| Description | He discusses his letter-writing, considering being in India as very like Haileybury in how he communicates. Perhaps if he wrote something every day, he thinks he might give a more detailed account of his proceedings. He has had to reform himself from indolence; apart from regular duties, the climate necessitates this. He describes the daily routine of early mornings, the great thing being reading papers at breakfast and discussing events before [E C] Craster descends to the Cutchery. William discusses the effects of the climate on working, including falling asleep in court on one occasion. He spends two or three hours there, passing the rest of his day learning about the law, noting how he intends to stamp the regulations on his memory. He gets little practice at present and still finds it difficult to extract information from Craster, who is cautious about giving too general answers. He explains the mail and why she did not receive an earlier posting. He has received letters, including one from his mother about handkerchiefs, which have already arrived, and he refers to other orders, including journals. William has heard from Edward Wrench who is well and whose sister is now married. He describes the rains, with Craster saying that at Chittagong one day the rain fell at one inch per hour without pause. William's station is healthy because the river ensures a constant flow of air and the bund shuts out the miasma. He gives an account of similar circumstances in Dacca, before trees were cut down, leading to its abandonment by Europeans. In September, William is to go to Rajmahal, to assess revenue from some estates there. He must obtain a theodolite, therefore. He asks if Alick [Alexander Stewart Herschel] could enquire about photographic dishes as he has broken all of his porcelain ones and needs glass dishes. He sends pictures of himself and Craster playing chess. |