DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.25988#0132
io8 Lije oj Mountstuart Elphinstone.
CH, IV.
stay with the amiy; he said somebody must go before Webbe
can come. I said I would; he hinted that he would; I said I
should be extremely glad to go with him. You know he talks
diffusely and indistinctly, but this was al Grhurruz. 3 After-
wards the Greneral told me he must get me to go to one or
both of these fellows, S. and B., 4 and wished me to pitch on the
best for me with respect to prospect of a Residency. I said I
should like to go where there was most to do, and look after-
wards for a place when all was settled. I have had more talk
about this; Major M. and the Greneral both recommend
Nagpoor for speedy succession. I am almost ashamed to tell
you my objection to it. I begin to wish for idleness, society,
and ladies; and I dread being stationed long at a place where
I shall be so solitary. Conceive what society there will be
where people speak what they don’t think in Moors. Of course
I like being sent now. What I dread is my reward, a Eesi-
dency, and a secretaryship in the meantime. You will see
that much of this letter is for you only, even the news part; the
details to any one else would seem ridiculous, and the egotism
disgusting. There are some things in this which I almost tremble
to commit to paper and the post. I shall know more about my
fate soon. If I go to N., when in this world shall we three meet
again ? Pray come to N. on your way to Calcutta, and see the
famous Jos. W. I wonder how this will end? One might
study and live happily and philosophically in a srnall society;
but that never is the case at a Residency. Gross people
nautch and brutify, and others grumble and Ahirmanise. 5
I think it will end in my not getting even the secretaryship
for an age, or at least getting it in some way which will
bring me malcontent to Bengal. By that time your claims
will in the course of nature have sunk to a Zillah Reyship,
and we may be at the same station or live in the big house at
Russa out of employ. Before I finish this letter, the con-
nection of which would puzzle Forlorn, I have to notice how
very kind Major M. has been to me since first I saw him;
3 The design (upshot). 4 Sindia and Bosla.
5 Ahirman (Ahriman) is the personification of evil in tlie system of Zoroaster.
CH, IV.
stay with the amiy; he said somebody must go before Webbe
can come. I said I would; he hinted that he would; I said I
should be extremely glad to go with him. You know he talks
diffusely and indistinctly, but this was al Grhurruz. 3 After-
wards the Greneral told me he must get me to go to one or
both of these fellows, S. and B., 4 and wished me to pitch on the
best for me with respect to prospect of a Residency. I said I
should like to go where there was most to do, and look after-
wards for a place when all was settled. I have had more talk
about this; Major M. and the Greneral both recommend
Nagpoor for speedy succession. I am almost ashamed to tell
you my objection to it. I begin to wish for idleness, society,
and ladies; and I dread being stationed long at a place where
I shall be so solitary. Conceive what society there will be
where people speak what they don’t think in Moors. Of course
I like being sent now. What I dread is my reward, a Eesi-
dency, and a secretaryship in the meantime. You will see
that much of this letter is for you only, even the news part; the
details to any one else would seem ridiculous, and the egotism
disgusting. There are some things in this which I almost tremble
to commit to paper and the post. I shall know more about my
fate soon. If I go to N., when in this world shall we three meet
again ? Pray come to N. on your way to Calcutta, and see the
famous Jos. W. I wonder how this will end? One might
study and live happily and philosophically in a srnall society;
but that never is the case at a Residency. Gross people
nautch and brutify, and others grumble and Ahirmanise. 5
I think it will end in my not getting even the secretaryship
for an age, or at least getting it in some way which will
bring me malcontent to Bengal. By that time your claims
will in the course of nature have sunk to a Zillah Reyship,
and we may be at the same station or live in the big house at
Russa out of employ. Before I finish this letter, the con-
nection of which would puzzle Forlorn, I have to notice how
very kind Major M. has been to me since first I saw him;
3 The design (upshot). 4 Sindia and Bosla.
5 Ahirman (Ahriman) is the personification of evil in tlie system of Zoroaster.