| Description | William thanks her for a 'delicious letter' of 2 January, which included a description of the christmas tree. He sends a cloth sample [not present], asking for a couple of yards of the same texture in any dark colour, to make neckties. The previous ones have become washed out and local ties are expensive. He would like three colours, including black. He is thinking of appointing Bella [Isabella Herschel] as his agent for home accounts. William left £50 with his father of which he has spent £8, leaving enough for future orders of this kind. His uncle's sale [Duncan Stewart] has gone ahead, the pictures doing well but for less than he paid for them. William bought a dinner service and other tableware. William also sold a bookcase for a profit. As yet, he does not know his work destination and intends to see Mr [Cecil] Beadon again. He has had an ulcerated throat and some fever and having lost time the outcome of the next examination is not as certain as he thought. His earlier papers, including translation into Bengali, were well thought of. He can talk to Indians more easily. He gives directions for his mail, being now at Seelpore with the Cowrie family, although his domicile is at Miss Wright's boarding house in Calcutta. |