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30 Nov 55 Peter Balaclava Father 1, Hyde Park Place ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Balaclava 30th Nov 1855

My dear Father

By the last mail which arrived when the next should have done so, I am happy to say I received a letter from home & one from you enclosed. Not one however gives me any information as to what is coming out for me.

I hear simply that it is a case of warm things & being therefore in a state of uncertainty as to what is coming & whether I shall ever get them at all, I am in doubt as to whether, at each possible opportunity, to lay in something warm – for opportunities do not occur when you want them to out here.

I have therefore asked John to draw a few different things for me which are absolutely necessary, namely a good warm overcoat, a pair of jack boots and a fur cap. The coat I have already got. It is a seal skin coat – warm & waterproof & the same as has been served out to all the officers.

We shall be off from here in about a week – nevertheless until you hear to the contrary, direct all letters to Balaclava, for that is Headquarters. It is quite uncertain where we go to but I will let you know.

John was down here yesterday. The weather was fine but still showery & gloomy & Balaclava was in an awful state. John left his two turkeys on Board here, being rather short of food and the other morning one was brought up to me completely eaten by the rats. All his head and all his insides were completely gone yet not a feather on his body was displaced.

I have a splendid fur coat I bought at Balchik for 35s but being rather elaborate is only fit for wearing as a sort of dressing gown or on very cold days on Board. Outside it is of Turkish cloth & of a light colour & the inside is lined with Wolf and lamb skin, the latter at the back & the former being visible. It is not a coat I could or rather should like to walk about in, as it has too much of the Turk in it. But it is a coat that will defy all cold and in which I could, if brought to extremities, pass the winter comfortably.

I have no news but hope you will let me have a little that is by sending out the Illustrateds which contain weekly news. Thanks for the box of clothing &c. & love to all.

Yr. affect son

Peter Laurie

Thank Mary for all the letters she has written. I have received one from her in six months. It is exceedingly disinterested of her to be so fond of her brother! Is she alive? PL