Ivy Lane, Paternoster Row, they will send you a catalogue of books published by them, in which you will find descriptions of nearly all that I have mentioned and plenty of others.  You can order those you want direct from them, or get them through a local stationer.  I expect you to acquire some practice at printing, and ornamental writing, in the Bank.  If you have a steady hand, you should exercise yourself at it as much as possible, and learn mechanical drawing at the same time.  Draftsmen get well paid out here, and are greatly in demand.  Being able to print neatly and evenly is the main point:  all the rest is easily learned.  My hand is very unsteady, as you may see by my writing; I do not think I shall ever be able to write a decent hand.  One other piece of advice I must give you before I shut up; that is, never try to show off your knowledge, especially in scientific matters.  It is a sin that certain persons we know have been guilty of.  The first step is to learn your own ignorance, and if ever you feel inclined to make a display, you may be sure that you have as yet learned nothing.  I think I must write to mamma next time.  Give my love to her, the girls, old Anne, Aunt M., Miss R., etc., and when you write, tell me what has become of Farwell, and any others of our schoolmates you may know about.

Your affectionate brother,

William J. Wills.

. . .

St. Arnaud, April 10th, 1858.

My dear mother,

It is all very well to say write about anything, but it is easier said than done.  You will find that I have written Charley a long letter, and I had no idea of doing so when I began, as you see I commenced on note paper.  But what would be the use of my writing to you on such subjects, and all others are soon disposed of? (You would not think I was a surveyor, to look at the parallelism of these lines.) You tell me in one of your letters to write about myself.  That is a very poor subject, and one that a mother should not recommend to a son.  My father sent me a letter of yours a few weeks ago, and I cannot say whether it most amused or pained me to see the extraordinary way in which you rush to conclusions.  Your argument appears to be this:  J. is acquainted with a Mr. T. another Mr. T. has taken out some Miss G. G.’s, about whom there are scandalous reports (which are as likely to be false as true):  therefore J. is sure to fall in love with one of the Miss G. G.’s.  As it happens, J. has not had the pleasure of meeting any of the Miss G. G.’s, and it is quite probable that he never may, as Australia is not a little place like Totnes; and I do not think he would have any wish to connect himself with the G. family, or with any family in marriage, at present.  There is another thing, my dear mother, in that letter.  You talk about high and low people; I presume you use the words in a very different sense from that in which I understand them.  I consider nothing low