2110-1-9-8

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE, JOHANNESBURG,

Jan: 22::1902

My dear old William

Many thanks for your most interesting letter. Your poaching case was very amusing. I hope things will turn out well in Mods You must have a jolly good try for a First, which your older brother missed. I can't understand why you didn't get in the club. You must get put up again. I suppose they thought you were too young. I am glad you are in the Canning, which always contained some of the nicest fellows in

Oxford. I don't envy you your task of correcting my father's proofs. Has Blackwood taken the book? I agree with you that it is very open to criticism. My good father has not the proper turn for speculation. He cares too little about logic, and sees things in a pictorial way.

I envy you your snow-clad hills, though you will now be in the marshy lowlands of Oxford. I wish I could have an Oxford spring term once again, especially the last week when I was planning spring-tours with old black-faced Jock [John Edgar]. However, as the Bird has wisely observed, there are compensations to growing old.

My father and mother and the Mhor seem

to be enjoying themselves at Port Elizabeth. The Mhor offers to come up here as Lord K's Chief-of-Staff, and complains bitterly of Ian Hamilton's appointment. Things go on much in the old way. Lord M. wishes to put me at the head of Land Settlement with full administrative powers - a kind and flattering offer: but it would tie me down here for some years, and I don't want to leave him. He says he doesn't want to lose me; so there the matter remains. I can make no guess at my future, but am content to wait. I may return soberly to the 'Spectator' & the Bar; or I may go to Egypt, or elsewhere with H.E.; or I may stay out here for a few years. My health is much better now the weather has got colder. Never have dysentery, William, my man.

It takes all the stuffing out of a man, and leaves him like a dish-cloth. I feel that my experience here is a magnificent education. I have to see that things get done [underlined], as well as make theories. I have much responsibility, and I have to learn to deal tactfully and firmly with all sorts and conditions of men. Academic cobwebs get swept away, and one becomes sublimely practical: at least I think I do, but I complain that many of the permanent officials exported from the Colonial Office are the worst type of officials, without courage, enterprise, or resource. I foresee a big clearing some fine day. I want to get John Edgar out here & in Land Settlement, - also John Bouch. I hear that that great man was in charge of the police after the Rugger Match, & suffered a fine.

Taffy Davis, of the Gordons, who was up

at B.N.C. with me, is home on leave & is coming to Oxford & is to call on you. Be very kind to him, for he is a pukka [underlined] warrior, full of wounds.

Mrs Neville Lyttelton, wife of the General, has arrived here. She made me go riding with her last night. I had a thoroughbred, who had been in stable for 2 days. She kept asking me questions the whole time, while I was struggling with a jibbing horse. My arms feel this morning as if I had been kirning for a week.

The weather now is perfectly marvellous,