Record

RefNoHSF/3/17/3
LevelItem
TitleLetter from William James Herschel, Allahabad, to 'Dearest Father' [Sir John Frederick William Herschel]
CreatorHerschel; Sir William James; second baronet (1833-1917); British developer of fingerprinting and judge
Date27 January 1869
DescriptionWriting from the third resting place in their journey across India, William was expecting to hear about his next post. He is enjoying time with [William] Waterfield, whom he thinks ought to be in English literary society, not India. William believes that Waterfield will be Finance Minister of India, unless he is used by some clever man in that office. He describes the life of Waterfield and his wife and Waterfield's decision on whether to stay beyond twenty-five years' service. William's inclination to to go home, as his mother wishes, but he may not be able to do so. His appointment has come through, as Judge of Dacca [Dhaka], which would give him £650 more than the post he wanted, the Collectorship of Burdwan [Bardhaman]. He considers himself untrained in civil justice and the whole of Hindu and Islamic law, but he will follow the advice given by his father before they parted. He thinks that Dacca will suit Emma, and he gives a brief description of the city. They will start for Calcutta [Kolkata] and will be in Dacca in a fortnight, but letters shoud still be addressed via Cowrie and Company. He has just seen Colonel Stewart Allen and his wife; the Colonel is improved, and he will likely stay on for another eleven years, to raise his pension.
Extent6p.
FormatManuscript
PhysicalDescriptionInk on paper
AccessStatusOpen
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