11

N^o 3 Buenos Ayres.

16th April 1890

My dear Mother,

I sent you a letter y’day. by the Royal Mail, & another last week from Montevideo. In order that you may know whether you get all my letters, perhaps the best way will be for me to number them, which will save my referring – like a systematic man of business – to the dates of the various letters already on the way; so I will call this one No3.

I had an invitation to join a party y’day. to visit the Port of La Plata, a harbour, about 30 miles from Buenos Ayres, where important works have recently been completed. The invitation was given me by Mr Ogilvie, who came out by the “Coleridge”.^[1] He is acting on behalf of some Company in London owning one of the Railways here; his father was a large railway contractor & had, I rather think, something to do with the Forth Bridge.

Very unfortunately some Dundee business, that could not be postponed, prevented my accepting the invitation. There were about twenty people, – among them the managers of the Great Southern & Ensenada Railways & other Railway bosses, some local capitalists, a few of the nicest of the Coleridge passengers &, not least, Mr Uriburro, the new finance minister (Chancellor of the Exchequer), – altogether people whom it would have been very pleasant & useful from me to meet.^[2] They went by special train abt 10 o’clock to the Puerto, had a champagne breakfast, were conducted round the harbour works in a steam launch, & were brought back again by special train in the afternoon, having spent, I understand, a most enjoyable day.

At the breakfast Mr Uriburro announced, for the first time, his appointment to the Treasury, & several gentlemen present, knowing what a favourable impression the news would produce on the money market, at once tried buying local stocks, some of which advanced 35% since yesterday.

22nd April 1890

Very glad to have news from you. Your letter of 24th came y’day. with enclosure from Mrs Gotto for which I am much obliged. When I can find time I shall send a few words of thanks to Mrs Gotto.^[3]

I am very sorry indeed to hear you were so unwell on your birthday. I hope you will feel much stronger & better now that Spring is almost over. (Here it is Autumn).

When you have Harry Fuhr’s address I hope you will send it to me.^[4] I might perhaps see him here or at Rosario.

I have been awfully busy since my arrival, but I have not time to tell you of my doings – that must wait till next mail.

By this one I send a ten page letter to Dundee, & a few lines to M & W Belfast.

Mr Hirschberg is here, but leaves next week for England.^[5] He has been collecting money from his customers & says he has been fairly successful. Still he must have had some losses.

I hope you will keep me well supplied with home news.

Best love all round

Jack.