| Description | Mary thinks that the post office was at fault in deliveries, rather than her, giving details of the dates of her letters and where they were directed. She congratulates John in his victory over the Accountant General. She hopes he has written to Mr Porter [?]. The Scotts were occupying the Herschels' house until they could take posession of Sydney Park, but she believes it may now be unoccupied. She objects to his coming to Ootacamund if he has to go back to Bangalore, saying that she should go home first, to be there when he arrives. Cutting short her stay will not be a sacrifice, since the weather is turning bad and the place will soon be full of people. If he can give her a date, she will aim to be a few days in advance of him at Bangalore. Esther has been melancholy, but since the 'Ferns of Southern India' has arrived, she is more cheerful and is knowledgable, Mary giving an illustrative anecdote. She sends a specimen of [James Russell] Lowell's 'Under the Willows' saying that the 'Commemoration Ode' is 'a really noble poem'. She has written to the Bangalore postmaster with little effect. Francis, her servant, wishes to accompany her to Bangalore. |