| Description | He has his father's letters of 3 and 9 September and was surprised that his own had not been received as he was sure he had not missed a post. He sends this letter via Marseilles, to reassure them. A detachment of the 37th Regiment Native Infantry mutinied a few days ago at Devghur, murdering their officers. Another detachment was marching through Pulna, in William's district and they mutinied at Rampore Hat [Rampurhat], shooting an Indian officer who warned European officers to escape. This threw the district into uproar for a few days, but the troops marched off quietly to the west. William is sorry if his earlier letters have given the impression that he is out of spirits; it is the work on hand, and the evasiveness of local zermindars, cart drivers, and contractors, needed in troop movements. He notes the high wages, the percentages taken by the Darogah, and Amlah or officers of his court, who complicate the settlement of cases and give him no assistance. He gives examples of recent problems of this kind and the barbarity of the murder of 'poor MacGregor'. He thanks Maria for sketches and thinks there will be little chance to see the newly arrived Stewarts. He breaks off to go to his cutchery court, listing his cases, including a murder. In a postscript, William asks not to be urged to take a holiday, which he talks of, but only as a fancy. |