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26 Oct 60 Julius Fyzabad Mother ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Fyzabad

26 – 10 – 60

My dear Mother

By the last mail I received the news of John’s arrival in England. I am glad indeed to know that he is with you, and that my Father & you have one of your sons always at hand to assist & support you in every thing.

I quite agree with you that it is the place of your eldest son to be at home & I hope by some means or other you will be able to arrange the matter according to your satisfaction. I think it would be a great pity for John to leave the Service but of course you at home in Family Council will be able to settle his future proceedings, without the necessity of any advice or assistance from outsiders.

I suppose, if my Father’s health allows of it, you are all enjoying yourselves to the best of your abilities. I do not understand at all the nature of my Father’s complaint. I hope he is getting over the great pain which he has suffered so much of, and his state of frequent excitement I trust also is wearing itself away. I do not like the mention of so much excitement, particularly at night, as I know what a dreadful thing it is to obtain no sleep or rest in its proper season. I do hope he is going on satisfactorily.

We have been having three or four days amusement here which I am sorry to say I allowed to withdraw me from my research in the literature(s) of Hindustan. First of all came a Pic Nic which I however did not attend.

Then came two days races, in which I regret to say my horse showed ‘second’ three times. He however astonished me as he was lame, and I had no idea he was so fast, but to be beaten three times was a nuisance.

I never dabble much in sporting speculations or I should have dropped a good deal. As it was I had to pay up nearly £10 as the fates were as unpropitious as they could possibly be. The bore of it all was, the mare which beat mine in the race came from my stable originally. I sold her about a year ago, as she was too light for me, & now I find I sold myself.

By the bye we, out here, are looking out anxiously for news from home about the two ‘Companies’ which are supposed to be going by purchase. I suppose Cox (I wish I could see him for 10 minutes on the subject) could tell one exactly how they will go. Dunbar is at present a Capt. vice Peel but there is much doubt about his keeping the title after a reference has been made for the money in England, and if Holroyd eventually gets the step, then Steuart’s going would make me (as far as I can see at present) a Capt. also.

Steuart I think wants a large sum of money; besides he obtained his Company by the augmentation & without Purchase, but there can be no doubt that I should be very lucky to get promotion over five seniors even by paying a very large sum of money, if such a thing was forthcoming. If Steuart does not get his price, he will exchange & then goodbye to such a chance again, as one of the 5 senior Lieuts. would be sure to raise the money, to prevent himself being purchased over.

It is of course quite probable that I may not get the refusal of the Company, as it may not pass some of my seniors but in that case (which I don’t think will occur), I shall be very much mistaken. You have a good adviser in John who I am sure will look after my interests & tell you to do what is right, but I look forward with considerable anxiety to see how this will end.

You will see by the papers that at last the authorities have determined to stop the spirit of mutiny in this country & have been bold enough to shoot a man.* Our Regt. after about half a dozen cases of bad insubordination, resumed its good behaviour, but some have been very bad and the punishment for Mutiny should have been used at once. It would have stopped it.

We have delightful weather here now. I think the Indian Winter Climate is second to none.

3rd December

I had intended finishing this yesterday, but the Fates, represented by a tempting ride of 44 miles stepped in, and prevented me carrying out my intentions. We had two horses apiece and enjoyed ourselves much – the country and the climate is just now delicious, but how long will it remain so?

I cannot afford to spend any more time writing but must return to my ‘Bangho Bassar’ & ‘Baital Pacheese’. I never undertook a more unpleasant task than learning Hindustan.

With love & Happy Xmas to you all, not forgetting that kiss which Helen so much courts.

Believe me

yr. affect. son

J D Laurie

* shoot a man – A reference to the execution of Pte. William Johnson, shot at Dinapore by firing squad on 12th November 1860 for disobeying a lawful command. This was part of the White Mutinity following widespread disaffection amongst soldiers transferred from the HEIC's army to the Crown as a result of the India Act two years earlier