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High Commissioner's Office, Johannesburg.
Nov: 7: 1902
My venerable Nan
Your letter and mother's did not come in today till late, & I really thought, as I had not heard from you for 3 weeks that some catastrophe had befalled the House of Buchan. I heard also from Aunt Kate, Willie, John Bouch, Sandy Gillon & John Edgar. I hope you have all got safely over the marriage festivities. I am very well but sair overworked, and in view of Mr Chamberlain's visit I hardly know what the next few weeks may bring forth in the way of special strain. I have been sitting in Executive Council all week, - a dreary waste of time, but I
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have got my Ordinance passed at last. Now begins the work of getting the Department in full working order. I find I have to do everything, for unless I see to it, it is not done, and my duties are multifarious enough, ranging from financial dispatches to the Secretary of State to drafting account forms and preparing ledger accounts.
I got Kipling's "Just So Stories" last week - a delightful work, which amused me greatly. I gave my copy to the little Lawleys, and found Sir Arthur on Sunday afternoon reading it aloud to them. You must purchase it for the Mhor. The pictures - by Kipling himself - are the best things of their
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kind since the 'Alice' books.
Johannesburg is hot, dusty and forlorn just now. The country is also hot, but beautifully green,, and as the rains have begun the streams are all in spate. I am taking the Leconfields out to our camp at Irene on Monday to lunch with Col. Thomson. Hugh and I gave a luncheon party last Wednesday, at which I believe at least ten millions sterling was represented. We had Lady Leconfield and Miss Wyndham, Mrs Eckstein (the wife of the great financier) & the Duke and Duchess of Westminster. The Duchess has improved greatly since I saw her before her marriage. She has still got the foolish barmaid
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prettiness of all Cornwallis-Wests, but she is a frank, high-spirited person, who is just starting in a trek across the veld. She wears untidy old clothes & smokes all day long. The Duke is a pleasing child with red hair.
As I told Willie I think a year will see me out here. After that unless one particular thing happens, I will return to the Bar and the 'Spectator', with an eye to Parliament as soon as possible. I think it very important to be at the centre of things again for a little & not live too long in exile. After all the best stepping-stone to the higher administrative posts is home politics.
With much love to all
Your affectionate brother
John
