| RefNo | HSF/2/1/59 |
| Previous numbers | 32.8.42 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter from J H [John Herschel], Camp somewhere in Bhawalpoor [Bahawalpur], to 'Dearest Mother' [Margaret Brodie Herschel] |
| Creator | Herschel; John (1837-1921); British army officer and astronomer |
| Date | 29 November 1861 |
| Description | He sends this letter forty miles to Bawalpoor [Bahawalpur], the nearest post office. All of his letters and newspapers since he left Dehra have been sent towards Ferozpore [Firozpur] in expectation of meeting him. Since he is short of hands this year, he cannot easly send for them. His writing hand is cramped because his fingers are stiff with cold; he predicts a long and bitter winter and discusses Indian weather. He hopes for a long and good season's observing work, although many of his hands are new 'and others perverse'. He asks that she tell his father that he received the [Louis] Puissant thanks to a boat accident which allowed him to send to Firozpur, where the two volumes were waiting. He thinks it feeble, lacking in method and shows ignorance of England. John expects a meeting with the Nawab, since he will be at a station a few miles from Ahmedpur, where the Nawab resides. John feels sure the Nawab will seek an interview, which he does not look forward to, explaining that his Hindustani is not sufficiently pure, and to make matters worse, Persian is often spoken. John is in constant fear of committing a breach of etiquette, and will not be uncivil 'though I know he's supposed to be generally the worse for liquor'. He promises to send an account to his mother. |
| Extent | 4p. |
| Format | Manuscript |
| PhysicalDescription | Ink on paper |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA7955 | Herschel; John (1837 - 1921) | 1837 - 1921 |