In 1844 my father died. he had come to
Valparaiso from Lima. I was the only one
of the family who could be present at
his burial.
In 1845 I was sent to Coquimbo by
Alison Cumberlege +Co with their power of
Attorney to assist Mr David Ross in
the purchase of Copper ores for shipment
to England.
The business turned out to be a bad one,
purchasing was stopped at Coquimbo +
I was sent to Huasco in 1846 to wind up
an Agency which had been opened
there.
In 1847 Alison Cumberlege +Co failed.
Meanwhile Mr Alison had come out to
Establish a smelting works in Coquimbo
(Herradura bay) + I was engaged by
him as general Clerk to the Mexican +
South American Comp of which he
was Manager. About the end of 1847
I took my post as Bookkeeper Cash Keeper
sampler +c +c. I was then 21½ years old.
I remained in this capacity - second in
authority till the year 1852 when in
September I took a trip to London:
the Company had agreed to put up
(Continued on Page 4)
