I suppose you will observe in the Antipodes as jovially as is done at home. Time flies here so rapidly that even the day seems too short to overtake the numerous tasks we have to prepare for the respective masters. I rise every morning at six, practice my music from seven till eight, German class for an hour, breakfast & prayers, drawing for an hour then English class with Mr Young, a most delightful teacher. He combines so many interesting facts with his explanations that it is quite a pleasure to listen to him. We get a number of very difficult exercises in composition to do which I like very much. I wrote an essay lately upon nature with which he expressed himself very much pleased and I am at present writing one upon the late war in the Crimea, also a poem upon Christmas. We are with him from ten till twelve. Twelve to one French then writing & arithmetic which I do not attend. Three times a week we go out to a French master for lessons in dancing and deportment which has greatly improved me but it is rather expensive. I have experienced the benefit of the advantages I am at present receiving this winter already being invited to a number of gay parties which I enjoyed very much and has the prospect of being at number more. I was at a large dinner party on Christmas Day the two evenings & before at evening supper parties which was so delightfully