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24 Jun 59 Julius Camp Fyzabad Mother Hyde Park (West) ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Camp Fyzabad

24 June /59

My dear Mother

Yr letter of May 11th, my Father’s of 24th April & those of the two boys have reached me all right.

By the way, you all persist in directing ‘Bengal’. Now this place is in Oudh & a very long way from the former Province.

I am glad my Father did not go down to Barnstaple to be defeated. I quite agree with him that a little rest from his labours will do him all the good in the world.

You mention about the Hills having come into £3,000 a year, something like a fortune that. I suspect that theirs is a better line of business than the Army.

Talking of money, did I tell you before that Arthur had written to me explaining in a very general way, how he had continued to go through so much money in so short a time, but as his letter did not go into any details I told him to let me have another.

He is only 100 miles or so from here but I can never get an answer out of him for at least a fortnight. I suppose he does not trouble himself about writing.

John tells me that he sent him £20 & as I never yet gave him anything I sent him £15 the other day. I have advised him to pay off & dismiss half his servants & sell both his Ponies & put the money towards paying his debts.

I have also told him if he does this & explains his difficulties to my satisfaction I will send him down a horse. I now have a spare one as in a Station, one can do with less than on the march. She is a grey mare for which I gave £25 in Azimgarh so if he does not like her he can sell & put the money towards his debts.

I must myself begin to retrench as I find what with several Horses, Camels, together with the exorbitant price one has to pay for provisions & everything in the jungles, my account with the Paymaster does not present a satisfactory appearance.

I had promised myself, after the conclusion of my two Indian Campaigns, a month or two of leave to revisit Lucknow, Cawnpore, &c. but must content myself with Fyzabad I think.

The hot weather is over; the Rains have begun & we are still out of shelter except such as is afforded by very rotten tents.

Rifle drill is to begin about 1st October from which time I may expect plenty of occupation.

I am sorry to hear my Father is not an MP for one reason (& a very selfish one, I am afraid, too). I think he might have got me a Company in one of these new Battalions that there is so much talk of raising. It is however no use repining.*

John does not seem to like the country much.

I am glad to see that Peel is at last a Capt. If we get a 2nd Battln. about 4 Subs will be promoted which will have me about 5th & 1st for purchase I think. I suspect you will find my letters all about myself.

I suppose we shall be drawn into the European war (as usual). John Bull is such a pig headed old fellow. We hear the Austrians have been beaten – but we want to hear that the French have had some of the nonsense taken out of them.

Hope all are well.

Must write to the youngsters shortly.

Love to Helen & all.

Yr affect son

J D Laurie

* repining – Fretting