Letter from J [John] Herschel, Calcutta [Kolkata], to 'Dearest Mama' [Margaret Brodie Herschel] He cannot give a long account of his doings from the last fortnight. He is back in Calcutta and is about to leave for Roorkee. He was six days in travelling from Darjeeling, stopping with Waterfield at Dinagepore , at Grey's house near Maldah and at Stewart's. Family letters have been received and John gives details of mailings and dates. His companions on the voyage have all scattered. Maclaren has gone to Roorkee, Danbury and Westmoreland to Bengal. He does not mind being passed over as he prefers the north-west, and he will be able to go up-country with Willy [William James Herschel]. Calcutta is beginning to get hot, and it is only February, but the north-west is comparatively cool. He asks that his father is told that John's box, sent via the Cape, has arrived. He has not seen it yet. The watch goes beautifully. He and Willy will be off in the morning. Willy's concertina has arrived. He has avoided writing about Darjeeling, but he will do so later. He gives details of tomorrow's planned journey, by rail and horse dak to Benares [Varanasi], and then to Allahabad [Prayagraj], Cawnpore [Kanpur] and to Roorkee. 20 February 1859