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LETTER TWENTY-EIGHT
125

Peter' he is cursing God, and raving about the devil.

I will write to yon again at no distant period. By this time you must have received three or four other letters from me, to which I shall soon begin to expect answers. It is now the fruit season in Sydney. The market is well supplied. Peaches from one penny to sixpence per dozen, which are the commonest kind of fruit here.

Clarinda send her love to you all, to which is added that of

Your affectionate brother,

HENRY PARKES.

P.S.—I saw Mr. Badham, of Birmingham, about three weeks ago, when he informed me that he had purchased the ship Renown, and intended to go home in her as soon as he could procure a cargo, his business in Sydney being nearly all settled.

Note.—My father never appears to have carried out his intention of sending home 'descriptions of my walks about the town, and of different characters I meet here,' which is a great pity. How interesting those descriptions would be now! It must be clearly understood that I have altered nothing in these letters, and I have omitted very little—good or bad, still they show what Henry Parkes was at twenty-seven.—A. T. P.