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High Commissioner's Office, Johannesburg.
June: 20: 1903
My dear old Nan
I was very glad to get your letter this week and also one from Mother at Broughton, who seems to be in better spirits. I can quite understand your exasperation with W. Robb – I was never devoted to his character or appearance. I hope we shall have a pleasant time at Altarstone. I have just had a mad epistle from John Jameson, [who] [proposed?] a great reunion at Ardwall. I think I shall fix the first week of
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October for that spree, but I shall see how it fits in with William's plans. I am looking forward enormously to be home again. I gave a lot of instructions in my last letter about your writing to me, which I think hold good, as I am practically certain to sail by Dunvegan Castle on August 19th.
Poor John Edgar is not allowed to receive letters, and so I cannot communicate with him for several weeks. 'Neurasthenia', the
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doctors call it: it strikes me as much the same affliction as my old Mother has.
I am very busy with the new Council which is lots of difficulties. I am also - as my last piece of work here – trying to get some order into the Railways and quarrelling with the officials "both bitt her and regular, like man & wife". However H.E. backs me up nobly, & when people complain of me, he says I am quite right. I wish to goodness he would settle when he is going home, as I have so much to do, which can only be done when he leaves.
I shall bring home a gigantic quantity of curios which have been given me by native chiefs – shields, assegais,
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battle-axes, knobkerries, old rifles & powder horns, as well as a lot of heads of buck and a large number of skins. I think I had better leave all these at 3 Temple Gardens. I expect to arrive in London on Sept. 5th and shall require a couple of days to shop & arrange some business. So I shall travel up to Scotland on Tuesday morning, Sept. 8th.
Please don't tell the Balfours I am coming back, as Mrs B has been writing to me here – and I want to have a free month. I have not much to bring home beyond a few jewels, but I intend to give William a sporting rifle to take to India.
With much love to all
Your affectionate brother
Jock
