| Description | He has the letters from two mailings which arrived close together, including about their mother's indisposition. He refers to his father's work at the [Royal] Mint where he has 'carried out the reformation of a purely practical piece of official machinery', and William launches into a reverie on reason and faith. In a later continuation of the letter he comments on the cold. He has been out with Craster for a fortnight in tents doing settlement work. He explains the tribute that has to be paid according to land, and once fixed is perpetual. Tenants who refuse to pay have their land sold, a matter of common occurrence and a loss to the Government. This can be caused by excessive assessments and no-one will buy the land because it is rendered unprofitable. The Government can then buy it for a nominal sum. Craster and William are now testing the surveyor's measurements and descriptions of land. He notes a Royal christening 'The conduct of the Queen is really very pretty'. He compliments Alick [Alexander Stewart Herschel] and Johnny [John Herschel] as correspndents and says he has enough dishes for now. |