JACK'S LETTERS TO WALLICH, 1819-1821. 207 



ing it, it must be got through. I have not time for more at 

 present, so I conclude, with best regards to you and Mrs. W. 



And I am ever, 



My dear Wallich. 



Yours very truly, 



William Jack. 



Bencoolen. 



1st June, 1820. 

 My dear Wallich, 



I have been much disappointed at not having a single oppor- 

 tunity of writing you for a long period, and now I have nothing 

 better than the circuitous route of Batavia. I must therefore 

 content myself with a few lines, and trust that ere long I shall 

 have some direct opportunity. I am very anxious to hear from 

 you and learn your plans for the ensuing season. The time of 

 your purposed voyage 211 is fast approaching, and I am desirous 

 of learning your arrangements regarding it. I do hope on your 

 own account that you will put it in execution, it will relieve you 

 from a great deal of tiresome worrying business ; and a year passed 

 in amusement and pleasure in an alpine region like Xepaul. will 

 be as good as a voyage to Europe, and be an epoch from which 

 to date the commencement of a new lease of life. If you could 

 have made a voyage here in place of the Xepaul trip, it would 

 have been to me still more delightful, but we are seldom fated to 

 have all we wish in this world, and happy is he who looks at the 

 brightest side of the present, whatever it be, and takes the honey 

 of every flower he finds, without repining that it is not the wished 

 for rose. I think there are few people who have more the means 

 of being independent of circumstances than ourselves, and such as 

 like us can turn from any prospect, however dark to that of nature 

 which is always the same, fresh and bright. But stop, good Mr. 

 pen, not so fast, as Fielding says, we have got on the top of a hill. 

 how we are to get down again is the question. I believe he does 

 it, by ringing the bell for breakfast, and though I have not that 

 resource at hand just now, I must somehow contrive to descend 

 to matters of fact. 



And first for domestic news: I have a new character to intro- 

 duce on the stage in the person of Lady Baffles' second son. who 

 made his debut about a week ago with great applause. Captain 

 Watson's lady also presented him with a girl a few days before. 

 In short, increase of the population is the order of the day m 

 more ways than one. Sir Stamford's indefatigable mind is now 

 turned to the improvement of this place, and to drawing forth its 



211. Journey to Nepal. Wallich resided at or near Khatmandu from 

 21st Dec, 1820 to November 8th or 9th, 1821. 



E. A. Soe.j No. 73, 1916. 



