Rye November 4th 1836
Brother Charles,
Yours to Thomas of Oct 3rd was most joyfully
received on the 31st inst. after a long silence on your part of ten
or eleven months. We had all quite exhausted our [---?] faculties
to find different excuses for your not writing. Mother and
Emily were very much concerned and feared you had been
unfortunate in business, sick or something worse, otherwise
they thought you would have written. Thomas and I concluded
you had changed your plan of operations and had embarked
either in the Texican or Indian Army, and would not
write untill you met with something favorable to
fortune or renown, but Father said you were still
practicing in Georgevill and doing well, for he says he
never knew you to write unless you were in want of
something, either money or clothing or unless you had
some special news to communicate. Still father was
uneasy, and had concluded with Thomas to write to Kirkwood
the ensuing month if we received no news from you.
We received a letter from John a short time since, and he
stated he had received no news from you for most a year
and supposed you were attached to some the Western Beauties,
which by the by I suppose are very scarce as the Newspapers
advertise for them as they would for any other Critter
or (as he termed it) become emphatically an old Bachelor and
thought only of self-as he had written once or twice and
received no answer, he therefore concluded he would not write until
he had. From the above you may well imagine that the
greatest anxiety has been felt for you, within the last
few months; and also how glad we were to learn of
your health and prosperity--- I hope therefore that you will
make amends for this neglect and in future write
monthly or at least Quarterly. Father wrote you in first
of September last, giving an partial account of my voyage &
I have since begun three or four letters to you but
thinking it doubtful that they would even reach you, destroyed
them --- had I known of your still being in the same place
you would have heard from me long ago, and have received
some sharp side thrusts for your indifference or rather
negligence -I have devoted this entire page to endeavor
to correct you of that bad habit procrastination and think you have
highly merited all that has been written . I therefore dismiss the subject.
[Editors Note: The following is written along the side and top of the first page
continued from the back]
You state also that if I return to sea without marrying[?] it will be hard to set the time when I shall by this it seems as if you
had an idea of me being somewhere in the neighborhood of marriage but I can assure you you were most egregiously deceived although
I am as found of female society as ever. But for [------?] you will be obliged to look further than Rye as well as myself for
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there only remains Olivia and Florence and they may be taken up before
your return. Elisann Walker is still unmarried yet she will probably be
before the Spring as old grievances are forgotten. There is also Mary Leerey not yet
locked yet I believe all the rest of the young folks are. That you or myself
used to meet in company, W.P.
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I shall now give you a hasty sketch of my voyage
round the World---- I sailed from Boston May 1835 Touched at
the Cape of Good Hope, at which place I wrote you, which I see by
your last letter to Thomas Dated January 10th was safely received
by paying the enormous postage of 72x. I shall in the future try to send
letters with less expense to you. From the Cape we had 60 days passage
to Van Diemans Land where we laid several weeks in an
English Settlement called Hobart Town. This colony is governed
by an English Government is a distinct Settlement from
Port Jackson. The climate of this Island is much more of an even
temperature than towns in the same latitude. In plains
and valleys the soil is very rich and fertile yet the whole
country has a bold and mountainous appearance. The
productions are similar to those of N England. The only
exports to England are Whale Oil and Wool. The Whaling
business is carried out to a great extent both here and in
the Sister Colony. The only national native specimens of natural
history are a species of kangaroo and native Dog.
There are scarcely any Wild berries, Plumbs or fruits of any
kind that are indigenous to these two Islands. The natives
therefore live principally upon Fish, but when this is not
to be obtained, upon Worms, Caterpillars. The natives of
Van Diemons Land and New Holland as they appear to be the
same extraction are the most degraded ill formed ill featured
and hideous looking beings belonging to the human
race. They live principally in Caves, and in the hollow of
trees wear no clothing whatever, it also appears impossible
to teach them the arts of civilization- From Hobart Town
we ran to Sydney or Port Jackson more commonly called
Botany Bay where we remained seven or eight weeks. This Colony
here contains about 75000 inhabitants while the other at Van D
Land only 15,000 to 20,000 and probably one half or two thirds
were sent out here as Prisoners. These arrive at Sydney alone
about 2,000 convicts male & female annually, besides about 3,000
free emigrants from the British Dominions. It is or has been
probably the most dissipated place in all the English Possessions
although of late years since it has been open to free emigration
the tone of society has greatly changed. about eight or ten
years ago there was a great call for females and since that
time there has been great influx, which has proved very injurious
to the interest of the Colony as the majority were from dissipated
places and many of the remaining found difficulty in getting employment.
