To Donald McLean Esq. Vicarage Featherston Pontifract May 18 1864 My dear Sir Your most welcome letter has accompanied one from my son and Daughter (now at "Wakefield Nelson) arriving just a few hours before the Mail is despatched - I instantly from your letter and sent it the poor forlorn fellow for his comfort - His last years crop, harvested by , occupies a cube of 9 ft (I think) - A letter from you, would serve to keep up his spirits - (He has no fear of work) The lamp of Hope glimmering thro' the dark vista of futurity has sustained many an honest persevering poor fellow and led him at last like the Pharos to the Havin whether he had long struggled - I had a call yesterday from a Gallant Captain of the Blenheim India man who was at N. Zealand - When our Neighbour young Lieut. Bland of Bark 5' N. of ts place just beyond Castlefd. on the Aire and Calder) - lowered the Pride and newly acquired flag of that Arch Villain Heki - by the first shot - which Captain Atkinson saw - and the flight of Heki with the remainder of the Captain's (of the La Pique) allowance of shot (2) flying after him, to help him over the Hills - "in double quick" - as the Captain said - The Emigrants to Taranaki were not such vagabonds as it pleased the Revd. Canon Howell to describe them in one of those Speeches at Exeter Hall - Sensation Articles, I think the Americans call them - Mr. Robt. Alexander, the successor to Ld. Brougham and rival of Scarlet (Lord Abinger) was not such a ragamuffin - General Scarlet's family were the intimate friends and next neighbours of Mr. Holden Hamerton of the Hollings Burnley Lancashire - and now own the family estate left by . Mr. Parys whom you know is Father in Law to Mr. Chisenhall Hamerton H - our Nephew - and the Canon shall he ere long informed that that family is descended from no less a vagabond than Lady Blanche Dr. of Heny. of England - But as anOconomist Brother used to say flour and suet are wanted as well as blood to ensure a good pudding - If ever I dine at Burnley in Company with the eloquent Canon - I shall advise him to think before he speaks again of persons every way as good and worthy members of Society as himself - During the debates about N. Z. - I observed with pleasure that the Duke of N. Castle had a very favourable opinion of the Principal persons in power at N. Plymouth. I was quite delighted to hear my old Class fellow at Ch.Ch. Oxford (Wolsey's) (This Benefice was one of Wolseys) Lord Claud Hamilton Brother of the late Marquis of Abercorn - who went thro the same "curriculum" from 1805-to 9 with Robt. Peel! The "" Peel - to hear him stand up and back the Duke of N. Castle - I wrote a letter to Harold Browne Brother of the Govr. wh. he took very kindly - (He is now Bp. of Ely) and I will write to abt. Hawkes' Bay. I have the of Govr. Browne in the St. Helena Papers - expressing the greatest possible regret at his sudden leaving them - wh I published - The descendant of Hawke (Of Hawke's Bay) lives at Womersley 6 miles from hence and his 2 brother the Honble. Stanhope Hawke, the owner of Marquis who won the St. Ledger - lived next door and kept his racers in our tithe barn - now . I must now tell you as a friend whom I believe I may trust - the amt. of available sinews of war wh. I can command - I do not owe one shilling and have paid the debts of "friends" to the amt. of some £1200, 550 for a Brother Clergyman. My tithes (vicl) are compd at £200 The Montes Aureos Shares are all paid up £200,000 - Sir W. Gore Oney Bart Chairman. When in full work they are expected to pay at least 15 per cent and may then be worth £2000. Glebe £100, Did from Ch.Col. 50, from Wife's Anny. 65, 10 Bk. Shares £445 300 Do. in Montes Aureos Brazl. Gold Mine worth abt. 825 abt. 30 in Decr. next £466. The Bk. Shares arein the Yorkshire Bank - bought in at 17 - and are now quoted at20 - As the welfare of my 44 1/2 children has been always my chief concern - I should not wait till the termination of the war shd. enable him to realize - but would at once procure him £1000 (say) or if the mine should, as it is fully expected prove so successful £2000 - My son's address is Wakefield Nelson N.Z. - Pray write to him immediately, and you may enclose this letter, to save time. I shall leave no stone turned to forward our young Colony. Yours most truly T. Hinde I shall take advice as to the best way of making the settlement of Hawkes Bay more generally known - I mean to begin with Lord Claude as Lord Claud in a jocular manner as the meaning either Archimedes or Appollonius of Rhodes - when I had finished the Geometry and Algebra Lecture - He said Now my little man ( was a powerful muscular Giant) If I had my cane, I would shew you its sections - I replied Sir I have one - "where?" - in my waistcoas pocket. I then produced something I had borrowed from Abm. Robison - read the definitions. He would not give it me back - and it found its way into the hands of good old Cyril Jackson Head of the College once tutor to Geo. IV. But Hark the Post is off.