My dear Mother

I was in hopes of receiving a letter this mail but none has come. I sent you a cheque for 100/-Rs (£10)  couple of months ago, I trust you have received it all right. Since I heard from you I have had a letter from my Aunt in which she gives me a fine description of the improvements that are going on in Auld Reekie (Editors Note: Edinburgh). I trust this finds you in good health as I am happy to say it leaves me.

I enclose a carte of Jamie taken the morning he left for school. By George, I saw snow for the first time since I left home. When I was uphill, it was snowing – it done my eyes and heart good I assure you.

I am very busy just now in the Press. I have a moment I can call my own and it is the close of our official year which gives me more work -as I have to close all my accounts for the year.
There is nothing new stirring here – the weather has been nice and cool but it is getting warm again and we may look out for being roasted.

With fond love to self and regards to all enquiring friends

I am dear Mother

your affectionate Son

J Johnston

My dear Mother

I received your letter by the last Mail and was so glad to hear you have received the draft all right,  that you were well, not hearing from you for so long. I could not make out whether it had gone astray or what had become of it………….however it is all right.

Here we have the hot winds blowing very strong. If you happen to go outside you can feel it passing through you, burning your very bones, and yet it is the healthiest time of the year.

Letty has been very ill since I wrote to you – had a mishap and little Ernie has been bad too with his teeth. I have had to send them uphill to Landour. They have been away for about 3 weeks and don’t expect they will be back till about October, so you see I’m all alone.

I had a letter from Jamie from school. The other day he wanted me to send him some marbles, poor fellow. One of the parties connected with the school told me he was a very good boy and getting on very well, which is gratifying to me.
I received all the papers, many thanks. I see you have been having Soiree- now we are going to have a Soiree too tomorrow. “Dissolving Views and a Little Music” is the programme, but we have other concerts, so you see even in this outlandish place, we try to drive dull care away.

I saw the tailors strike in the papers – is Alexander in it ? Those sort of things do no good I’m afraid. ( Editors note: ALEXANDER PATERSON born 29th July 1817, Cockburnspath, Berwickshire-1897, married to James Johnston’s sister Agnes, was a tailor by trade and residing at  7 Henry Street, St Leonards, Edinburgh).

I am much pleased to hear the children have not forgotten me, why don’t you send me their photographs ?  (Editors Note: The children were ANN PATERSON born 6 May 1846 – my great grandmother -, GEORGE PATERSON born March 1848, AGNES PATERSON born August 1850, JAMES PATERSON born September 1853 , ELLEN – Nell – PATERSON  born December 1855 all born 7 Henry Street, St Leonards, Edinburgh)

I will write to Aunt Agness by this Mail.

I will send you one of the Annual reports next Mail, it won’t be finished till after this has gone-I hope the remarks you may see about this “little child” will please you.

Remember me to all enquiring friends and dear Mother believe me to be

Your affectionate Son

James Johnston

Let me know your new address. I will send you a programme. What do you think of the style of our work?

Thomason College of Civil Engineering
Roorkee
East Indies
28th March 1869

My dear Mother

I received your long looked for and welcome letter a few days ago, and was I glad to hear you were keeping quite well. It is now a very long time since I heard from you but I cannot say much on that score as I have not been bothering you with any letters. I received the newspapers you sent all right.

Why did you not come out to India when you had a chance? You would indeed have given us an agreeable surprise, you would find it vastly different here to have servants to attend on you instead of attending to others. India is not the bugbear that people at home try to make it. A person in fair circumstances can make themselves very comfortable, although many of the luxuries in India don’t come up to the comforts at home. If ever you get another chance and you feel inclined, don’t throw it away for you would be so comfortable here more than you can have any idea of.

Well, here we are having great doings on close by at Umballa (Editors Note – presently called Ambala); the meeting of the Viceroy and the Ameer of Cabul (sic). I would have liked to have gone, but I am too busy. Our official year closes on the 31st of March and I have to close the Years accounts of the Press. The Durbar was to have taken place yesterday and I believe there is to be a grand Military display tomorrow to show off a bit in front of him. The Viceroy is to be at Roorkee on the 10th of next month when he will visit the College and Press, he will be the third Governor General that I have been introduced to.

