From No. 952 Private J. Worlock 10th Hussars.
Kirkee January 10th 1847

     My dear Father

  I was much pleased in receiving your kind letter dated November 12th and very glad to hear that you were all in good health, with the exception of poor cousin William. Which I sincereley hope, that the next time I hear from you, please God, he will be recovered. I was so very sorry, to hear of the death of poor Aunt, but in the midst of life we are in death. I was glad to hear that cousin Ann was better, which I hope she will continue please God, but what suprised me above all, was poor dear Grandmother venturing to Codrington. I never thought that ever she would venture so far, but I am very proud to hear that she is in good health. I am very glad to hear that Mrs. Hockey did recover her health and please to be sure to give my kind respects to her and likewise Mr. H.

I was very glad to hear that you had a fine summer and good crops, with the exception of the potatoes.That must be a very bad job and particularily for the poor.

I was very glad to hear of Mr. Hopkins being in good health. I wrote to him in October, but it is nearly time for me to hear from him, but I shall expect to hear from him next month.

I recieved one newspaper, the Times and one letter from Corporal White of the Boys. Please to write your letters to be in London always about 15th of the month, because the overland mail generally leaves about the 21st and then if the letters are not there they send them by some express which costs the men 1 rupee, that is 2s. Yours come free of expence, but I saw several men that had to pay it and they say that it is this reason, which I thought would be as well to mention. Newspaper single 2 annas and a double one 4 annas, but that I do not mind Dear Father.

The Regiment is in pretty good health at present, but we have had about half the regiment with the feaver, we lost but 5, thank God, but they look very curious with their head shaved. As for myself, thank God, I never had better health in all my life, but a great deal of it depends in a man taking care of himself. I do use myself to my liquer very regular and very moderate, but sherry or port wine will hurt no man. I see some go and get a great deal of raw brandy and Arack, which stands to reason that it will create a fever and likewise burn their constitution away.
One of our sentinal was on his post the other night and shot a very large bear, I was on the same post about 2 hours before. About 50 of us went out the other day, where there were some cheateas and a tiger seen the other day and two lieutenants and the Colonel. We had not long surrounded the jungle, when a hollow was given, a Tiger and looking up seeing the fine fellow coming down the Mountain in his fierce state, lashing its tail greatly. 4 rifles were fired and the balls struck him through the --ines, which his hindquaters dragged after him. We had about 100 blacks working in the jungle. These men are all around and they soon put him to us. We came near home and there we killed a large Cheateau, he pinched two goats the night before belonging to one of our married men. It is thought that this Cheateau has pinched a black man every month, for this last two years. The last man was a poor unfortunate -grassouther-, his legs were found.

We have got about 400 of our horses. The 4 senior troops are mounted, every man is told of to his own horse and has got to break him in and I will leave you to judge, for if they do get together they will tear one another to pieces, for they are all native horses. The horses are expected for the other 4 troops every day.

The cold months is commenced and it is very warm in the day, but cold at night.

I have not heard from Fitz. Please to write by return of post and tell me whether H. Godwin has left. I shall be very glad with a paper as often as you like to send it and am very thankful for the one you sent me.

 I remain
  Dear father
 Your dutiful son J. P. Worlock  please excuse this            bad writing.

P.S. I have sent you two anna piece for you to keep for my sake, 8 of them to a rupee, it is under the seal. I am picking up a good amount of the country language. Please to give my kind love to all my friends, R. Gould, Mother, Brother and Sisters, Mr. W Hockey and Elizabeth and particular to dear Grandmother and the Charmydown folks. I cannot mention everyone. Mr. Hopkins cousin James and all that country. when you write tell me wether you have anything more to pay for the letter, because you have no buisness to, when it is franked by the commanding officer. I believe the soldiers pay is bad at home now. The account that we hear, we are getting 6 to their 1. Good night and God bless you all.
   I must not expect to see you all again.