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2 May 58 Peter Hong Kong Father ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Hong Kong

2 May 1858

My dear Father

I was just able to add as a postscript to my last letter that I had made arrangements for the purchase of a horse. It is really a remarkably nice horse & one which I now find generally admired. I am to give 250 Dollars which is exactly £59.18 – say £60. This perhaps you will think a large price for a horse, but is really very cheap for Hong Kong where horseflesh is 3 times the value it is in England & this particular horse would I believe almost fetch that price there.

The races being so lately over of course for the present lowers the price of animals. My steed ran in the late races & was to have won, only Goddard was obliged to get some one else to ride him, being himself so worn out & so he didn’t.

As a comparison of prices, Goddard has a little pony for which he wants 300 Dollars. I am on the look out for a boat but do not like to be in too great a hurry as I may pick up one cheap. And lastly I have pretty well got my room furnished and have not exceeded in my carpenter’s bill,100 Drs.

All these outlays are rather heavy at first but I hope as soon as they are over, to be able to settle down quietly & live at a moderate expense allowing as must be done, 4 times the expense of everything in England.

Still, I think even this may be moderated by having things out from England direct, instead of buying them here. I have made up my mind to employ both Chinese tailors & shoemakers against the advice of everybody & they are very moderate, for altho’ the materials have to come out from England, they do not ask more – if as much – as our own at home.

I should like Rand to send me out a nice saddle & bridle & a good hunting whip &c. These things I find are very expensive out here, the trade being monopolized by one man. But on enquiry I do not think any benefit would be derived from a spec – unless sold by retail which would take some time of course. I think, if Rand could send these out at once, properly packed, by a fast vessel round the Cape, it would be the best plan. But if there would not be much difference in the freight I would rather have them overland as I am liable to have the saddle I am at present using taken from under me at any moment. You had better send me the Bills of Lading in duplicate by different mails.

I cannot understand how it is I have not received any letters down from Shanghai as I have written to both the postmaster & Russell’s & thro’ the latter I have received both from Teddy & John. I should like to know if you have written to me there. I have only received the one letter I mentioned, dated Nov 3. which I received there. I write to my Mother & also to John by this mail. On looking at the Army list which I now see, being a member of the Club after the necessary outlay by the bye, I find that John has had a considerable lift tho’ Julius seems in the same place. This is turning the tables on what I should have expected. How is it. I have hazarded a letter to Julius thro’ Mr Mackinlay of Gillanders Arbuthnots, but I know not if it will reach him. From John I shall expect to hear direct by next mail tho’ I fear scarcely for a month or six weeks from yourself.

Goodbye from your affectionate Son

Peter G Laurie

I quite forgot. My congratulations. The last – let them not be least. I hope you are by this time in the ‘Woods & Forests’* or some equally charming situation. How long are Lord & yourself going to keep in pounds.

* ‘Woods & Forests’ – The Crown Estate, successors to the Commissioners for Woods, Forests and Land Revenues, has no record of his involvement