_To Mrs. Austin_.
ALEXANDRIA,
_October_ 28, 1865.
I am truly grieved to hear of your wrist and to see your writing look
cramped. I arrived here on Thursday after a splendid passage and was
very comfortable on board. I found M. Olagnier waiting for me, and Omar,
of course, and am _installe_ at Ross's till my boat gets done which I am
told will be in six days. She will be remarkably comfortable. Omar had
caused a sort of divan with a roof and back to be constructed just
outside the cabin-door where I always sat every evening, which will be
the most delightful little nest one can conceive. I shall sit like a
Pasha there.
My cough is still very harassing, but my chest less tight and painful,
and I feel less utterly knocked down. The weather is beautiful here just
now--warm and not nearly so damp as usual.
Lord Edward St. Maur was on board, he has much of his aunt's
pleasantness. Also a very young Bombay Merchant--a Muslim who uttered
not one syllable to any one but to me. His talk was just like that of a
well-bred and intelligent young Englishman. I am glad to say that his
views of the state of India were very encouraging--he seemed convinced
that the natives were gradually working their way up to more influence,
and said 'We shall have to thank you for a better form of government by
far than any native one ever would have been'--he added, 'We Muslims have
this advantage over the Hindus--that our religion is no barrier at all,
socially or politically--between us and you--as theirs is. I mean it
ought not to be when both faiths are cleared of superstition and
fanaticism.' He spoke very highly of Sir Bartle Frere but said 'I wish
it were possible for more English _gentlemen_ to come out to India.' He
had been two years in England on mercantile business and was going back
to his brother Ala-ed-deen much pleased with the English in England. It
is one of the most comforting _Erscheinungen_ I have seen coming from
India--if that sort of good sense is pretty common among the very young
men they certainly will work their way up.
I should like to see Bayley's article though I am quite sick of my
book--it is very ungracious of me, but I can't help it.