| Description | He generally defers writing letters until the mail from home is announced, but this time the steamer starts earlier, so he cannot answer his father's letters, and writes in ignorance about how Louisa is. William was pleased with her sober letter about Mr [Reginald Dykes] Marshall, although she is sad to leave home. He hopes that Marshall will be worthy of her. Bella's descriptions [Isabella Herschel] he takes with a grain of salt and she is prejudiced because of the Marshall sisters. William discusses the marriage further, presuming it is no longer a secret, having received a letter from Jimmy Stewart referring to the wedding. He cannot find anything to send to Louisa. He asks for a well bound and silver clasped Bible and prayer book to be selected for Louisa on his behalf, enclosing some writing to be placed within it [not present]. He also asks for two other books to be bound prettily for her, 'The Heir of Redclyffe' and 'Heartsease' [by Charlotte Mary Yonge], with one other item for £5. William has been to Berhampore, where he present at the christening of Mrs Watson's baby, standing as proxy for one of the godfathers. He had a fifty mile ride and was just in time for a party at Colonel Macgregor's. He is well and takes some pleasure in the small results of his labours. He asks about the telescope he requested for Nicholas Stewart. |