FL4651377

Thank you very much for your kind words
about my recovery for which I am myself
very grateful. I cannot be too grateful
for having been permitted to make such
progress with my work. The 2nd volume
is now finished (printing) and only the final chapter
has to be shaped and polished. You would
have laughed at my various attempts to
keep myself from decay by [rust]. Times
news paper – a book now and then, chess, cards,
yarning with friends &c &c.. I quite
sympathise with your pleasure in copying
and arranging John Macarther's letters.

Of course when I coursed through them
it was with a view to trace his public life,
yet I saw enough of his private thoughts
to understand how large and tender
a heart he had for his friends. My
new Index (made this time not by the
publishers but by myself) will I hope
enable readers to understand what
manner of man he was. Nevertheless
I hope I may see your volume, and if it
be procurable would wish to buy one. As
all my books are bequeathed to our Trin.[Trinity] Coll [College]
here, I hope they will always be treasured.
We have had in Melbourne an unusually
dry season for the last six months, and
crops and grapes suffered pitiably for the
want of moisture all through the Spring.
It would be a great pleasure to me