| Description | For the first time, he feels that they have family life in India, with a visit from Mary [Cornwallis Herschel]. She brings news of John [Herschel], who is quite alone in a 'wretched' part of the country, 'working as patiently as any old cart horse to catch a few glimpses of the stars'. John is still suffering from headaches, but seems better, and they have sight of the near daily letters to his wife. Mary is struggling with a cough, but 'has the true art of conversation in her'. William gives an account of the household, noting that they have been entertaining Charles Campbell, brother of the new Lieutenant Governor. He describes both Charles Campbell, and Sir George Campbell, the latter 'this headstrong theoretician'. William gives an account of the Lieutenant Governor's post-famine views on land revenue, and discusses responsibility for the storage of food: 'I think myself the State machinery should be lent to arrange Charity for such purposes'. He concludes by writing that 'I am eager to hear of John's success for the R.S. [Royal Society]. He is very modest himself about it'. |