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Carrick on Shannon 14th. Dec^r. 43

P.S. Davidson writes to me under date 12th. Decr. "Accounts
from Sydney to the 1st. August speak of continued Bank pay,
but I cannot help flattering myself that better times are
in store for the devoted Colonists, and when they do dawn
it is impossible not to cherish a hope that past experience
will render them wiser and easier satisfied than they were
wont to be in former prosperous times, for it is not to be
questioned that most of their late misfortunes spring from
their over imprudence. The remaining Banks are said to be
doing a good business, but the losses of the Australasian
and Union are said to be very heavy at their Port Phillip
Branches, which I always expected would be the case, for
nothing is of slower growth than Prosperity of a new Bank
and no transactions more unsafe than extensive ones
on the part of a Bank in a new District of Country –
where the Wealth & Reserves of discounting Parties cannot
be ascertained for the first years.

The Accounts from Sydney, after the Harvest now gathering in
must possess high Interest with all of us. I do not expect
anything satisfactory to reach London before next Summer
It is pleasing in the Mean time to find your good Mother writing
so cheerily respecting the Seasons, & the aspect of the Country.
I think James has done wise to decline the offer made to
him by the Governor, for it is not satisfactory to waste ones
valuable time upon political Squabbles & party strife of which
there would appear to prevail "quantum suff" in the Colony –