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18 May 57 John Dublin Mother ______________________________________________________________________________________________

My dear Mother

I got your letter this morning & am glad to hear that all are well. I am still very busy getting my outfit & find it wonderfully easy to get rid of money.

I have had to take over the payment of a Company & expect that will be rather a losing concern as all the men seem inclined to bolt & they are most of them in debt. I am obliged to keep them supplied with necessaries of clothing &c. & then off they go before paying me for them.

The wind is very strong & clouds of dust are flying about making it most disagreeable to go out & yet stay in, I cannot.

Our mess is broken up but the Guards have made us honorary members of their mess & we breakfast there & dine anywhere about.

I have asked Captain Pitt to send my rifle to H.P.P. for Peter to take out with him as it will be too late for me now.

I must write & thank Dr Meryon for his letter to Dr Sandwith which may be useful. Time is running short & I must leave off at once or else I shall be too late for post.

Love to my Father & all at home from

Your affectionate Son

J Wimburn Laurie

4th K. O. Regt Dublin

May 18th /57

P.S. Don’t talk about never seeing me again. I don’t think we either of us ought to be miserable