Richard Bourke, Earl of Mayo KP GHSI PC
Viceroy of India 12 January 1869-8 February 1872

There has been a great cry of famine lately all over the country owing to no rain and the Govt has been going on with large works to give employment to the starving population, but lately we have had nothing but rain, rain- a most unusual thing at this time of year and there were great fears that the stunted crops that were in the ground would have been destroyed; but the clouds have disappeared and the country looks beautiful.

I took Letty yesterday out into the country a bit and everything looks so nice and green. The weather is delightful, but we have to look forward for a good grilling before long.

I have bought a nice big home since I wrote to you last. Thirteen rooms in it besides homes for servants and cattle. We are living in it ourselves and are very comfortable and we have a nice garden with lots of fruit in it. I wish I could send you some of the Bombay Mangoes.

Last month there was a friend of mine and his wife who left here for home. He was working in the Canal Foundry as foreman smith and had been here for the last six years. I asked him to call on you if ever he came your way, his name is William Johnston (he might be a distant relation, who knows) and I knew you would like to see anybody that had seen me lately.

So Ann has got a daughter(Editor’s Note- Ann Paterson – my great great grandmother married Joseph Hume – my great great grandfather-at Edinburgh on 20th September 1867. Their daughter Mary Falls Hume was born 26th March 1868) I hope she has got a good husband, I suppose recollects me well. And Agnes is going to be married; I hope it will be a good match. What is his name ?, and what trade is he in ? ( Editor’s Note-Agnes Paterson born August 1850 married Charles Skinner a tailor of 13 Union Street , Edinburgh); I am sorry to hear that Georgie is not well ( Editors Note-George Paterson, born 1848 was to live until he was 68 years old). I hope he is all right again by this time. He is a little chick when I saw him last; I don’t suppose he remembers me- he was the last I spoke to when I left. I little thought then I would soon be so far away. Is he still working at Mr Boyds? (Editor’s Note – the Edinburgh Publisher who with Oliver produced the famous ‘New Edinburgh Almanac and National Repository’. The Publishing company Oliver & Boyd, began in 1807/08 by Thomas Oliver and George Boyd and was based at Tweeddale Court off the High Street in Edinburgh. Over the nineteenth and twentieth century, the firm forged a reputation in medical publishing and educational textbook publishing, particularly dominating overseas markets.)

Does Mr Boyd ever enquire of me, or ask how I am getting on? I saw an affair in the papers about a lawsuit he had with another publisher about prigging from his Almanac.

I send you by this post a copy of the Agra Exhibition Catalogue in which my name appears as having received 2 silver medals and 2 money prizes- see pages 352 and 353.

I also send you a copy of what was to have been the Catalogue of the Lahore Exhibition, but it was altered to what it is- there is some valuable information to be got from it. Perhaps Mr Boyd would like to see it. I send it to show you what we can do here with very small means- but a good will. Although I say it, there is not a Press in the country can touch the same for the styleof work turned out and I got a puff in the papers about it lately when this book came out.

Trusting this finds you enjoying good health as I am happy to say this leaves me and mine.

Letty joins me in wishing you to accept our joint loves and hoping to hear from you soon.

Your affectionate Son

James Johnston

Since I wrote to you , Letty has lost her mother, poor girl. She was very much cut up. The old woman died at my place, she had just come in from Meerut a short time before. I was very glad she was with us at her last – old age carried her off.

While writing to you I am pestered with this daughter of mine who is dodging round my chair and bawling ‘Papa’, and laughing till she gets black in the face. I don’t know if I told you, her name is Ann Agnes Louisa after you, after Aunt, after her godmother. (Editors Note: Ann Agnes Louisa Johnston was born 30th May 1866)

with fond love your son Jamie

Thomason College Press
Superintendent’s Office
Roorkee
7th June 1870

My dear Mother

I received your very welcome letter and was so glad to hear you were quite well. I am happy to say this leaves us all enjoying good health.

