| Description | He thanks Alick for his discussion on mortars. There is an artillery officer based with the regiment at Aurangabad who was at Addiscombe, and who has never heard of the use of shells from long guns. Lancaster guns use solid shot and he considers it impossible to fire a shell. He also did not know that the Minié rifle was an ordinary one, and that the Minié ball was the peculiarity. William thinks that Alick will be at Cambridge when he receives this letter and wonders how he can obtain items he would like for Gray. William has given up his intensions in photography until he is a magistrate, but he cannot neglect his promise to [John James] Gray, who has no-one to trust in England. Reliable friends at home are a blessing and there are many in India who have lost all connection with England, and who have no permanent friends in India. He asks Alick to write to Thomas, giving him a list of articles of photographic equipment to be sent overland to India. The glass dishes must be packed as well as his own. They are to be sent to J J Gray, care of Jardine Skinner and Company, Calcutta [Kolkata]. |