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13 Sep 61 Julius Mussoorie, Uttarakhand Father ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Mussoorie * Hotel
13 Sept 61
My dear Father
I have received a reminder to write to you today in the shape of a letter (dated Worthing 3rd Augst.) in which I am afraid I detected, as I might have expected, a slight feeling of regret at my having gone in for the Adjutancy and given Leeson £50 to get rid of him. As it has turned out, like most other money speculations in which I have engaged, I have been unfortunate. You will have seen by my letters subsequent to that which you had just received when you wrote, the reasons which seized me to come to the determination to make the arrangement, and I think altho’ the speculation has turned out a bad one, you will see that there was nothing rash or inconsiderate in my coming to the determination under the then existing circumstances. I fear you must think that we do not sufficiently value & appreciate your kindness, in sacrificing so much money for our advantage. I hope though that fresh expressions of thanks would only be thrown away as I know you do understand the feeling of your sons towards you.
It appears that Arthur has been acting foolishly about the amalgamation business. He should know best what is good for himself but you do not seem to think much of his line of conduct; no more does John whose views, by the way, on the Indian Staff Corps, are not found on firm foundations. He tells me that by joining the Staff Corps, I can be a Major after 6 years Staff service. Yes; so far very good, but he omitted that to get your Majority in the Corps, you must have 21 years service, which would not suit me.
I have told you several times that I have been so much occupied as to be unable to carry on too extensive a correspondence& therefore have not written to, nor heard lately at all, from Peter or Arthur. Things & times have changed, I am happy to say now, and I hope to be able occasionally to exchange letters with them, as I shall have more time on my hands.
You will see on the letter I have enclosed. I think (like I imagined when I went in for the adjudancy) that it will give you pleasure to hear of my success, and although last time I was unfortunate, I will try again. Col. Butt, who is mentioned, is the ‘Chief Inspector of Musketry’ over here, similar to Genl. Hay at home. It has been one of my dearest wishes to get 34th at the head of the list and I am rejoiced at our success.
There is also a piece of news (of which I am as proud as I am of anything, because it is entirely my own doing). I passed the examination at Lucknow on the 10th July (the result was only communicated to me yesterday) and am now a ‘P.H.’ * It has been up hill work with me, as of course I never have any opportunity of speaking the language. The rest, viz. reading, writing and translating, I was capable of doing some time ago. I am now available for any Staff Appointment which may come in my path.
My three most earnest desires have been accomplished. I am a Captain, a P.H. and my Regt. is, in shooting, No 1. in India.
You may as well keep Sir Richard Kelly’s letter which, in case I may ever want anything at the Horse Guards or elsewhere may come in useful. I have really worked hard – harder than I ever have before at anything – to be a P.H. As far as I know, at present it would be against my interests to join the Staff Corps as my Purchase money would be sacrificed & my Promotion much slower than I hope it may be in the Regt. John suggests my coming home & getting the M.I.-ship of the Depot. That the M.I.-ship would not be in my line now I think. I am so sick of it and I have brought my Musketry Career to a very ‘happy conclusion’ which satisfies me & now I should like to try something else.
I should like to take a trip to England & see you all much. Boyce has gone in for the invalids this year, which cuts me out. I don’t like soldiering in England – at least what I remember of it. Our two months leave up here ceases on 8th Oct. so we have shortly to prepare for our start to Fyzabad again. Hope we shall not move from there, at any rate this year, as I must buy a couple of Horses. I sold off two just before leaving and do some more pig-sticking.
We have been to three or four balls here & are getting one up in return to the Himalayah Club. This is a mild edition of a mild English watering place – most of the ‘belles’ have never been much out of India in their lives & think Mussoorie next only to Paradise. Very small minded people are the inhabitants. Our ball comes off on the 17th. Boyce is the managing man, so the Hotel has him full of making arrangements. It is a curious system. The Station gives the Ball to the Club in their (Club’s) own room & feeds the members on their own cooking & wines.
We go back via Delhi & Agra, so shall get a peep at the ‘Taj’, the gem of India.
I am very sorry to hear you still suffer so much pain & have to continue the use of opium in such large quantities. You tell me that there is no danger, which I rejoice to hear & hope I may have a chance within a year or two of meeting you all in good health again in old England.
With love to my Mother, her little daughter & all. Believe me
Yr. affect. Son
JDLaurie
* Mussoorie – a hill station at an altitude of 2,000m in the foothills of the Himalayas
* P.H. – Passed Hindoustani