Ship Sobraon
17 January 1882
Dear Chris
It is getting rather monotonous here now and I shan’t when we start for home again. We ought to have started on the 25th of this month, but I don’t suppose that we shall get away before the 12th of next, so after all we might not get home much earlier than last year.
Last Saturday I went out to the Williamsons to a tennis party and enjoyed myself very much. The Stevensons will be home by
the time you get this letter. I think that they are going to stop at a
place named Sydenham near the Crystal Palace. You must write to them if you can get hold of their address. Tell ??? if he is at home that I am awfully sorry that I have missed seeing him. I expect we shall knock up against one another soon though.
Tell Ma that there was not much in that letter that I wrote to him, so it does not matter much losing it. I was very sorry to hear of his fall from aloft. There have been a tremendous lot of accidents lately. I suppose you remember Graham. He was washed overboard
coming out off the Collingwood and lost.
????
has chosen going to India at last
remember me to him, if you see him before he goes. There have
been a great many fires here lately, they are getting quite common now. Mrs Williamson wishes to be remembered to Ma, she says she knew Ma well out in Ballarat.
Thank Charlotte very much for the letter, and say I mean to write
to her next mail for certain.
I met Edward ???, he is just the same as ever. Give my love
to Mother and all the small with the same to yourself and
the rest.
I remain
Your loving brother
Archie Elmslie