Transcription
COPY of a very interesting LETTER from Botany-bay, Received in Glasgow, a few days ago, from one of the Persons
engaged in the unfortunate affair of Bonnymuir, giving a par-
ticular account of the situation of the whole of the people
who were transported for being concerned on that unhappy
occasion; with a description of that Colony. THE following very interesting Letter was received a few days ago from Thomas
M'Culloch, Stocking-weaver, addressed to his wife in Glasgow, dated Sydney, New South Wales, October 12, 1821. I send you these few lines, hoping they will find you and the children in good
health, as they leave me at present, thank God for it. We arrived here on the 18th
of May, all in good health (after being at sea five months). I was taken off the
stores, by a Mr. Panton, a native of Scotland, and employed by him as a labourers but
not agreeing with me, he was so kind as to transfer me to a Captain Irvine, and I am
to be with him as a house-servant, and I am going to remove about 40 miles up the
country. If you think of coming here, there shall be nothing wanting on my part to bring
you, as I have every encouragement from several Gentlemen that can enable me to
do so, as your presence here will free me from bondage; as any man's wife that comes
here as a free settler, can take her husband from Government employment, or being
a servant to any of them. Captain Irvine has promised to do every thing for us to
make us comfortable. By your friends applying to the Secretary of State at London,
you could obtain for us 3 or 400 acres of land. It is Andrew Dawson's wish that his
wife would come here also, and we will endeavour to get you cut both together; but
if you do not think of coming, I hope that you and the rest of my friends will do all
they can to obtain a mitigation of my sentence, as my mind never can be at rest till I
be with you and the rest of my family. Sir Thomas Brisbane arrived here two days ago; he is to be our new Governor, and
the Governor can pardon any man he thinks proper; a great many have obtained their
liberty since we arrived here; Captain Irvine, Mr. Wyeems, Commissary-General,
and other Gentlemen, have promised to befriend us; and the whole of our party is
much respected here by the most respectable people in this country, and if you will
only come out, a steady man and woman can do well, as they are very rare articles to
be found here. Andrew Dawson, James Cleland, John M'Millan, and Allan Murchie, are kept in
Government employment, on account of their being blacksmiths, who are valuable in
this part of the world; W. Clarkson and John Anderson is with Mr. Lord, a respecta-
able Gentleman, who much esteem them; A. Johnson is principal servant to the; Com-
missary General; Thomas M Farlane and Thomas Pink are with the Barrack Master;
Jam s Wright is a shopman to a Dr. Phillips; Benjamin Moir, John Barr, and David
Thomson, is with Sir John Jameson; Andrew White, bookbinder; and Alex, Hart,
cabinet-maker, are in Paramatta with Dr. Douglas; Wm. Smith is also at Paramatta,
with Mr Marsden; Robt. Gray and Alex. Lattimer, is in Van Dieman's Land with
Mr. Mulgrave. This is a fine country, and will grow any thing that will grow in any other coun-
try, and in general have three crops a year. Loaf bread 3d per lb , butter 2s. per
lb., beef and mutton 10d., eggs 2s. a dozen, tea 2s. 6d. per lb., sugar 6d, potatoes
10 s. per cwt. A free labourer gets from 25s. to 30s. a-week, and a tradesman who
has a trade to suit this part of the country can make it a great deal better. I see
Gilbert M'Leod, (late printer of the " Spirit of the Union,") often?he is very well,
and is acting as a schoolmaster. The letter concludes with compliments to a number
of friends and acquaintances, and he requests to be remembered to his shopmates. THOMAS M'CULLOCH
John Muir, Printer, Glasgow.
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1821 shelfmark: L.C.Fol.73(022)
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