| RefNo | HSF/2/1/30 |
| Previous numbers | 32.8.15 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter from J [John] Herschel, Roorkee, to 'Dearest Bella' [Isabella Herschel] |
| Creator | Herschel; John (1837-1921); British army officer and astronomer |
| Date | 12 July 1859 |
| Description | John missed the last mail and hopes that did not make her anxious; she should suspect that something may have happened to him if he missed three or four mails in succession. He too has not had letters from home via the Bombay [Mumbai] and Calcutta [Kolkata] mails, his father's of 3 May being the last. Their latest newspapers are from 11 June and he hears that Lord Derby is out. He discusses post, and his father's letter advising on being careful about what he drinks. The climate agrees with him and apart from his old headaches, he is healthy. The rainy season should be upon them, but they have had no rain for three weeks. John did intend to reserve his choice of departments until he had seen them all, although he leaned towards the [Great Trigonometrical] Survey. Having heard that there might be vacancies, he wrote to Colonel [Andrew Scott] Waugh to request an appointment to the Trigonometrical Survey. He has not had a reply, but thinks it probable that he will succeed. It gives higher pay but requires more work. He supposes Isabella has heard of disturbances among the European troops and he outlines the petition for discharges occasioned by the move from [East India] Company service to Queen's service for the enlisted men. But because of the two oaths they took, they are as much Queen's troops as Company's. They were in the wrong, John thinks, but a general order was issued allowing the option of discharge, which he considers farsighted. Hundreds have taken discharge, for which Lord Canning is being blamed. |
| Extent | 8p. |
| Format | Manuscript |
| PhysicalDescription | Ink on paper |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA7955 | Herschel; John (1837 - 1921); Colonel; military engineer, surveyor and astronomer | 1837 - 1921 |