Letter from Mary Cornwallis Herschel, to [John Herschel] The midday post brought John's letter but she has had little time to think. Yesterday she had a headache and took chloral, intending to keep still. Esther came with a note from Captain [John Pearse] MacLear. He had come with Dr [Thomas] Thompson, 'as great a botanist as King Solomon'. Mary gives an account of the visit, 'a little grey man in nickerbockers, very gentle & intelligent & rather dirty'. Today he went up to Ooty where [J Norman] Lockyer is, but will be back that afternoon. MacLear hopes to see John at Raichore. 19 December [1871]