Letter from Lewis R. Price to his uncle, Rev. R.J. Davies. Reference to writing to...

Letter from Lewis R. Price to his uncle, Rev. R.J. Davies. Reference to writing to his aunt (631/3/225)

It is now 3 years since he left England & does not think he will be able to get a run home, unless in a couple of years. He hopes to be clear of his old affairs by December and his position in the house he is now in improves each year so he hopes to place himself on a pretty secure footing. Since March last year he has been alone at the head of a large establishment. and the labour, especially the mental is somewhat heavy - such a responsibility - caused some anxiety. The partner who was in England during this time has now come out, and he hopes will remain there; he is an old friend & they are on the best of terms.

As Dan has been laying the foundation of a new business he has not done much good as yet but he thinks that next year as he has all his plans arranged he will get a fair reward for his troubles, & this increases every year. A few months will now suffice to get the lawyers documents which should free him from his former partnership - "if law moves slowly in England it moves ten times more so here and hence these interminable delays".

He is glad young Kay got something to do & a place he thinks congenial to his tastes which are literary. He used to be a very nice boy, somewhat delicate, but of a fine intellectual turn of mind". As to his uncle, Kay's younger brother. The young man appears to have indulged in every species of extravagance - and stupid extravagance. The way in which he has squandered or been cheated out of these large sums, says as little for the interior furnishing of his head as his conduct to Kay does for the feelings of his heart" - he is afraid poor Fanny will meet with nothing but disappointments in this way.

"Poor Margaret is a wanderer" - she is now with Davies in England or has recently left. He thinks she is afraid of a winter in England. He wonders when this "cruel and expensive war" will finish, & very much fears serious discontent will manifest itself in England ere long unless some marked successes place the govt. in a more favorable point of view with respect to their capacity for conducting the affairs of the nation. He looks forward with anxiety for news - "Louis Napoleon is by no means safely seated - discontent is rife in the provinces & only kept down by a strong hand and his downfall would possibly lead to a war with France, in fact to a general conflagration. Austria & Prussia with their resources unstrained would in any new combination - hold a very important position and I am afraid would not lean to England. In fact the whole position of Europe at the present moment is fraught with great difficulties & dangers."

He asks to be remembered to Mr. Price Turner, and to David Jones & John Pryce.

Written from Vera Cruz.

Directed to Aberhafesp Rectory, near Newtown, Montgomeryshire.