on well at the Blkwood Frank & And desires their love to you all

Your affectionate Father

H E Hall

Bad pen d^o Ink d^o Glasses