Transcription for js_letter_1858-06-10 to Brother William

Front of envelope:

Mr. W. Slater
Mr. T Jackson
Reading
Pennsylvania
North America 

Postmarks:

Nottingham (rest lost with the removed stamp)

Feb 24  48

Rear of the envelope, 2 postmarks:

Ja 31

A Liverpool JA 31 59

Alfreton June 10, 1858 

My dear William,

We were very glad indeed to receive your letter and to learn that you are in good health. It would have been better news if you could have told us that you were at regular work and saving money fast, that is a piece of good news for future enjoyment. I think trade is far from being as prosperous as it was before the failure crisis. I hope it will be a lesson for those who are making haste to be rich. 

What do the people about you think about slavery? I suppose the two parties in Congress are becoming more more hostile and bitter,  it will most likely come to civil war. The men stealers seem to hold their heads very high at present. They are a madmen rushing along in the dark, who feel convinced that they can see better than other people. If they don’t run full drive against a lamp post of some sort it will be almost miraculous. If anyone were to tell them there was danger before them, they would laugh at him to scorn for mad people would sooner think nothing anybody mad but themselves. 

Mrs. Stow quotes “ let us not be high minded but fear.” 

They have been and are expected to be revival services in most parts of England. Mr. James of Birmingham has written a tract or pamphlet upon the subject and upon each upon the great movement (religious) in America. 

There have been a large choir of national scholars singing in the Crystal Palace from the old notation, some of it -that is the singing- such succeeded finally well but the tonic was not excellent. I suppose upon the whole. If there any tonic sol fa numbers to be had in America near you, you should buy a pennyworth once a month, it would preserve the knowledge of it a little. 

Are you reading anything in particular, don’t let the time slip away without increasing your stock of knowledge and wisdom. Books are very cheap in America, I think. I mean the more valuable ones. I suppose they are very plain and small print. Has the hot weather set in yet with you. I am in the habit of changing my shirt now in the evening after I get home. The crops appear very favorable to present if there come a few more nice showers in a week or two, I think they will be abundant. 

Page 2

As it is Friday morning and E intends young going home this afternoon and I am not, I have an opportunity to say only a few words. Ben came over on Thursday morning in Whit week or White week to garden. I started the night before so I helped him set three rows of peas as he had to bring some hay ropes to Morearob’s he called the Saturday but one following when all the peas were up which very much astonished him as it been very hot in there had been some very nice thunder rain so that as well as the other things have flourished uncommonly. 

Mr. Jones says that the church rate question is likely to be settled soon I’m some paper recommends dissenters to flood the House of Lords with petitions. 

Americans but haps think we are a long way behind them and religious and civil liberty but we are very much safer.  we can walk about without much danger of getting shot. I must conclude now with best love.

I hope you will not be long before you are write again and have some good news to tell us.

From your affectionate brother 

John Slater.