| Description | He received Herschel's letter that day and comments on his own letter-writing habits. He has been turned out of his adjutant's role, and is a gentleman at large, with the offer of going to Hong Kong to study Tamil. He can speak this, but he has not passed it 'for political reasons'. He has been working on Major J [John] Harling Maxwell to let him go to Bengal. Maxwell is a cousin, but others will not let Robertson go. He and Roberts have been sent to South Arcot to learn what he was teaching three years ago, on surveying, levelling and mensuration. He relates having breakfast with the Governor, Sir C [Charles] Trevelyan, and making 'a hash of it', forgetting his spectacles and later referring to Lord Derby when the Governor was behind him. He gives news of mutual acquaintances, including Ferrar [?], Bill Conningham and Le Mesurier. Robertson fiddles for three to five hours a day and Herschel would not know his playing now. He gives more news of others, and notes his and Herschel's shared interests. Roberts remembered meeting Herschel at his brother's near Tunbridge Wells, and thought Herschel looked as if he came from Addiscombe. |