You all seemed much pleased at the prospect of seeing me again. Well, I am really thinking of applying for leave on Medical Certificate and was thinking of bringing Letty and the family home-but on second thoughts I find I could not do it without going to a dreadful expense which I could not afford without breaking up my house and selling off at a great sacrifice which would take me years to recover. And Letty herself does not care for the trip- of course she would like to go-but she has no idea of what the sea is like or even a ship-the nearest she has been to either has been about 900 miles. The government will pay my passage home and back-but not the family.

I spoke to Colonel Medley the other day about it and he was quite pleased and told me that I really ought to go. He is going home himself next year on furlough.

Now my dear Mother, if I get my leave- and see nothing to prevent it-I will come and see the old place again, but I want you to come back with me. You have had enough of care and toil and it is time that I should do something for you. The country would agree with you. None of your biting cold winds here, why what we call cold you would call pleasant weather and even the heat-those that are able to afford it can keep it out. You ought to feel my house when I come home at four-like an ice house.

Now my dear Mother, it really is my wish and also Lettie’s, that you come back with me so you must write me by return of post- the mail leaves every week. There is nothing to keep you at home and here you would have every enjoyment and comfort around you.

I was thinking of applying only for 9 months leave, of course I could get more, but I have to look at the expense as I have to keep the pot boiling in Roorkee while I am away. If I am lucky enough I will get for the first 6 months my military pay and half of my staff allowance which will be about Rs200 (£20) a month, but after that I will only get the rate of £60 a year. It would take me three months going and coming and would leave me 6 months at home.

I wrote to Jamie the other day and told him I was going to Scotland and that his Granny was coming back with me and he was so pleased to think you were coming and hoped you would be here before the Xmas holidays, when he will be home for 2 months. Ernest and Ann are prating all day about their Grandmamma coming from England (sic) Umeera dadee Wilayet se aya (they all talk all Hindustani).

I was very sorry to hear of Mr John’s death (Editor’s Note:-Person unknown but possibly of the Boyd family). He must have grown up a good looking young man for he was as fine boy when I saw him last, but you remember I used to mend his toys for him. Both Mr and Mrs Boyd must have felt the stroke very much, and his poor mother seems to have doted on him so much that she must have felt it very acutely.

I was astonished to hear of Dr Johnston‘s marriage. He must be getting an old man now and I would have thought past that sort of thing.

I see by your letter that Alexander’s children (Editor’s Note: – Alexander Paterson) are pleased that I am coming. I don’t suppose either Ann or George, although they may remember me, would know me now.

I have not heard from Aunt Agnes (Editor’s Note:-Agnes Johnston-she was described as Matron and her address was The Spinning House, Cambridge). I wrote to her at the same time I wrote to you last. I am glad to hear she is quite well. I know she will be pleased to see me.
I am sorry to hear of Uncle Christopher (Editor’s Note:- person unknown) being so poorly and badly off. It must come hard upon him in his old age.

And Uncle Adie too. I was glad to hear he was quite well and old Jamie MacNeil. – Is he still there? (Editor’s Note:- people unknown although James Johnston’s mother’s maiden name was Adie). I hope to have a chat with them both yet. I know what it will be, the numberless questions I’ll be asked-wi “lash man” every now and then.

I was dreaming the other night of calling on Mr Burness and that he was so glad to see me down in his old house in Drummond Place.

Do you ever see Bob Paton at all ? (Editor’s Note: Person unknown) If you do give him my best respects.

Remember me kindly to Alexander and all the children – and all enquiring friends.

Letty sends her love to you and hopes to have you a little closer to her, poor girl, she has nobody but me to look to and I know you will like each other when you meet.

Good-bye for the present and hope to hear from you by return of post- don’t wait to write a long letter, just a few words to say you are well and hearty and that you will come to India with your ‘boy’. I was quite amused at that word in your letter for I am getting rather an old fashioned one now.

your affectionate Son

James Johnston

28th March 1869

Editor’s Note: this letter is alluded to by James Johnston in his letter to his mother on 7th June 1870, but given the content is virtually exactly what he wrote to his mother on that same day, I have decided not to transcribe it. However, it is interesting to see his original handwriting as well as the letter heading.

Thomason College Press
Superintendents Office
Roorkee
4th October 1871

My dear Mother

I hope this finds you in good health and quite strong again as I am happy to say it leaves all here.

