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22 Jan 61 Julius Fyzabad Mother ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Fyzabad
22 – 1 – 61
My dear Mother
Your letters of 17th Novr have arrived. In my Father’s there is a slight contradiction. In speaking of the promotions going in my Regt, he says Dunbar, Wyse & Cochrane can’t purchase & he immediately goes on to say the Dunbar will get Peel’s step. This must be a mistake if he is not for purchase. I wish much I could hear exactly how the case stands & how many Lieuts before me will & can purchase.
I am glad to hear that at last there is a chance of my attaining the rank of Captain. I do not wish to sing my own praises but I think I am beginning to be deserving of a Company if work gives one any claim. Our Draft has just come up & joined in. It is ‘Greaves’ * who has been living comfortably at home for the last three years. He is a day senior to me in the Service, but I flatter myself I deserve a Company before him & should feel no compunction in passing over his head. My Father says he is for purchase. I hope he may be mistaken.
I have, I think, suited myself with a horse, a very powerfully built mare, a chestnut, at present rather unsteady but, if I can keep her in good condition, she will soon steady down. I have taken her out twice Pig Sticking & she has not yet brought me to grief. I have hopes of making her into a very handy Pig Sticker. It is quite time I provided a fresh mount for myself, my horse being entirely knocked up by my weight & hard riding & my poney (an immensely strong beast) beginning also to show signs of work. I think I have laid out my Father’s handsome present well. I am satisfied myself with what I have done. I hope he & you will be so also.
I will not say anything about the parcel you are going to send to me out until I see it, but while you are sending out one, I would give you a suggestion Viz: that I am in a most worn out condition altogether. In the way of white shirts, socks, handkerchiefs, jerseys & particularly boots, I am poor indeed. I hate these country store things which seem as if (as they doubtless are) made expressly for exportation. The box you sent me the year before last has kept me going beautifully until now but even home made goods can’t be expected to last for ever.
Have I written to you since I was in Lucknow the other day. I had to take a trip once there on business & made it as short as possible, riding as much of the road there & back as was possible. I hurried back sharp as Pig Sticking day (Saturday) came on & if I can help it I do not miss one. When I have lots of time I must send you a good description of ‘Boar Spearing’, or as we of course call it ‘Pig Sticking’. It is far away the most exciting sport I ever witnessed & I think I might add the most dangerous. The full grown Boar is a splendid fellow, such tusks, when he has once been touched with the spear, down he comes at you & then it becomes a case of Greek meeting Greek etc. But when I have an opportunity, you shall have a full, true & correct account so I will not enlarge on ‘the Indian sport’ at present.
I am very glad to hear John is settled at home. Get him to see if he cannot work a Company up for me somehow or other. He is a lucky fellow getting a bath at home.
I am sorry to hear Arthur is spending money so fast. I think the last letter I had from him some time ago, he wanted some money, but I find it just as much as ever I can do to keep myself going & that is very often too much for me.
Lucky chance Greaves has just been in my place. He says that he does not think Dunbar can purchase & that he himself is not going to. I told him that his name was down at Cox’s & he said he knew it was down before he left England, but that since he has come out, he had no intention of purchasing. Hurrah. If that should be all correct, then I am in luck.
I must thank all through you for their kind congratulations to me on my birthday. More especially I must thank you for all your kind wishes & hope they may be fulfilled.
The weather here at present is delightful & if it was like this all the year round, one would not wish for a finer climate but in another month or at most, six weeks, the Hot Season will be closing in on us.
I am rather tied by the leg with this Musketry Instruction but I endeavour to turn the cold weather to advantage.
I hope my Father is progressing favourably.
With love to all,
I am yr affect Son
JDLaurie
* Greaves – Spencer Ley Greaves, joined 34th Regiment the day before Julius (Feb 55) promoted to Captain (without purchase) April 1870