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New South Wales is the finest country under the English
Government. It has a fine salubrious climate where most of the
tropical fruits will grow in great abundance. It contains some of
the most extensive and richest tracts of alluvial land of any
countries in the world. It is also a great pastoral country and when
sheep Farming is carried to great extent and probably the income
as great or greater than the Cotton Plantations, for some of them
have realized their millions. This place will, if it does not already
compete with any other for the fineness of its wool, from the
natural advantages of soil and climate----From this Port
we visited New Zealand from thence to the Society Island,
visiting every Island save one belonging to this interesting
Group, spending about five or six months among these
and New Zealand, collecting great quantities of Coco nut Oil, Pearl
Shells, Arrow Root, and shells for curiosities, and then returned
back to Sydney, where we completed our Cargo of Wool and Whale
Oil. On the 1st of May 1835 we left here for Boston by way of cape Horn
where we safely arrived after a remarkable Passage of 97 days.
During the voyage we sailed nearly fifty thousand miles by the
Log, a voyage of only sixteen months. In our passage around
Cape Horn we got driven into 61 degrees South Latt when we met with
immense Icebergs for ten days, and in some of the fields of Ice we had
great difficulty to find a passage. It was also about the 20th of June
when the sun rose at 9 o'clock A.M. and set at 3 PM
We arrived in Boston according to our account on Sunday and
kept it as such, but by Boston account it was Saturday, so that
we had two Sundays in succession. That is by going around the
world by way of Cape of Good Hope we gain one day & vice versa.
During my absence I received no kind of intelligence from the
United States and only wrote Home at 3 different times---
I remained by the ship in B until she was discharged when
I returned Home and remained 5 weeks in which time the Ship had been
sold. I then returned to Boston to get another voyage and soon engaged
on Board Ship Aniosto Bound into the Mediterranean. A few days before I had
got ready to Sail Cousin Issac wrote me to relinquish my engagement in Boston
and return to Portsmouth and join a new Ship lately launched and
owned by Caues & Goodwin Capt Wm Rice master. I immediately left and
had been 14 days on board last Saturday, when I stept on a nail and ran
it through my shoe into my foot. I immediately returned to Rye to remain
5 or 6 days. I shall join the Ship next week when she will sail for Mobile
or Savannah when I shall endeavor to write you again----This new
ship is 600 Tons and cost $40,000 and is called the best Ship ever built
in Portsmouth. My wages I suppose will be about $30 dollars per month
with some privilege. I shall not if fortunate go
more then two years more mate. Yours etc.Wm Parsons
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John had left N.C. and was in Baltimore last when he contemplated
purchasing part of a Universalist Paper -[----?] and Liberalist in
which he contributed for the last 6 weeks some very good written
pieces; his health was rather delicate contemplated moving further North. He was to leave
for Philadelphia in a few days for a situation in the ministry. Warren
and Abby together with Thomas Ira are at Hampton etc -Warren thinks of keeping
school this Winter he is as tall as Thomas - Abby has improved much both
in body and mind you must write her and endeavor to learn her in [-----?]
writing. Emily and Jonathan Charles rode over last Sunday and spent the day-
She enjoys good health with the exception of weak eyes. Jonathan C has grown
quite a large boy and does a good deal of work. Emily & Hannah Dalton live
together and have old Granma Brown with them. The two Joseph's live together
in harmony and apparent happiness. Uncle Ruel G. appears to be making money
as fast as ever. Aunt Patty has a boy and have named it Thomas William a
master stout one! Jonathan T. Walker has built a fine house in the neighborhood
and makes a grand appearance. Thomas continues much in the same
old Trade He attends General Court in a few weeks when I suppose he will
write you. His business is very good he also does more writing than formerly.
Grandmother Parsons has been failing fast this last Summer and died
September 28th aged about 90 years She was followed to the grave by numerous
children, grand C. and great grand Children a large concourse of people attending.
Huntington Porter died last summer at Roxbury with the small Pox he had been South
studying medicine-Mr. Porter had a family meeting of Children a short time ago
and has twelve remaining out of eighteen.-Young Jonathan French has been
at Home this last Summer and appears to behave very well he had been
teaching School in Canada. Weeks I believe has gone South----Father wishes you
to write Kirkwoods [----?] name and also Dr.Wane where he is from etc etc
Mother says you must never set up with any sick persons whatever. For Father
never did as much as set up by any of his own Family---And you must
be watchful of your health. At first I liked not the news of your entering
into partnership with Dr.Wane please write and state the advantages gained.
I think you might have arranged your business so far as to endeavor to
exclude all others of the same Profession---In one of your letters to Thomas you said
when you left Home you suspected I was somewhere near being "hooked on" to by a certain young
Lady, without stating who that Lady was. Why had you not mentioned it before you left Home or
did conscience tell you to keep still? Write me an answer to this letter against my return Home
Your affectionate Bro. Wm Parsons