Since I last wrote to you I have had a good deal of sickness in the house. Letty was very bad with that Neuralgia in the face and head and the doctors could give her no relief; all the remedies that were effectual before were of no use this time, they only seemed to irritate it the more. At length she was ordered off to Simla (the hills, the Governor General lives on), a great distance off, but it did her no good, but only made her worse. The doctors said it was the worst place she could have been sent to, poor girl. She felt herself going fast and I was telegraphed for, and when I got there and saw her, I never thought she would ever see home again. From the moment she saw me she seemed to rally and slowly got a little stronger and as soon as she was able to be removed I brought her home by short stages and as I before said, she is quite well again.

My niece Ann (Editor’s Note: Ann Paterson Hume, my great great grandmother) is at Umballah (Editor’s Note: now known as Ambala) a large station close to this. She had just arrived before Letty went up the hill, and when we stayed at the hotel, I went over and found her out and brought her over. She was (sic) much pleasure to see her Uncle Jamie she told me; she had often said to you that she would see me yet. When I brought Letty back from the hills I took Ann to see my place and she stayed a month with me. I saw her husband (Editor’s Note: Joseph Hume, my great great grandfather who was serving with the 72nd Highlanders) and told him he ought to try and get a situation out of the Barrack Room as there are always (positions) to be had for men that are willing to push themselves on. Besides, the Barracks are no place to bring up a family; it is all very good for single men but when a man marries he ought to think he has more to look to than he had before. If he does not look to his own comfort he should look to theirs (his family), but I don’t think he has any ambitions above Barrack Life.

It is all very good to look at me and say ” I’ve been lucky”, but if I had not worked hard and well, I would never have been where I am. It is 18 years on Saturday last since I landed in India and I can look back with pleasure and say I have always tried to do my duty and it has been appreciated too, for every year my name has been much in the good as one that is deserving of favourable notice. I mention the above not to blow my own trumpet, but to show that they might aspire to something greater than they are. There are many opportunities for a man to get on, and it is his own fault if he does not do so.

I sent you by last mail a copy of the College Calendar. You see by the report at the end that they have no worse opinion of me than they had before. I sent one to Aunt Agnes too.

Mr Boyd (Editor’s Note: James Johnston’s mother’s employer Mr Thos Jamieson Boyd, master Publisher residing at 11 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh) wrote and told me what he had done for you and asked me to do the same. I would have done so before now but I was taken short with the expense I was put to with Letty going up the hill, that it made it impossible at the time, but I hope to send you something shortly. I was very thankful to Mr Boyd for his kindness and please tell him so when you see him. He wrote me a very kind letter and said he was quite pleased to see me getting on so well.

I am sorry to see an account of the death of Mr Johnston (Editor’s Note: an Edinburgh clergyman), poor man, many a good advice I’ve got from him and I’ve often thought how glad he would have been to see me if I went home.

Ann (Editor’s Note: Ann Paterson Hume) gave me a large photograph of him which I prize very much.

Letty joins me in sending our love to you, hoping to hear from you soon.

I am your affectionate son

J Johnston

Roorkee
25th August 1873

My dear Mother

It is now a very long time since I heard from you; I hope you are enjoying health, as I am happy to say we are all doing here. Letty is keeping clear of that headache and I hope she is quit of it-she has suffered a great deal with it.

I had a letter from Ann Hume (Editor’s Note: nee Paterson – my great great grandmother) a few days ago. She has been sick and was sent to the hills for the benefit of her health. She tells me she is quite well again. It is a pretty place where she is -Kussowlie- it is on the top of the outer range of the Himalayas-it is a beautiful sight to look down on the plains on one side-you can also look at the other side-nothing but hills on hills ’til your eye rests on the snowy range.

Ann tells me she cannot stand the heat but I am much afraid she will have to put up with it, her regiment (Editor’s Note: her husband’s regiment -The 72nd Highlanders) marches this cold season for Peshawur (Editor’s Note : North West Frontier presently Peshawar on the Pakistan/Afghanistan border) -it is not a good station as you get a very bad kind of fever that sticks to you afterwards. She tells me that her sister Agnes has lost her child and that her brother George is ailing, which I was sorry to hear.

