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11 Sep 55 Peter on board 'Alipore' Father ______________________________________________________________________________________________

September 11th 1855

‘Alipore’ Kamiesh

My dear Father

I know you will excuse my not writing to you as of course all letters to my Mother include yourself, & everyone & any one who take an interest in them.

I have by this mail written her a long letter in which you will find all the news – of the taking of (or rather the evacuation of) Sebastopol, which however only made a few hours difference in its fate. Thankful however, we ought to be that by that, perhaps 20,000 lives have been saved. We expected a loss of 30,000 & there has scarcely been 1000 killed & wounded as far as I can ascertain, for it is not at all known yet.

Poor Julius is amongst the number but he bears it well. I do not think to look at him, you would find out that anything was the matter & he is as cheerful as ever. But it does not do to excite him as that may do him great injury & the quieter he keeps the better.

He will not be able to leave his bed for some time but I do not think it is one fourth so bad as they make it out. If he is reported severely wounded, remember this: before that come mortally, dangerously & very severely & you will find that after severely comes slightly only, of which you or rather he already had experience.* In fact slightly means nothing.

Ernest has come back very soon – he was so bad – John says he was quite surprised to hear it for he told him that he did not intend stopping till he got home. This life does not (at) all suit him – he longs to be home again.

The mare has arrived but I should say at a very inappropriate moment for not only has John been told to get rid of all horses but one, but he has just got a Russian out of Sebastopol with horses & all for which he paid (some one who [was] walking off with it) 5s. Then comes the mare which alone will digest all the allowances on which of yore the other ponies lived.

The ship has been for the last week striking on the rocky ground here & she has been, I am afraid, seriously injured. The Captain has been making a great row about it & has I believe written to Mr L to say he ought to go into Dock. So if you see Mr L, ask him about it and let me hear what he says for I am rather anxious to know what will be done with the ship this winter – being anything but desirous of stopping here.

I have not yet got my things round from Balaclava – the weather has been so windy that no vessel has been able to leave. I however hear some steamer has arrived & must look her up.

My Mother, has all the news – & to her letter I must refer you & believe me ever

your affect. Son

Peter Laurie

* experience – Julius had been slightly injured on 24^th August. (See 1855.08.27; 1855.09.01 and 1855.09.03)