| Description | William does not know when Caroline's pictures will reach him, but she could not have chosen a better picture than [Gustav] Le Gray's which he did not think would be obtainable anywhere. He admires a fine photograph more than a fine painting, and expands upon this, stating of engravings that 'compared to the Sun's own pictures they are as flat as the paper on whcih they lie', referring to the 'absolute truthfulness' of a photrograph for him. William regrets not being able to take up photography himself, but notes his proficiency in the concertina. Old Stewart [Hay Tweeddale Stewart] will write thundering official letters of complaint, but will be reduced to tears by a simple tune. He gives news of the army waiting for reinforcements outside Dehli, which causes impatience. There are only 2,000 Chinese troops and they wait for troops from England; William worries about the possible spread of the rebellion to Bombay [Mumbai] and Madras where it would take 50,000 troops to put it down. William reassures his sister that disturbances are 500 miles away from him and there is litttle to fear in Bengal, where Indians are generally in favour of the British. He returns to music, and concertina. Hope has gone home due to illness and to attend his mother and may be able to run down to Collingwood. William's local new is all official and he gives news of cases, including the capture of one or two deserters, and fighting between Muslim sects. William has captured thirteen of the defendents and hopes to use his new powers against them. They now have troops at Berhampore who fought at Kooshab. One sensible soldier saw the picture in the Illustrated [London News] and commented that the cavary charge was not so steady ['The charge of the 3rd Bombay Cavalry at the Batle of Kooshab, 1857']. William relays the man's description of the charge on the Persian square, which was swept with grapeshot before the cavalry engaged, including [Arthur Thomas] Moore, who 'was the first man among them & that he actually did keep his horse in the midst of the bayonets'. |