Tuesday, March 1st, 1898, Calcutta, India

Tuesday morning, March 1/98. Local time 7:34 – Your time 1.40 a.m.

I got letters & papers yesterday which were posted direct here, but the last you posted to Bombay I hope to get today. These Mr. Gordon retained till he knew of my arrival here, & I wired him on Saturday. Very delighted to have news of you all & to hear all’s well with you, & for this I feel deeply thankful. I am happy to say I keep well, tho’ the heat during midday is very exhausting to a new arrival like me, but I take it very leisurely & avoid exertion. Albion is very well. His slight indisposition had passed away & felt quite well the next morning. The lads had a very dirty job all yesterday, removing coals from below to the donkey engine house, & it was very difficult to recognise one’s own but for the personality. However a “tub” after tea time changed the face of each & Albi, after dressing, came ashore to the gardens where Mr. Walker, the young passenger, & I had gone at 6. All Europeans assemble here 6 to 7 to promenade & hear the music (Viceroy’s band last night), hundreds of carriages there, then after [2:59] a strain of the Nat. Anthem, they make home to dine. In the East there is no twilight. When sun set, darkness commences & it is dark till sunrise. This is throughout the year with very, very slight variation. After 7:00 we sat in the gardens awhile, then went to visit the apprentices’ resort, Mrs. Brown’s home & another, Ben Lynes. Then we returned on board about 8:30 & spent the remainder till 10 together, had a game of cards in the boys’ house: Sutton, Albi, Mr. Walker & I. I sleep very well on board & it is quiet. These past two mornings have been very foggy but it soon lifts with the sun. I was in the city yesterday forenoon, called at Graham’s & Cook’s for the letters, & took 9 spools to a photographer,[1] which I am to get on Friday. This will be too late for the mail but I shall forward them next mail & before I get away, which I hope will be Monday in the Malta. I am going up to Darjeeling, one of the sights of India. All tourists go. The mountain scenery is so grand & if no fog, Mount Ever[e]st is clearly seen. I may go tonight. It is about 22 hours’ journey. I was pleased to hear of Frank’s[2] welfare & he seems quite comfortable with good prospects. I shall write him today & I sincerely trust to meet him.

Capt. Morgan is extremely kind & a very geneial [sic] companion, which causes me to feel quite at home. I hope to do a little sight seeing this forenoon but Calcutta is not by any means so charming as Bombay.

There are numbers of magnificient ships [2:60] of the Andorinha style here & all laying near each other, & a long stretch of them down the river close into the bank. The “Zemindar” is just astern & going to load for home (Bill Owen returned home in her), “The Highfields” (Walter Clasper, poor lad, is in her) left here late in December, so Walter will meet a great & melancholy disappointment if spared to land home.[3]

The papers are very refreshing & all their contents well scanned. I was very sorry to learn from one of Albion’s letters that Mrs. Chrystal had so soon passed away. It was very kind of Willie to go to the funeral, very kind. Convey my sympathy to Mr. Chrystal first opportunity, & my dear friend Mr. Steel. I expect your next letters will announce his passing away. These changes while away from home are saddening, knowing that on returning they can’t be heard again. Willie writes very cheeringly & I feel sure he will be happy in his work. I am very gratified with all you say about his kindly attention but it is just like him & he was ever the same. I pray God to bless him. Andrew sent me a very beautiful letter indeed & I am happy to know he is so made up with his work, his position in the shop, & the piano, he has rare opportunities & I hope he may use these to advantage. My Comely will be in high feather with his g’father & aunty.[4] What an imaginative mind he has & happily it is so, as it exercises restraint of physical activity which was in childhood always a source of anxiety to us all. Bless him.

[2:61]

I’m so pleased you have g’father & Mary with you & I hope you will all be very happy & want for nothing that will add to either comfort or enjoyment. Certainly I am a highly priviliged mortal. Why I can’t understand, but the fact remains, & I think I appreciate it.

You note many enquire about me too. They with whom I am intimate, please tell them how much I think of their kind concern for me. Be sure to tell Mr. Leask how often I think of him & also Mr. Adamson. Yes, as you say (I can well understand you) how strange the impression is to you to feel & know that I am in India. I often revert to the imaginations of my mind of long ago & the desire I always felt for travel, & wondered if I ever should be able to afford a trip round the world. I was never conscious of the aim but depend upon it, there’s something in setting a goal before one’s mind & keeping it “warm”, & it’s a happy incident in my life, I assure you, to be underweigh in the carrying out of the ideal so long, long ago fixed upon my mind, & at my time of life a real renewing of one’s physical system, & I earnestly pray nothing in the way of sickness or accident may obstruct the satisfactory termination of this unique holiday. I hope I am both grateful & thankful to my God for such priviliges as I am receiving, & may the glory be to Him, & the good to His creature. Now! Good morning for the present. It’s 8:30 & I’ve to dress yet.

[1] Inserted on facing page: “Bourne & Sheppard, photographers, Calcutta”.

[2] Frank Musgrave.  The Musgrave’s were William’s wife’s mother’s relations.

[3] Inserted on facing page: “Robt. Clasper died (Walter’s father) Jan’y 1898, just before I left for my tour”.

[4] Mary, William’s sister. Living in Berwick-upon-Tweed with their father.