Record

HSF - Correspondence of Sir John Frederick William Herschel, and the Herschel family
- 3 - Letters of William James Herschel
  - 17 - Letters from William James Herschel, largely to family members, with related correspondence

RefNo	HSF/3/17/2
Level	Item
Title	Letter from William James Herschel and Anne Emma Herschel, Shewaree [Sheware], to 'Dearest Mother' [Margaret Brodie Herschel]
Creator	Herschel; Sir William James; second baronet (1833-1917); British developer of fingerprinting and judge
Creator	Herschel; Anne Emma (née Hardcastle) (1836-1873); British
Date	21 January 1869
Description	They are near to the centre of India, William writes, after a fifteen hour journey. Emma and the children have managed the journey well. He relates what they did in the Mediterranean, being taken to Ramleh, 'a kind of Margate', by [John Robinson] Maclean and Abernilty, one of his engineers. He describes the area, where there are fifty or sixty European houses, and a walk to the beach 'said to be the site of old Alexandria'. He discusses the resemblance to the banks of the Ganges, and Abernilty pointed out the site of Caesar's camp, the shore upon which Sir Ralph Abercromby landed, and the mosque in which he died. William describes the location of 'the great needle' ['Cleopatra's needle'] in a mason's yard, the lower hieroglyphics being defaced by the numerous heavy stones being propped against it. He thinks it a pity, while Mr [Ferdinand de] Lesseps is sending masses of iron across the sea, that nothing is being done for it. William thinks that moving it to England is not the right thing to do, but the mason's yard might be bought and the monument railed off and presented to the Egyptian Government. They failed to see the Suez Canal because of problems with the trains. The only highlight of their sea voyage was the capture of 'a brown pollywiggle' [jellyfish] which he sketches twice, once showing its internal structure. They looked at other creatures though the microscope, but conditions in the steamer saloon were not good enough for drawing them. He describes the aneroid [barometer] falling as he ascended the Ghats. William is willing to undertake a judgeship now, if ordered to do so, but he will decline it if it is offered. He mentions seeing Graham in Alexandria, but not liking him. He gives messages for Mr Jeffreys, including the family links of the captain of the 'Salsette' [to Sir Woodbine Parish]. He sends to his father an abstract of observations by [Captain Alfred] Parish from twelve years at sea, showing a connection between weather and the Moon [not present]. He comments to Bella [Isabella Herschel] on 'The Roman and the Teuton' by [Charles] Kingsley, pleasant reading although William does not like his style. He discusses other reading material and playing chess with Emma. In a postscript, Emma asks if the letter could be sent to New Lodge.
Extent	8p.
Format	Manuscript
PhysicalDescription	Ink on paper
AccessStatus	Open

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