11 June 1843 Bangalore HG 9 Cover

11 June 1843

Via Red Sea Bangalore. June litn. 1843. "Williamson is coming to live witn me in a fortnight, to be married at this place to maggie Gordon, an oid Edinburgh iriend of mine. Maggie is called clever but I am sorry to see Williamson She is not pretty, has hideous teeth, and has been younger, but dresses well and is free from the absurd scool girl timidity which all the ladies here think so fascinating, but which does not sit well on a plump married lady with large family, one of which description amused us all with her timid and snrinking loveliness, althougn 14 stone... "My pay I daresay sounds enormous to people in ingland, but tue Rs. 860 wnich I get per montn are subject to some very neavy deductions, Say 200 for Mess Bill, 100 for Troop Ixpenses, 80 for 4 horses keep, 80 tor servants, 30 for house, rent takes 500 Rs. leaving me oniy 360 to pay my aebus, buy horses, and all sorts of other expenses. The rascally Government not giving us any batta for Nankin, after stealing 6 million dollars of out prize money will hinder my coming home..... "I wish you would send me the ribbon of CB. It looks like affecta- tion on my part never wearing it, though it is 4 monthe since I heard of getting it." (Philip Anstruther to his sister)