| Description | He lost the last mail due to forgetfulness, explaining his reasons. As another reason, he is sure that the mail will have informed home about the terrible massacre at Dehli and the troops' mutiny. Although Dehli is many hundreds of miles away. 'yet a mutiny like this spreads like a flash of fire through a barnyard'. There was anxiety a fortnight ago and there are broken hearts now: it is still unknown how many people have been murdered. He notes the cruelty involved and thinks that the crisis is now passed, but sends his letter via Marseilles to reassure his family. He sends photographs of elephants taken by [John James] Gray. The Central Committee has taken compassion on William and he has passed his examinations, although he has not yet been notified officially. This will be his last examination and will yield an extra £120 in a few weeks and another £240 a year besides that. He will probably be promoted to a new district. [William] Waterfield has been ordered away from Berhampore. William thinks he has himself not been liked in general society in India, but he received a letter of congratulations from Mrs Watson, expressing the delight of his friends, and the first letter he has received from a lady in India. He has heard that it is in print that the rings of Saturn will fall into the planet in twelve years, which he does not quite believe, but he would like to know something of the probability. He has been observing Venus and Jupiter with Mr Dawes's telescope, which he has got back, giving the finder 10 rupees. He can see the rings of Saturn with it. His law books have arrived safely. He gives thanks for Carry's selection of photographs, saying that 'the sea piece by Legray is I believe the finest photograph in existence'. [Gustave Le Gray]. |