By steamer via Bombay and Falmouth

William Butt Esq                                                                                          Moradabad

Corneybury

Buntingford                                                                                                       August 10 1841

Herts

England

August 16^th 1841

Moradabad  postmark

My dear William

You see my hand so rarely I suppose you will hardly recognise it.  However, this will not be my fault as I addressed you last. I trust Eliza has long ere this recovered her health and that all your party are well.  I conclude you are by this time settled at Corneybury.  I was sorry to hear poor dear Papa had entailed the property as it would of course have been more agreeable to your feelings to have known that it was at your own disposal.  But knowing that Mr Matthews was a stupid man I was much surprised to hear that so many difficulties should have arisen from the wording of poor Papa�s will and I feel very anxious on the subject.  I have not yet received the power of attorney which is to authorise the sale of my share of the Newark property. I trust I shall by the next despatches for I am concerned that my being in this country should keep my sisters so long out of their money.  My share of the proceeds of the sale and the five per cent interest for the five thousand pounds which I am to receive this year from you I wish passed into the hands of my Agents in Old Jewry and when you have passed on two quarters of the interest kindly request them to send it to Calcutta, the thirty pounds they must have received from Mr Robinson at Midgumhor had better remain with them till there is more to remit for that trifling settlement.  I conclude there is not any occasion to name another Trustee in poor dear Papa�s place.  This is a pretty but very small station where there is much more amusement for gentlemen than ladies.  There are hounds and good shooting and fishing.  Just the same I believe will be the state of the case at Berhampore in Bengal for which place this regiment is to march in November.  I have not yet made up my mind to go down the country.  I should leave very unwillingly the beautiful climate of the Upper Provinces.  Therefore as it is uncertain where I may be four months hence kindly direct to me to the care of the Agents in Calcutta.  We have often steeple-chases here, one last month nearly caused the death of one of the riders, an officer of this regiment, as it was his brain was so injured his head has never been right since.  Another of the performers fell into a well which fortunately for a wonder chanced to be dry for this is the rainy season.  If you have any writer-ships offered to your sons I should advise you not to refuse them for living in this country on civilian�s pay is magnificent and I don�t think the cadet-ships either are to be refused.

We have a very famous Rohilla robber chief in confinement here just now.  He has been long sought after and has at last been brought in by (unfortunately) a native for the finder is to have from the Company a thousand pounds and four hundred a year for life.  He is said to be one of the handsomest men in the world.  He is sure to be hanged.  However, his fate does not excite any commiseration as he committed numberless murders many merely for the purpose of showing how expertly he could do the thing and he has been mean enough to give up twenty of his followers in hopes that the Company might be induced to do something for his family who are not either his very near relations.

India is pretty quiet just now but the affairs in Afghanistan do Lord Auckland no credit and I dare say we shall ere long have to replace Dost Mohammed on the throne of Carbul.  It is said that His Lordship is so ashamed of this business that he stays in India now in hopes of gaining a little credit by the settlement of the Punjab.  Captain Osborne is so very like the brother who used to live at Widdial Hall only this climate (I suppose) has made him look much the elder of the two.  I can�t think what he will do when Lord Auckland leaves India.  I conclude he will never have much of his own and there is not any appointment here worth his accepting to which a Queen�s Officer he is eligible

The order this regiment has received to march for Berhampore has brought up all poor Lord William Bentinck�s misdemeanours it being a half batta station.  However, it affects officers high up in the service most and they ought to be best able to bear it.  A Lieutenant Colonel looses thirty pounds a month by it.  Your Whig friends are no favourites in India.

With love for Eliza and those of your party with whom I am acquainted and with hopes for the three with whom I am not.

Believe me, dear Will, your affectionate sister, Eliza Butt.      

Transcript of letter written by Elizabeth Butt from India to her brother William.