| Content Description | Thanks him for his letter; reports he had been to the Bengal frontier where the people were dying of hunger as result of a prolonged drought and that it had rained upon his arrival, giving him a 'lucky reputation'; informs him that he had been out bear shooting, describes his party and states that he had enjoyed the experience; he was now going to the hills to join his wife; states that he thought he had paid Michell's stationery bill before leaving England; reports that he had appointed Colonel Miller on his recommendation and comments on the Miller family's misfortune in losing their Dumfriesshire estates.
Discusses European politics and expresses disapproval of the policy of the Prussian Government, stating that they provoked Austria into war; on the other hand, he was pleased that the status quo preserved by Austria was now broken in both Germany and Italy on behalf of the protestant/liberal lobby; states that providing Bismarck was reasonable about territorial acquisitions, the change would be beneficial. |