2110-1-8-9

High Commissioner's Office, Johannesburg.

Nov: 23:: 1901

My dear Stair

The tobacco arrived safely and also the most interesting letter for which I am very much in your debt. You are my only correspondent who really tells me the news I want to hear. Old Professor Rankine spoke enthusiastically of you when I saw him here, & also of our great Johnnie. I hope your golf-matches have covered you with lasting fame. I see the St Andrews

record has been broken. Verily we live in stirring times.

This is a useless letter, for it is Sunday and I am much too tired to have any spirit left. This visit of Joe's is giving me the devil of a time, for most of the things he is going to inquire into are my own affairs. I spend the best part of each week in Pretoria, in steaming weather, sweating from 8 in the morning till 9 at night. I have got my Land Department going in

full swing now, and Repatriation has taken I hope a final turn for the better. I wish you could see me sitting daily surrounded by my variety of blackguard stalwarts & make contact with me. I am getting a really first-class judge of rascality. More by token, you will see a paper of mine "In the Tracks of War" in December 'Blackwood' describing a journey I took in September.

I am the guest of the Pretoria Caledonian Society on St Andrew's Night, & have to propose the toast of 'Scotland'. I hope I may be mercifully preserved. How many times we have drunk that great

toast together!

Hugh Wyndham is very well. The Leconfields (mother & daughter) have been staying with us for the past month & leave to morrow. We have also had the Westminsters, Lady Airlie & heaps of other celebrities.

Remember me to all my friends. I hope to write you a better letter next week.

Ever Yrs

John