| Description | It has been pouring letters from Pekin [Beijing] and they have been a pleasure. He discusses the effect of having children, and compares 'Tommy' [Amelia's son] to 'Johnny' [his own]. He gives an extended description of the child John Charles William Herschel, his development, appearence, and his relationship with his sister. He also gives an account of 'little Emmy' [Emma Dorothea Herschel] and her learning to date. He has heard sad news of Alick [Alexander] Gordon, who has been suspended from command 'for some inappropriate conduct', but William does not know what. They have settled down in Hooghly, where William is acting as a Judge. They enjoyed the letters from the Japan seas, but were disappointed in Amelia's description of Peking. William gives thanks to Tom for the copy of Virgil, which is never far from his side, and he hopes that Tom 'will not ruin us in opium'. With a one-line postscript by Anne Emma Herschel. |