FL1215460

[pencil:] 231

June 24th. 1867

My Dear Macarthur

I cannot express the deep
sense of grief I felt at the tidings of your brothers
death. The first brief notification was by a Telegram
from Ceylon that simply conveyed the intimation "Mr
Jos Macarthur is dead." A fortnight elapsed before the
ordinary mail brought a confirmation of this sad intelligence.
Notwithstanding the shortness (and to some extent vagueness) of
the Telegraph, we were afraid to hope against the mournful
impressions it created. Most thoroughly and from the
very bottom of my heart, do I my Dear Macarthur,
sympathise with you on this sudden and terrible
parting from one, we all loved so well. I
say we – for I assure you I loved your brother.
no one I believe beyond yourself, and his very
nearest relations, had a more sincere affection
for him than I had. For no one knew or
appreciated his many noble and generous
qualities better than I did. His character
was so simple, – so truthful, so reliable