Record

HSF - Correspondence of Sir John Frederick William Herschel, and the Herschel family
- 2 - Correspondence of Colonel John Herschel
  - 3 - Letters of John Herschel to Mary Cornwallis Herschel [formerly Power, née Lipscomb]

RefNo	HSF/2/3/10
Previous numbers	600/31/88 and 600/31/88A-B
Level	Item
Title	Letter from John Herschel, Muktul, to [Mary Cornwallis Herschel]
Creator	Herschel; John (1837-1921); British army officer and astronomer
Date	19-20 January 1872
Description	He is not getting on as quickly as expected, having to drag twelve carts across the river. There were four more miles to go before the camp ground, but fortunately there was a bungalow. The country 'must be a foretaste of hell in the hot weather'. He comments upon the noise of children and on postal arrangements. He has made a copy map for her [not present] to explain where he is. He is having to make short marches because of the sandy state of the tracks. This sort of life is less to his taste: he cannot drive men and there is no leading them. He rarely looks at his books because of the trouble it takes to unload them. [From 20 January] There is a boisterous Indian cavalry regiment in front of the bungalow and their horses scream and fight continuously. He discusses the post and his receipt of letters and explains the difference between his contingent bills and salary bills, and payment of expenses. He comments upon food and drink, noting that he tales little wine or brandy, sometimes claret and water because plain water is 'nauseous'. He thinks that he and Mary are better apart. He has received the 'Astronomical phenomena' and he comments upon that. He is thankful that Mary is not with him, as he would have to make her put up with hardships, and he has little time other than that for observing. Her accounts of her well-being are doubly welcome, therefore. He refers to her ferns, April being the limit of his work, and sending her mails for the Tichborne reports.
Extent	12p.
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

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