1 Philadelphia Place
Hackney Rd.
8th April 1859

My ever dear Alexander

I have just finished writing to your brother and notwithstanding your long silence I shall now address a few lines to you.

I find you left at St. Luis to keep store and look after things generally; well, dear, I hope you will be prospered in the absence of your brother. I fear Walter will not find politics so profitable as he expected. I looked upon the step as calculated to draw his attention to something which might ultimately be advantageous and again I thought he would, in Sacramento, hear the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Oh! my dear Alexander, when I think of you both and know what a heathen land you are living in I tremble for you both. May God in his infinite mercy bring you out of it and fix your abode in a country where the truths of the ever blessed Gospel are preached and may you hear and become converted and your beloved partner likewise.

Present my love to her. I hope she is well. It would afford me very great pleasure to hear from her in her own handwriting. I beseech you will soon have your brother and his wife home. That will give you and Andrea a little liberty which it is probable you may desire.

Is St. Luis Obispo visited by many strangers? or is it the same scene over and over again? A friend of ours has a son who with his wife and children are about to settle in San Francisco. He writes as though he was very happy. I shall learn a few particulars about him and let you know. Perhaps you and Walter would like an introduction. I presume you sometimes visit that place.

You are very naughty for not writing. I want to hear all about you - whether for instance there is a probability of [there] being any more Alexanders. I wish your wife would write; ladies can enter into the minutiae of things so much better than gentlemen and you were never fond of letter writing. I wish you were.

I have been ill again - indeed my dear son I feel that I have had my "three warnings" and that I shall never see you more. Oh! if I could but realize the hope of meeting you in heaven. I thank God that he is not limited to place and that he has promised that the prayers of faith will be answered. Look to Him then that you may be saved with an everlasting salvation.

Your cousin Emma Brown[e] died just before Christmas. She was a Plymouth sister and a dear good young woman. I have no doubt of her end - it was all peace. Sydney Turner is married [to Lucy Ann Pownall; he was 29, she was about 36]. Our neighbours in Hackney Rd. are dying fast. I told you poor Mrs. Raynor was dead in a former letter.

Your father is asking whether I have finished my letter so I must bid you farewell. Write at your earliest convenience and ever believe that I am

My ever dear Alexander

Your affectionate Mother

S Murray

Mr. Alexander Murray