| RefNo | HSF/2/3/30 |
| Previous numbers | 600/31/107 and 600/31/107A-B |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter from John Herschel, [station] XXXII, to 'My dear darling' [Mary Cornwallis Herschel] |
| Creator | Herschel; John (1837-1921); British army officer and astronomer |
| Date | 9 March 1872 |
| Description | He writes at 3.00am after working all night and having to get up at daylight to take down the Sector before it gets too hot. Her note of the 29th reached him last evening therefore they are seven days apart. He notes postal instructions, but is not sure of the routes. He thinks that in thirteen days he will start along a highway with post offices, and gives a possible itinerary. He cannot agree with her about her brother's indelicacy, as he may have erred on the side of zeal on her behalf, and Mr Rawden has not much ground for offence. He will probably welcome any means of quitting the trusteeship and Herschel thinks Rawden has been neglecting his duty. He discusses their financial situation, and the loss of about half their five years' savings. He feels ashamed of the richness of his remuneration as his physical discomforts are not to be measured in rupees. He is sorry that letters should have come to him due to misdirection. He narrates a case of snakebite in the camp last night and a suspected case of smallpox contracted by Mr Price, from whom he thinks the chances of infection are quite small. He cannot recall what he has sent to Mary apart from copies of the Spectator. He gathers she may have been more unwell than he thought. He send a little map [not present] with a dotted line for his route. Somtana is a considerable hill and he would not have observed there except that Basevi had done so. |
| Extent | 10p. |
| 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 |