| Description | William gives a brief update on his fever. He has just heard that the principal offender in his afray case, Bhyrat, has been sentenced by the Sudar Nizemat court to seven years' imprisonment. Herklott was collecting defence expenses from his ryots, 500 rupees from one village. In reply to Louisa's question, William says that he does not hear much music. [William] Waterfield had complimented Mrs Watson's singing as the best in the station, but her voice is untrained. He discusses music, pleased to hear that Louisa had sung 'Ring out the wild bells'. The Watsons are doing survey work, but should return before he leaves for Kishinegar on the 4th for his examination. William has dined with Colonel Macgregor, who is Agent for the Governor General at the Court of the Nawab Nizim. He writes about salaries in India, indignant that pay may be cut. Overseer bricklayers on the railway are paid the equivalent of £300 per annum, he has learned, while his own salary is around £450. Latimer, the railway Supervisor, is in charge of constructing 15 miles of rail and receives more that £700 a year, with a house and his passage home paid, if he stays for seven years. A Magistrate of an entire District gets £1,080 per annum. Indian judges of civil courts receive 250 rupees per month, with lighter duties than William's. He continues to discuss pay levels and duties before protesting it is a poor letter to write to his sister. He is becoming better acquainted with the Pigou family but he still sees [Arthur] Pigou as too much of a martinet for India. William describes a case where prisoners might be released on a burglary charge after conviction, when the original complaint came from a wealthy man's servant, but because he omitted power of attorney, the prisoners were released on appeal. Such judicial appeals are correct but weaken the perception of the law. William notes that his examination day is on 6 April and then refers to acquaintances, including Mr Forbes. [William] Waterfield has got a promotion to 2nd Grade Joint Magistrate and Deputy Collector. Pratt goes home this mail and William asks that he should be received at Collingwood. He describes his injuries from the affray, the sword wounds not being serious since they missed bone. |