Letter from William Jones to his father and mother, 25 March 1853 (unedited transcript)

Balla Rat Gold diggins 25 March 1853

Dear Father & Mother

Once more I have the pleasure of write you few lince from this part of the world in hope that you are well and happy as I am at present Thank God for his kindness I stop in Melbourn 9 days from Melbourn to Geelong in steamer 4 hours sailing Morton Seth Evans and Son of Kings head Bethesda we were then start for the diggins all mates (partners) our passage was 12/6 each things £2:10 we arrived at Geelong 12 clock then we had from 40 to 70 miles to go up the diggins we took up with us 8 hundred weight Bread suggar & Settra only gest one suit of close and tent tools we paid 15/0 pr cwt for take our things up and walk all the way ourself we went up in four day there was three bullock drays start together with two tons peice 8 bullock in two and ten in the other we use to set the tent at neight to sleep but the first neight we lost the dray no house within 20 miles to get nothing to eat nor drink we slept that neight near place call mody watter holes under some carf and it was heavy rain then we found the dray came up very confortable when we rich the journeys end we pitch our tent among others and sleep mess and work together for some time 5 or 6 week for very little gold I found myself done more work than the other three and I join another two men when I left them we had 2 oz of gold peice (worth then £3:10 oz now £3:17 to £4 I begin to work with these new mates one is from Llanwrst and one from London latter is married got his wife here with him she is washing and cooking for us and we are very comfortable got good bread and clean close we did sink one hole 50 foot deep got nothing then went about 4 miles off I sink hole myself 9 foot deep got 10 pound weight of gold in it after we wash all what we have we will expect to have 7 pound weight of gold each that is 21 pound between us we have and I dont think that Morton & Co got 2 oz since I left them but they meight be looky again there was close to me four in party found nugget 148 1b weight of pure gold They said that the best diggins is done there is great many here doing very bad it is the same as mynud paris some get copper and others don’t but still peoble are coming up they wont stop in town to work for 15/ to 20/ per day there is plenty of work to be got and good wages

There is not many farmer about here I never sow one feild of corn since I am in the Coloney every thing is very dear up here flour is £4:10 to £5 for 200 1b We paid last week for 4 Bushel of oats for the mare £4 that is one Pound for one Bushel (daw gybunad I wish if I could get 200 qr from there I could sell it all at 7 or 8£ pr qr but the river is to wide and I don’t intend to stop long here next Chrismas I intend to make start home if God almighty will spare my life I dont intend to go to town before then or else I would send you some money I could not send any from here and it will cost me ten pounds in going to town and back I did not sell any of my gold yet and I dont intend to sell much of before I came home wich I hope wont be long I have seen few welsemen here I have seen the son of ysgubor fawr near tyn y gongl and the Capt and crew of that small vessel that came from holyhead they are live close to us I have not seen any from llanerchymed party yet they are in the other diggins 100 mile from I have seen 2 daughters of garnedd goch they are keep house in Melbourn keep lodgers and sowing I have not been there the last 4 or 5 month we are living in the middle of the bush nothing to be seen only trees and birds all kind of parats plenty of grass for the horses for nothing we have good tent cost £15 the mare cost 4 cart 20 harness 10£ The whole consurn is worth there £18 I expect to have about 20 weight of gold by next year when I hope that I shall see you all happy and doing well I main you all not one please to give my best respect to my dear Sister Jane Cathrine you know is the I must conclude because I intend to be there with you soon .

I am your Son & Brother

W. Jones