| Description | He expresses his gratitude for Margaret's proposal 'to adopt our poor lassie...into your own family'. If they are spared for the next eighteen or twenty-four months he will receive her back. He will leave his wife to talk over details, sparing Margaret from long correspondence. He thanks her for her communication regarding the boys in her Christmas letter to Willy [William James Herschel], which he saw in William's bible. He does not neglect this, or his prayers. Duncan discusses William's health. He has passed the Hindi examination and will receive his diploma and 800 rupees, as did his ally [William] Waterfield the month before. Duncan thinks she should get William recommended to the Governor General by the Duchess of Gordon or by Lord Aberdeen. William will now begin service, seeing the country and learning about the people and their laws. |