2110-1-13-6

High Commissioner's Office, Johannesburg.

Feb: 1: 1903

My dear Mother

Many thanks to you & Anna for your last letters. I am sorry to hear that you are all seedy, and words fail me to express my opinion of McRobert. Take Alice Noble's advice & have "nae mair dealings wi' a man o" God." That Port Elizabeth was an unhallowed ply [ploy] from the start. I hope your workers' meeting went well & that you survived Mrs Guthrie.

I am very well but rather colded, having

had a hard time last week. Two nights in the train, one on the bare veld, & two days' riding of about 40 miles each, I was very pleased with my expedition. The stock farms and stud farms are doing extraordinarily well, & apart from the benefit to the country I think they will realised a handsome profit. The London 'Times' had a long article on our Land Settlement on Monday Jan 5th, in which they were complimentary to me. I struck a very nice Boer farm, where an old lady cooked

me one of the best dinners I have ever eaten - delicious roast fowl, sausages, new potatoes, & quantities of fresh peaches.

Blackwell sent me a complete set of my books this week & I found great refreshment in looking through them again. I think 'Scholar-Gipsies' is the best, till you come to the "Watcher". Everyone here has spotted my article on Johannesburg in the 'National Review' in spite of my deep secrecy, but I am happy to say I think no one is offended.

The weather is slowly getting cooler & in another month will be very pleasant. I am becoming a regular salamander &

'pay no attention' to heat now. I expect however I will feel the wet at home very keenly when I come back.

I hope the poor Bird [Walter] is recovering. The new Scotch cook is very good, & cooks just like Ardwall. It is a pleasure to get proper scones & oatcakes & porridge again. I am now staying with the Lytteltons during my Pretoria visits. It is very comfortable, but my supply of serious conversation is getting rapidly used up.

With much love to all

Your affectionate son

John