| RefNo | HSF/2/1/28 |
| Previous numbers | 32.8.13 and 32.8.13A |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter from J [John] Herschel, Roorkee, to 'Dearest Mama' [Margaret Brodie Herschel] |
| Creator | Herschel; John (1837-1921); British army officer and astronomer |
| Date | 30 April-2 May 1859 |
| Description | She will be glad to receive the letter from Willy [William James Herschel] which he has asked John to pass on via Bombay [Mumbai]. William has exposed himself unnecessarily, but has received kudos for it. John relates talking to a man named Chapman, a magistrate in Bijnour [Bijnor], showing him the letter and his reactions; giving Willy the Shahabad district in its present troubled state is a great compliment to him, considering he was recalled from six of seven hundred miles from leave. John is thankful to Willy for taking him about the country, since daily conversation often turns to a place he knows, more or less. Most officers have been through the recent two campaigns and refer to them, which would be tedious if he had no knowledge of places. He gives an example of a man named Stewart who was part of the Lucknow garrison and told wonderful stories of their sufferings in the Residency, and of Dehli. John completes his relation of his and Willy's travels, from Cawpore [Kanpur] to Dehli, by buggy. He describes the places they visited, including the Jama Masjid and Cashmere [Kashmiri] Gate, learning Dehli from a minaret of the Masjid. He refers to photographs of Lucknow and Dehli which he hopes his mother has received - the panorama from the minaret is the most perfect he thinks, showing under a microscope what he could only verify by telescope. The outside of buildings in India are preferable to the inside, he states. He was disappointed in the Cashmere Gate but later read a journal of the siege and send photographs to show the devastation caused by continuous firing. He describes the siege and the Dehli fortifications, with a small sketch of the wall and ditch. John continues with a visit to the vaults and Humayun's tomb, 'very handsome'. At that point Willy was recalled and they proceeded to Meerut where they separated. [Continuing on 2 May] His two boxes arrived that morning. He got saddlery in Calcutta and can get any furniture he needs from local workmen. The weather is bearable, and he describes putting a thermometer into a glass of drinking water, which stood at 75 degrees. He notes mail received and that he saw Miss Curwen in Calcutta and was pleased with her. |
| Extent | 8p. |
| Format | Manuscript |
| PhysicalDescription | Ink on paper |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA7955 | Herschel; John (1837 - 1921); Colonel; military engineer, surveyor and astronomer | 1837 - 1921 |