1 Philadelphia Pl.
Hackney Rd.
6th Sept, 1861

I received the letter containing the sovereign and the newspapers or magazines about a week since and according to your request I forwarded them to Fanny who is very much obliged to you and your dear wife and will take an opportunity to write and tell you so. The coin comes safely but sometimes I wonder it is not suspected.

I am delighted to think you are prospering. Go on persevering and the time may come that you may be enabled to come over to dear old England and settle down for life. That I cannot expect to see as my days are fast coming to a close according to the age of man but I should dearly like to see your face once more and your dear little wife. You cannot imagine the joy it gives me to know that you have both got good wives. Nothing on earth has so reconciled me to your banishment - to know that you both possess wives who can and do sympathize with you in the "battle of life" is a source of delight to my heart and I rejoice that you are enabled to provide for them without working them as they are in England - for if a husband's home is to be made comfortable and his children cared for, there is enough to do without her being engaged in a shop. In England it is too frequently a positive necessity and under such circumstances what can be said.

I feel somewhat alarmed at this sad American war. It seems impossible to tell where or when it will end. You seem to be best off in California and I hope will continue so. I wonder how Charles is getting on, Perkins Filmer and others. Nathan Barlow is likely to continue in England. I have not seen him. At present the Southerners seems to prevail - how is all this? it is quite unexpected to me. I thought the Union would beat and without any trouble. I am afraid there is a deal of treachery. I thought ere this the slaves would have risen. That I expect would be dreadful. Bull's Run is sad - how many poor young men were there killed? It is awful to think of it. I suppose you will all be taxed for this war pretty high and what a stop it must be to trade in many parts.

I know of no news just now in the family. In my last I sent you an account of Aunt Charlotte's death. Two or three of your cousins are engaged lately but I do not think you know them. They are daughters of your Uncle Walter's.

This will be but an apology for a letter as my mind has been very unsettled lately and when that is the case I find a difficulty in writing even to you but I cannot bear the idea of sending off a letter without writing a few lines. Dear Walter wrote in better spirits the last time, which I was glad to see. I quite agree with you that honours are all very well but first we must look after the needful but I believe he has ever been most persevering, only a little apt to get his expenses high, but having to provide for a family makes a great difference. You are happily exempt. Mercedes wrote me a very kind letter in her own loving style. I shall write to her and Andrea before long. How much I should like to see the dear children - kiss them for me. I though the little one was a beautiful little creature - such an eye. I wish he may have a son next and then I think he may rest satisfied. As to you and Andrea - why without children you can be always lovers and avoid a thousand cares that "flesh is heir to". What say you to this logic? I thought when Pacheco was here that he understood the power of love for he sang most touchingly a song about "dear Mary".

And now, my dear Alexander, I must commend you to the love and protection of the Gracious Being who created you, to Jesus who died to save you from everlasting death and to the Holy Spirit the - [unreadable] who if you will but believe in the word of God will guide you in the way of all truth. With love to your dear wife, Walter, Mercedes, and the dear children, Believe me ever

Yours in much affection

Sarah Murray