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all around the City is good land, highly undulating with scarcely any timber except here and there where it has been preserved, many of the hills are without but covered in grass. The hills I speak of are a range running the same as our ones but rather more lofty - you must have remembered we are here at the most pleasant time of year when every spot is covered with good feed even in towns, in summer I suppose it presents the appearance of a brickfiel with clouds of dust.
We shall not stop here long, not more than a week from this & are sorry to lose any time, even a day, but did not think it advisable to go on immediately as the winter commences a month later. We are staying at the Phoenix Robert Hall's whose charge is one pound per week each but he kindly took us at 15/- each having known us at the Swan. You must not neglect to pay the interest to Luke, £5, in October and £5. later, he will have the other £10. in hand from Dyett's surplus rent, if you are compelled you must sell Henry's or others stock to make up the money - Luke behaved in every respect like a Brother tous and lent us £30. without asking or interest, we really stood in need of this as we had little more than £50. among us when we left - should you require advise in the affair with Luke or any other matter of business he would be glad to be of service to you at any time and you may depend on him as you would on a brother.
I hope when you go to town you will never play at cards as a young man by practice gets a relish for it, tho. I have often played and never lost anything I consider it a bad practice, if you wish to say years hence as you could now that you never were the worse for liquor you will seldom treat & never be treated to grog as I am confident it makes drunkards of many. I am happy to say in this matter I speak as I think and not from experience for you know I seldom took more than did me good at the Swan, and though on board we had plenty of everything to desire we were all very abstemious, even Henry,* we drink scarcely anything here & do not care if we never saw it. I hope if we are not successful at the Diggins we may find lucrative employment, so as to be able to assist you speedily, of this be assured. A man came in the other day with a half pound nuggett which was first of the size I have seen. R. Hall has a bag with about 8lbs, in which he got at the Diggins, such things are quite common. Such numbers of people are leaving & all taking money with them in Gold or Silver have left the place almost without, and the Banks have issued 5/- notes to meet the demand. Sovereigns are at 4¾ per cent premium and Silver about the same but with Bullion the banks are almost overflowing. An escort overland will be in here in a day or two, last time it brought a ton & quarter.
Try and improve yourself and write as soon as we let you know our whereabouts. With kind love to Papa & Mama.
Believe me,
Your Affectn Brthr.
W. S. HALL
Remember me kindly to Stewards, Davis', Middletons, Cap. Hester and all who may inquire after me.
Tell Bob I shall not fail to write to him an account of the Diggins and give him and Edward my kind regards and love to Laetitia & Theodosia.
* His brother, Henry Hastings Hall
W.S.H. to his brother Frank.
This letter to his brother is so different in tone to the respectful ones to his parents.
