Government House, Tasmania My dear McLean, Are your promises made of pie crust or are you ever coming to see your old friends? You must do so soon if you mean to see us on this side of the Equator for at the end of the year a number of Governors will have completed their time of service and I doubt not that my old shoes will be wanted. I shall then have no chance of seeing you unless you go home and I doubt if you will make up your mind to do that for many a day. I have just been reading a Blue Book from England containing Lord Carnarvon's despatches to Sir G. Grey and certainly they were not written with rose water. I was sorry to hear that you have been suffering from floods but I do not hear of any loss of life and trust the damage has not been very great. My wife and all my children here had measles but I am happy to say they are recovering and all well again though my wife has not regained her strength yet. Poor Steward has been very ill indeed from the consequences of dysentery but I trust he too is getting better. This is a doleful account but I trust they will all be well and most happy to welcome you you come. Now let this be as soon as convenient. Yours very sincerely, T. Gore Browne 12 July 1867 My only engagement is to go to cattle and Agricultural shews in the North at the end of October and beginning of November but do not let that hinder you as you could come with me.