Did you feel and know the benefits which will be the results of going. I know that you would heartily concur with the idea as I have now guardian since C left. Address all communications here. It will be a source of much pleasure to Uncle to forward your letters wherever I may be with all his eccentricities and they are not few. He is devotedly attached to our family but naturally of yourself in particular, poor old man how he makes me start when he says Oh, that I could but see him once. I hope to write by almost every mail as long as I am here but hope very soon to leave. With love to little Douglas andfond remembrances to all Your afft. sister Annabella M'Lean [Added by Rev Donald McColl to above letter] My dear Donald I was made happy on receiving a letter from you in July last. I was in great expectations of seeing you here in propria persona ere now but the war in New Zealand no doubt prevented this great pleasure being realized before now. I trust that the war is now favourably ended and that we will soon have the satisfaction of beholding you in your Mother country. I am distressed by the illness of your Aunt Helen. I fear she will never get quite well again but she is better and I am not without hopes of her recovery. I am getting on here as well as I could reasonably expect. Annoyances occasionally occur but which, thank God, I will get over. As Annabella will have given you all the news I need not therefore add more to these few lines but my love to Robert. Your affectionate Uncle D McColl