I have not heard from Aunt Agnes for a long time, is she still at Cambridge? I sent her a copy of my testimonials and also one to you-but I never got a reply.

Jamie is still up at Simla (Editor’s Note: presently called Shimla) he will be home in November. I get very good accounts of him from the School- Ernest (Editors Note: Ernest MacFarlane Johnston born Tuesday 20th February 1865 ) and Ann are growing very fast. I must get Ernest to write to you-he is very sharp, you ought to hear him singing, they all have such fine ears for music.

I have sent you this Mail through the Agra Bank £10 -0-0 in full, at sight, which I hope will reach you safe. I have addressed it “care of Mr Boyd” to ensure it reaches you-and I hope it will assist in getting you a few comforts for which you stand in need. I very often think, and so does Letty, what a pity it was you did not come out when I asked you-for I feel certain the climate would have visited you (sic)-the only inconvenience you would have had would have been the sea voyage, and that is very short, travelling in India is just as comfortable now as in England (sic) and I could have gone to meet you at any of the Ports, Bombay or Calcutta, and as I told you before, I have plenty of room, I surely could spare a set of rooms out of thirteen !

This is a very busy time; with us today is the last day of the examination, the prizes and results will be given away at the end of the week; next mail I will send you a copy of the Report. There is no word about my going to Allahabad-the Principal is fighting against it- and I am very glad.

Letty joins me in love to you and the children all send their love and kisses to their “Dadee” (Granma) hoping to hear from you soon.

your affectionate Son

J Johnston

Roorkee
26th February 1874

My dear Mother,

I received your letter, also the papers, and was glad to hear you were quite well. I have also received the Almanac from Mr Boyd for which I will write and thank him.

We have had very cold weather here all the winter, in fact I never felt so cold for such a length of time before, but the weather now is changing fast and before long we will all be wishing some of the cold days back again.

Jamie went back to school on the 13th, we all went with him so far as Umballah (Editor’s note: presently named Ambala), about 80 miles from here. While there I went to see if Ann was there, although the regiment marched to Peshawar some months ago, they were left behind and she was confined of a boy three months ago. I was very sorry when I saw her to hear the trouble they had got into. Her husband has been reduced to Private and is a prisoner having been sentenced to 12 months imprisonment. He seems to have been harshly dealt with, by what I was told as the guilty party got off very cheap. It happened that he was acting Sergt Major of the depot and in charge of the Canteen, and allowed the person who dispensed the liquor to have too much of his own way, which he took advantage of. As the orders regarding Canteens are very strict, HUME, being the responsible party, went to the wall-poor fellow. He seemed cheerful enough when I saw him, he was in hospital and I went with Ann, but he will never be able to retrieve himself. He was to get a Sergeants pension and was eight years a Sergeant when he was reduced. Ann seemed cheerful and does not take it to heart, the children were all quite well.

Joseph Hume with his family taken circa 1873 in Umballa, India, with his then family, showing from the left (standing) Ellen (Nelly) Hume: b 26th October 1871, Umballa, Agnes Ann Johnston Hume: b 10th May 1869, Edinburgh, Ann Paterson Hume with baby Joseph Alexander Hume: b 28th November 1873,Umballa, India, and (sitting) Mary Falls Hume: b 26th March 1868, Edinburgh. The photographer was Mr Alfred Sache of: Dugshai, Umballa, Jullunder, Meerut, Kasauli, Sabathu, India.

Editor’s Note: You will note from the photograph that Joseph Hume has regained his stripes .This is at odds with Joseph Hume’s Pay Book which states that he had lost his stripes on the 20th November 1873.and was only to regain them on 3rd July 1881, however we see the newly born baby which occurred after his being reduced to the ranks. Baby Joseph was to die less than a year later 19th October 1874at Cherat near Nowshera, India. Another boy also named Joseph Alexander Hume, was born 11th December 1875 at Nowshera, India.

There is a great change in Jamie this year. He has grown such a big fellow and if he is spared, he promises to be a big brawny man. He has got a lot of tufts of hair over his face which I used to torment about. I enclose his photo taken the day before he left . Poor chap, he felt very much going back and parting with us-it’s quite a scene to part the children, poor Ann sobbed the whole night.

