| Description | He acknowledges his sister's choice of paper and her letter of 18 September. He explains the state of his language examinations. His uncle has not given up his house and William has had no further contact with Sir L P [Lawrence Peel]. Cary has been reported at Abergeldie, which William has a sketch of. There follows news of mutual acquanitances and a section of letter scored through. William outlines the monthly language examinations and the progress of his friend Hope, who is working hard. William thinks that in his last letter he said that he would try to achieve higher proficiency in Persian and Arabic, but on consideration he has decided that Bengalese would be more useful, and its sister language 'Hindee'. He encloses [not present] collodion photographs by [Theodore F] Reinecke, describing one showing part of Chowringhee Road and he sends an explanatory plan [again, not present]. William refers to several details, including vehicles, kranchies, in the foreground, commenting upon their frailty, including an anecdote of men sitting through the bottom of one. Another photograph shows a mosque. Captain [Henry Edward Landor] Thuillier went to Balgatchie, near Dum Dum, and the residence of Dwarkanath Tagore. William describes the building, which he visited on Sunday. There was a 'lovely little retreat', a lake hidden in bamboo, alive with fish and birds. He returns to the orders of items he requires, noting chemicals, but he can dispense with the retort. He would like pictures, including of his mother and father, the arrangement of which he will leave to his sister. He requests stereoscopes, not so highly coloured and 'be-powdered'. There are many family groups there, but he hopes his 'will not be the worst in Calcutta'. |