430 Hackney Road
14th Sept. 1866
My very dear Alexander

Many thanks for your last and its contents - we received it about 30th Aug. Money is a very acceptable commodity but I should be sorry that you should inconvenience yourself. Thank you dear Alex for your good wishes towards us and assurance of assistance if required - I do hope in the Providence of God we shall be provided for. I am strengthened in this hope by your dear Father's continued good health. I sometimes think he will not be able to continue Secretary of the Hackney Building Society much longer but then you know there is his registration and his agencies - Our duty is plain, that is to do the best we can and to leave the rest to them [Him?] who cares even for the sparrows, for not one falls to the ground without His consent.

I often think my time here must be very short but there are times when I feel so very much better that I think that perhaps I may outlive your father, but according to all human calculations I shall be the first to go and better perhaps that it should be so, as isolated as I am from all my children I should be a solitary individual.

Perhaps it is as well that you should "wash your hands of politics" - schemes are bad in anything - your father was always a great politician, but it is possible if he had concerned himself less about them, his mind would have been more fixed on matters of greater importance - dear Walter sems to have run into that extreme - I am quite concerned about him; by his own account he seems to be doing badly and with so large a family too it is quite unfortunate - I wish I could help him, poor fellow. I do not like the idea of a separation between you and him but in his last letter he seemed bent on a change - Could not Pacheco who has interests in his -- (torn) ?or is he too proud? Surely something might be done - he has served his country, it should do something for him.

How ungenerous of the people to be so full of suspicion about you and Walter. I am but too glad and but too proud of you, my dear sons, that you were able to prove your faithfulness and I hope there are those who duly appreciate it.

I have heard a hint that it is not improbable that Charles Manfred may join his friend in San Francisco. Henry, I find, has got into business in Cincinnati. Herbert Browne and his wife are now over from Africa - they are visiting the various families and amongst others have received an invitation from Mrs. Evans, but I believe the object is business as he wants a market for his wool. Through the Caffre war he has realised several thousand pounds but the horrid massacre of the Caffre [something missing here?] - however he thinks it so.

I admire your accounts of your farm yard - why you can have new milk and bread - new laid eggs and a thousand nice things, besides employment for the hands, if not the head. I hope your London assistant will turn out well to the end but do not trust him too much. I expect he assists you in your garden - your nephews and nieces I expect are very pleased to visit you. How gets on the young heir? Is Walter very pleased with him, that is, is he a pet more than the others? He seems to take great interest in his children and has at different times given me a nice history of them individually, which has interested me exceedingly. How proud the dear fellow would be could he but introduce them to their grand papa and grand mama - that I fear will never be and yet who knows - the most improbable things come to pass sometimes.

As to you and Andrea, if you continue money-getting as you do now you will be able to retire from business altogether and take a trip over to England but you must be quick about it or it will not be in my life time.

We received Loyd's papers from you this morning - we are obliged to you for them. Our daughter, Mrs. Evans has been staying for three weeks at Weymouth with her daughters - I have not heard from her lately - The time for the -- (torn)[post has] arrived -

Present my very affectionate love to dear Andrea whom I shall one day hope to see and accept the best love of,

My dear Alexander,

Your ever affectionate Mother

S. Murray

Love to dear Walter and his wife. I am so sorry I cannot write to him this time - I will do so before long.