I sent you a copy of the report. I found it had never been sent, although I ordered it before I went up hill, but we left in such a hurry. I also sent one to Aunt Agnes, I have not heard from her for a long time-in fact it is sometime since I wrote-but I was the last, however I will write to her. I am sorry to hear she has been poorly, I hope she is quite well again.

I mentioned to you before that, there was some word about sending me to Allahabad, but nothing official has been out as yet-I hope we won’t have to go, but if we have, I have no doubt it will better me in both position and pocket. I sent you a copy of the “Pioneer” in which someone speaks of the transfer of my Press to Allahabad, makes it out as settled and gives your ‘BOY’ a lot of soft soap; I send it as I know it will please you although it is only one of many. I wish I knew what I could send Mr Boyd for his kindness.

Letty and the children are all quite well and send their love and hope this will find you enjoying some good health as am happy to say this leaves me.

your affectionate Son

J. Johnston

Roorkee

12th April 1875

My dear Mother

I received your letter this morning and am sorry to hear you are not keeping well. I was going to write you by this mail, for I have been wondering why I have received no letter from you nor no acknowledgement of the shawl I sent you when I came back from the hills. I am glad you have received it and that you like it as you will find it very warm and comfortable with it in the house. You want to know what it is made of, it is made of “pashmina”, the wool from the sheep in Thibet (sic) and I bought it when I was up in the hills last October; but I wrote and told you all about when I sent the shawl-I fancy you did not receive it by the way you write. I had to take a house in the hills for a couple of months and a fine penny it cost me- about 1200 rupees (£120-0-0) so that I could not send you any money as I would have liked. The doctors here, when they tell you must go to the hills, little dream or care what expenses you are put to.

Letty was very ill about Xmas and New Year time. Poor lass; through all the merry meetings and fun, she was out of it, but I am happy to say, she is quite well again and picking up fast. We went to live in a house on the banks of the Canal when she was able to move about, and the change done her a world of good, but it was very tiresome for me to come in and out to my work, for I had a drive of about 16 miles and I was glad when we got home-it was a very lonely place and at night you could here (sic) the wild animals quite close. One night I was much afraid of my horses as there were a could of hyenas just outside the door.

I have not heard from Annfor some time- but her Regiment (Editor’s Note: her husband’s The 72nd Highlanders) is at Peshawur and I will forward her sister’s letter onto her.

You tell me that a letter brightens you up-what would you say if you

( Editor’s Note-Ending of the letter Missing)

Roorkee

26th September 1875

My dear Mother,

I have been looking out for a letter from you for a long time, but no signs of one-the mail was in yesterday but nothing for me. I hope you are all right and that it is not sickness that is the cause. I hope this finds you enjoying good health as I am happy to say this leaves us all here.

We are very free from sickness in Roorkee although it has been very bad in other stations close to us, but as the cold weather sets in we may expect to get sick of it.

The great cry out here is the visit of the Prince of Wales which will do a great deal of good I have no doubt, although they cry out about the expense. Natives dearly like a “tumasha” (Editor’s note: Hindi – celebration) and don’t care what they spend to get one.

(Editor’s Note : Prince Albert Edward, later King Edward, set off for India in October 1875 on an extensive eight month tour of the sub-continent)

What did you think of the tea? Which kind did you like best? I have wondered whether it reached you safe-let me know what there was to pay on it as I could only clear it here to London; and Letty sent you a woolen (sic) cap and cuffs. Have you received them?

I am thinking of bringing Jamie home with me, but have not yet mentioned it to him-it will be quite time enough when he comes home to mention it-as he would not do much for the next two months if he was aware of it.

I have sent you a College Report three weeks ago also one to Aunt Agnes. I think she must be angry with me or I would have heard from her before now.

Did you get the letter I sent for George Paterson, he has never replied to it.

And now dear Mother, I hope to hear from you soon as the last I heard from you was in June last.

Letty joins me in love, not forgetting the children

Your affectionate Son

J. Johnston

Just before the children went to bed they were asking what will grandma be doing now? They are at it every day what they are going to do when we get home.