Roorkee
1st March 1876

My dear Mother,

This leaves us all well and hoping it finds you the same. We are all busy packing ready for the start. I hope to leave Roorkee on the 11th and Bombay on the 23rd of this month by the troopship “Jumna” and the trip to England will take, I believe, about 33 days so that I may expect to be in Portsmouth about the 28th of April.

As I am uncertain until I get to Bombay as to whether I will be able to get Jamie home with me in the troopship, I don’t know when I may get to London as if I cannot take him with me. He will have to go by the next P&O Steamer, which leaves Bombay 4 days after me, however it will be a matter of 2 or 3 days. I may stay a couple of days in London and then I will go down to Cambridge and see Aunt Agnes, as it is a short distance from London, and then I will start for “Auld Reekie” (Editor’s Note: affectionate Scots name for Edinburgh), but you will hear from me before then.

You ought to hear the yarns the youngsters have about the trip, it would amuse you and I wish we were off. It is a blessed job this packing. Poor Letty is fagged out as I am only at home morning and evening so that the heavy share of it falls to her lot. I expect she will stare when she looks at the sea for the first time and sees the ships, and in fact it will be quite a sight to me after so many years. The last time I saw a ship was 30th September 1853, the day I landed at Calcutta. (Editor’s Note: see ‘About James Johnston’ for more information on his arrival in India).

You mentioned in your last letter about bringing home some “Tussa” (Editor’s Note: Also known as Tussar which is silk made by Tussar silk worms used for making a saree and other Indian garments) and handkerchiefs. I wish you had spoken earlier as the men only come round at certain times, but I will do what I can at Allahabad where most likely we will see some as we will stay there a couple of days. We are bringing some of that curry powder with us – I hope you will like it – it is a daily dish with us – but we cook it different to what they do at home – Letty can make very good curry she often makes some herself as a change from the books.

We all send our love and kisses hoping to meet you soon

Your affectionate Son

J . Johnston

 

Southampton
26th April 1876

My dear Mother,

Here we are in England. We arrived in Portsmouth on Monday the 24th. As we came up to the key (sic) I was looking out for Jamie who had gone in Mail Steamer “Pekin” and I was astonished at not seeing him, but as soon as we were made fast I heard he was very ill-had been brought ashore sick and was at Southampton.

The news gave me quite a turn, for we were all so well and we expected to start off at once. However, as soon as I got my luggage passed, we got ashore and got to the hotel where I left Letty and the children and started off for Southampton where I found Jamie in a very low state; but the sight of me seemed to act like magic on him, poor fellow, and I think (it) done him more good than all the doctors could do. He had been very ill with fever and is skin and bone, scarcely able to stand. I had hoped to have been able to take him with me-but I went to see the doctor and he thought he was too weak to be moved, so I returned to Portsmouth by the last train and made arrangements the next morning about my spare luggage being sent on direct to Edinburgh by goods train, where it will remain till I arrive. Then we all started for Southampton and wasn’t Jamie glad to see us all once more together-he was much better, his head was nice and cold and skin moist.

Jamie had a nice night of it last night; had a good refreshing sleep and I think he will pick up fast now he has kind faces round him.

We had a very good voyage. We left Bombay on the 23rd March at 11.30 and we arrived on the 24th April just one month and a day. Letty stood it better than I expected she would and was the only one that was sick, and that was little. She was a fine ship, I never saw one like her before-we had altogether on board about 1500 men women and children, including the ships officers and crew. We lost 3 men and 3 children at sea and one child the morning we came into Portsmouth-they were all Invalids-and those that died were bad cases when they came on board, but I will tell you all about the trip when I see you.

Letty is quite delighted with what she sees of England, the shops take her eye and the prices of things compared to what we have to pay for inferior articles in India.

We are all very anxious for Jamie to get a little stronger and then we will be off.

I told you in my last (letter) that I would call on Aunt Agnes on my way home, but I won’t stay-however, I will write and let you know when we start.

Should you want to write to me, direct to me at Aunt Agnes at Cambridge.

We are sitting at tea with a nice coal fire and gas burning, which is quite a treat.

Letty and the children send their love to you and are all anxious to get home to you.

With my love till we meet

Your affectionate Son

J. Johnston

I’ve got a bad ‘hoast’ with a cold I’ve got.

(Editor’s Note: It is not clear as to how long James Johnston and his family stayed at home before returning to India. Clearly from the next letter following this one, he returned perhaps a couple of months before 11th October 1878).