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14 Oct 57 John Port Louis, Mauritius Father ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Port Louis, Mauritius
Octr 14th 1857
My dear Father
I received the papers you sent me referring to Mary’s settlements on Monday evening and as the mail leaves today (Wednesday) I return them at once, signed and witnessed.
I enclose a long list of things which I want. You will stare a little I daresay at the number of wants, but it is much better to get everything from home, for the prices here are awful and besides that, the things are not good.
I want a light cart – either a dog cart or a nice Whitechapel. It should be light and should be tasty, so that if we are ordered on, it may always fetch its price. I will leave all further particulars to you. I should like to have the crest on the harness. It gives more of an appearance to the thing, but do not let it be too gaudy. Horses are of all sizes here, so it must fit everything from 14 to 16 hands – at least if practicable. Without a trap, a man is quite out of the world here, unless he goes to the expense of hiring carriages, which cost £2 a day and then of course it is not half so pleasant as having ones own. I suppose I shall be allowed the usual credit from Oxford Street, or discount if I pay sooner. Of course, as soon as it is ready, if you know I am here still, they may find a passage for it round the Cape in any sailing ship. Bligh’s house have ships coming out every fortnight, so there will be no difficulty on that score. I have horse clothing etc. but it would be as well to send a supply of curry combs and brushes etc. as they all cost three times as much here as they do at home.
I should also like coat & waistcoat to match the cart to be supplied for a man about 5ft 9 inches in height and broad in proportion. Something that is fit to be seen, and in addition, pray have my servant’s old livery that is now at home, sent out to me with some spare large and small crest buttons. And another thing that must not be forgotten is a large gig umbrella, and it would be well if a step were made on one side or in the centre of the seat in which the umbrella could be fitted. I do not think of anything else just now, but have no doubt that traps for hot climates have often been made in Oxford Street and they know how to make them well suited to the place.
I also want 2 doz. pair white kid gloves, which should be good ones, size from 9¼ to 9½ and ½ dozen pair colored kid – not too dark, about 9¼ in size. These gloves should be packed with paper between each glove then soldered in a tin case, otherwise they come out here utterly destroyed by the damp etc. from the sea voyage.
Next I come to 16 yards of the very best white flannel and the same quantity of the best colored flannel of some plain dark color that I can have clothes made of to walk about in, and half a dozen of Nicholls white shirts. He has my measure for some he supplied me with in the autumn of 1856. I should like them to have the new wristbands that are worn with all shirts now a days.
Some 3 or 4 good wideawakes, as they cost 16 shillings apiece here and that is rather too much. I daresay you can find out the size of my head from some old hat at home. A couple of good dark
green silk umbrellas and a nice piece to make a dress waistcoat out of and two falling black lace ties, the same as we have always used at home. Perhaps you had better let Julius select these things and will you put all the amounts into one bill and send them out to me so that I shall know what I owe.
I have drawn a cheque for £20 since I have been here, to pay some expenses consequent on desertions before leaving Dublin and I would be much obliged if you will ask Rush to send me a statement of my account up to the 1st January 1858 so that I may start fresh from then. I would like you to pay in what you were kind enough to say you would allow me every quarter as it looks well to have large sums passing through their hands, if they even go in one week and come out the next. And I would also like you to tell Rush to honor any checks I may draw as I think you can trust me not to draw them without good reason. But supposing I buy a horse or anything of that sort, I like to draw money to pay for it at once and I will take care that it shall all be replaced in a short time.
We have had to spend a great deal of money lately in entertaining all these regiments that have passed through here, but I hope we shall be able to manage a little more economically now, for no pocket can stand the expense of this place unless a man is very, very careful. But having a horse and trap would make it far less expensive as it would save so much carriage hire.
I enclose several letters in the envelope with the documents. Please seal them and forward them to their destinations. I have very little more to say as I have scribbled a very long letter to my Mother, so you must read that. I have asked Captn Pitt whether there is any chance of my getting a depot battalion, so you may as well enquire at Horse Guards whether that could be managed before the things are got ready to be sent to me. You might ask too whether there is any chance of my getting the district inspectorship at Mauritius. I will take anything where there is work to be done and pay to be got for it, but if I am to stop here, the sooner the things I ask for come out, the sooner shall I be comfortable.
I hope to hear lots of news about you all; that Julius is getting promotion; that Arthur is working hard – or better still, to hear that he has passed; that Frankie and Alfred are quite well and little Helen too, and that you and my Mother, after all the troubles you have lately gone through, are getting quite well and happy again and that your tour in Wales may have set you up again and made you both hearty and well and hoping you may long remain so and when my holidays come, that I may find you so.
Believe me ever,
Your affectionate Son
J Wimburn Laurie
4th The Kings Own Regt
Octr 13th [sic] /57