| RefNo | HSF/2/1/23 |
| Previous numbers | 32.8.8 and 32.8.8A |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter from J [John] Herschel, Steamer 'Bengal', Red Sea, to 'Dearest Papa' [John Frederick William Herschel] |
| Creator | Herschel; John (1837-1921); British army officer and astronomer |
| Date | December 1858 |
| Description | He writes from near Aden, where he expects to be that night. The ship has been delayed by a strong head-wind. He despatched a first letter from Malta. They got ashore on Malta about half-an-hour before dusk and had little time to see anything. He did not enjoy the opera, since the play 'Maria di Rohan' [by Gaetano Donizetti] was unknown to him, as was the language. They sailed at daylight and made Alexandria in three days, stopping that night in a hotel. He refers his father to a description of Marseilles on a hot day in 'Little Dorrit', which he has been reading, to give him an idea of the heat in Alexandria, Cairo and Aden. The streets were full of dragomen and donkey boys and he describes the streets of Alexandria and Cairo. He travelled by rail from Cairo. The 'Bengal' had been telegraphed and with boarding information they set out by rail for Suez. John describes his travelling difficulties with hotels and flies before joining the ship and sailing the Red Sea for Aden harbour. |
| Extent | 8p. |
| Format | Manuscript |
| PhysicalDescription | Ink and pencil on paper |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA7955 | Herschel; John (1837 - 1921) | 1837 - 1921 |