Chicacole MN 1

4 April 1822

HJ EDDISON STAMPS & POSTAL HISTORY Global Classics, Rarities & Specialised CollectionsTranscriptionChicacole 4 th April 1822I had the pleasure of receiving your very kind letter last night and was glad to hear that you got up so [quickly?] as I anticipated - it was very odd that you did not receive the letter I sent to the care of Mr [Kinsey?] I wrote before your arrival and I immediately wrote to you at Madras when I heard of your arrival but that you could not have received then because I will commence answering your questions -In the first place all the [reports/rumours?] &c &c are cancelled from this date as frivolous groundless and perhaps a little malicious by a man who has proved himself more than once to be a [?] very [clear/dear?] [friend?] [?] [?] [?] I should have been mad to buy one at that price as I never [ride?] [?] [?] [?] and as you have no spare cash it is very con-venient your hunting ground must be [bad/good?] but I suppose your game is first caught for you.What a lucky fellow J. Mitchell is to get the command of a ship so soon. look at Kelly going backwards rather he is only 2 d mate I had a letter from him about 15 months ago offering to assist me with anything. money &c he is a fine fellow. I recd [received] from home the other day per Henry Porcher dated 24 th Octr. all well, part of it written by my father with a little advice by all accounts [Andrews?] seems to be improving - I at this instant stand as 1 st Lieutenant in the Regt and I expect a step by Major Prestons (whom you saw frequently at Sir David -das in London) promotion to a Lieut. Col - my pay is exactly 200 Rupees a month - and 270 when on full batta, but there are only 4 or 5 full batta stations in the presidency - What a shame it was to take away the Nagpore Country from us, when the Madras army conquered every inch of it - I fancy when you get a Corps. you will have 200 pagodas. but if I was clear with the world again, I would make myself very comfortable upon my 200 Rupees -I have a very decent house - a most delightful set of brother officers. and in one of the best Corps in the service - there are 15 of us - the Corps will likely remain at Vizianagrum till the end of the year and then we shall probably go either to Bangalore or Hyde-rabad. or perhaps to Jaulnah - I had a letter the other day from [W?] [Bunny?] wishing to know how he was to send the newspapers as I really thought he would have dispatched them long ago. but if they are as old as [buckles?] I wont be [?] you seem to think that Ganjam is the nearest sea port. no. no. Vizagapatam I am uncertain how long I will remain but it is likely that we will return before the end of the month - 2 of our officers are here on leave and we shall likely all return to-gether - Chalon a son of the artists in London is on duty here with me - I am not the least surprised that Mother Pollard wishes to go home with Chivers as people say he ~~[crossed out word]~~ her all the passage out - I hear that your old ship