2110-1-13-3

High Commissioner's Office, Johannesburg.

Jan:11:1903

My dear old Mother

Many thanks to you and Anna for your last letters, and to Anna for the beautiful aesthetic tie & to Willie for Catullus. I have been getting some of my old favourites by heart. It is very kind of you to remember me so much. There is one thing I want to talk about - the worrying of yours about Willie going to India. I cannot understand it. It is a comfortable and superior profession. He will get ample leave every 3 years. It is nearer England than S. Africa. Moreover it is not so dangerous to the ordinary man as S. Africa, because the conditions of life are so much more comfortable, and the country has not been poisoned by war as this has. Really, my bonny old mother, you must be sensible. You will have me home within the year, & you must spare Willie to a

profession when he has an excellent chance. India holds members of every Scottish family: why should you be so averse to it? For a careful man it is as safe as London: and you know how eident a creature William is.

We have had an exciting week with Joe [Chamberlain]. He arrived a week ago, & last Tuesday made his first public speech at the banquet at Pretoria. Very good - the old professional among amateurs. He was very good on Thursday too in hismeeting with the Boer leaders. I dined with him last night & lunched with him today and talked with him all afternoon. He

cross-examined me closely, but on the whole I found him a kindly old gentleman. He thanked me for all I had done, which was very nice of him. Mrs Chamberlain is perfectly charming & very pretty, & my old friend Mountbretton is out with him as Private Secretary. There is to be a garden-party on Wednesday & then a great final banquet next Saturday, at which Joe is to give his final decision on the financial question. He has already told it me, and I think it most wise and statesmanlike. The very important point will be settled when Joe is here - how long Lord M. is to stay - a matter which affects me vitally, especially

as I have had a letter from Strachey by last mail pressing for an answer.

Hugh's cousin, Lady Sybil Primrose, is going to marry my friend Charlie Grant, who was with us at Colonsay. I don't think he has a penny. He is a lucky man, for she is a beautiful creature & has the siller.

I had a long letter from Sandy, who told me his cousin Frances Stewart is marrying Lord Cassilis. Nocht but marryin' & givin' in marriage. It's a comfort there's none o' that in the next warld.

With love to all

Your affectionate son

John