Cabool, Afghanistan James Airey to Lieut. Col. Richard Airey. "I .... had prepared...

Cabool, Afghanistan

James Airey to Lieut. Col. Richard Airey.

"I .... had prepared an answer [to his brother's letters] .... entering pretty fully into the details of an Indian life .... The unavoidable delay in departure of the steamer from Bombay at this season of the year caused by the scarcity of the monsoon has afforded me no opportunity of sending my letter. .... Let me thank you .... for allowing me to return my name for purchase and assure you .... that not one farthing .... shall you ever pay, if I have to live on bread and water to prevent it. I was in hopes .... to save a little money but, alas, the health of my General has been so bad since his arrival that he is unfit for an active command like this and must, I fear, resign. I have scraped £100 together .... This will be a great disappointment to me leaving this country as I fondly hoped to have seen some active service.... there seems to be very little doubt that if we intend to keep up the Puppet we have placed on the throne that an army must be sent against Herat next year. That fortress has been given up to Persia, to prevent which event, two years ago, the war in this country was commenced. And a pretty farce the whole campaign for which they (for political purposes) have been giving medals and making lords, was. The people engaged at Ghurzni are almost ashamed to mention it. You may fancy what a magnificent affair Ghurzni was from the only loss having been seventeen men killed (by accident ), and Sir J. Keane, who was made a Lord for it, did not know that the place was taken until on turning out one morning he saw the British colours flying ...."

".... You made a capital guess about the distance between Kurnaul and Calcutta, 1000 miles being just the distance, and this place about 700 more. Regiments never march up from Calcutta to Kurnaul at once, but take their turn of the intermediate stations, or at least some of them, and generally remain from 2 to 4 years at each. My Regiment went from Calcutta where it did duty for some time, to Berhampore, thence to Ghazeepore, then to Meerut where it remained 5 years, and then to Kurnaul, which place it will leave next cold weather and proceed down towards Calcutta again. Detatchments sometimes come up the River in boats, about half way, and march the rest, but Regiments march the whole way to avoid the expense of the boats.

The marches generally average 10 miles but some .... 17 and 18 for .... you always must pitch your camp .... where you can get supplies. The men do not carry their packs as it is often dreadfully hot .... it would be must injurious to do so, besides every man in India must have a box besides his knapsack as his kit is treble what it is in England. .... In India the baggage is carried on the carts of the country (Hackeries), the men paying for the same. Their tents are carried by Govt. on either elephants or camels. The officers carry everything for themselves .... Your pay and allowances as Lieut. Colonel commg. a Regt. would be according to the following scale which I shall put in English money.

All Queen's Regts. have 2 Lt. Cols., the second gets the same, with the exception of the command allowce. of £40 pr. month. A man's object therefore ought to be to get into a regt. where his senior would be of such standing as to insure his getting command of some station and thereby leaving the regt. to the junior. There are only two or three half Batta stations, they are near Calcutta and .... much cheaper to live in. .... Several married men .... say you might live well for £500 pr. annum anywhere in India, thereby if in command saving .... 1000 a year on full and 600 on half batta. You must have an open carriage of some sort, a Britska boat, a buggy and 4 horses, 2 for saddle and 2 for draught.

These will cost about £600. The passage £400. Extra kit for voyage and saddlery about £300, total £1300. A man should if possible come to Bengal, as being the best Presidency, I should fill up my whole paper .... to tell you all the servants you would have and their wages .... you would be master of about twenty natives and no European. As far as regards clothes, you are the best judge of how many shirts, socks, trousers, etc. are necessary for a four months voyage. I always have .... a dosen pair of coarse white trousers that are cheap and the sailors will wash so that you are always clean, they have however a trifling disadvantage - The sea water never thoroughly dries and therefore you feel as if your bum was wrapped up in a wet towel always. - a couple of plain and one great coat, 1 costtee, 2 shell jackets, 2 Frock coats (regt.) and some cloth trousers will set you up for India. You can wear what you like on board ship, but .... white linen jackets are the greatest luxury and .... you will require about 3 dozen for the voyage, and also a good Pea Jacket is a comfortable companion both on board ship and in the cold weather in India. You must also make whoever- fits up your cabin provide you with 12 doz. of spring water, boiled and bottled, packed in 4 hampers so as to keep one in your cabin ready for use. It never gets bad, costs nothing scarcely, and is the greatest comfort. You ought also to have a small filtering machine to cleanse the stuff they send out to your. Saddlery from Whippy, viz. 2 hunting saddles to answer for on or off parade, and a side saddle for Harry. A man of taste can get his harness made up in the country cheaper and fitting better than English. .... Never .... give away .... blankets etc. when leaving a ship, fancying they are no use - they are of the greatest possible. .... I cannot think you are serious in your thoughts of coming out .... If you do come I'll get into your Regt. if a Capt. but I must marry first.

Poor Julius, .... would he make a consul at come petty place, if not he must go out and look after John's sheep. .... I should like to give him my £50 allowance this year, if you approve do it. .... My mother has sent me two editions in folio of his case, and I have written to say "Least said is sonnest mended", for which I expect a rap over the knuckles. .... What do you think of his coming out to this country. Old as he is Mrs. Tottenham could get him a cavalry cadetship. He .... would still be a cornet at 40 years of age, but after 20 years service in the country might go home on the full pay of a Lieut. Col., whatever his real rank might be, and having served in Canadian Volunteers removes, I rather believe, the disqualification on account of age.

August 2nd. .... Everything is in status quo, the General's gout if anything worse, .... Sir R. Arbuthnot,lately from Ceylon will probably succeed to this command. Going back to my Regt., I do not in the least regret, excepting for the rupees, as entre nous I do not like my position at all."

" .... If you ever put your threat into execution of coming to India, consult Isabella's friend Mr. Money Wigram. He sends out the only ships fit for a gentleman, and they make, the passage in two thirds of the time.

Endorsed: "recd. about 15 Oct."