| RefNo | HSF/2/1/47 |
| Previous numbers | 32.8.30 and 32.8.30A |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter from J [John] Herschel, Murree, to 'Dearest Mother' [Margaret Brodie Herschel] |
| Creator | Herschel; John (1837-1921); British army officer and astronomer |
| Date | 20-24 May 1860 |
| Description | He could not go on with his letter to Bella [Isabella Herschel] and was disappointed with the 'salt range' hills and the country to the north. His party marched for nine or ten days over the barren country to Rawalpindi, and he was not in a geological frame of mind because of the heat. John described a deer stalk along the route in which he missed his shot and the heat of the barrel forced him to use a handkerchief to hold it. He reached Murrie [Murri] in three days from Rawalpindi and found [James Palladio] Basevi's house after some difficulty. Basevi is now on his way back from the Wuzeeree [Waziri] expedition. Since arriving they have had constant cloud and rain. He and [Henry Ravenshaw] Thuillier intend to rent a house together, although the rents are enormous and the houses bad. John describes a typical house and the terms, but notes that he does not know where he likely to be sent for the next season. [From 24 May] The computations are going at a great pace, but there is a holiday for the Queen's birthday that day. The weather has improved and the place is superior to Mussorie for scenery, which he describes, including the pine trees. The view is good, but cannot compare to the Kinchinjunga [Katchenjunga] as seen from Darjeeling, although Murree is alive with nature, and he notes cuckoos, lizards and bees. John relates an incident on the road to Abbotabad, then under construction; while leading his horse, the animal tumbled down the hillside, but survived. He has not heard from Willy [William James Herschel] but he is constantly in the newspapers, and receiving abuse, including as 'the Boy Magistrate'. John received letters from Maria and Bella on 26 March and 11 April respectively. He sends a pamphlet on the Kashmir Survey, referring to the mistake he made about K2 being higher than Mount Everest. |
| Extent | 7p. |
| 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 |