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Would you mind paying the enclosed bills, and buying yourself a birthday present with the balance? The Old Bank will cash the cheque. JB
HIGH COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE, JOHANNESBURG,
Feb: 19: 1902
My dear old William
Many thanks for your long and interesting letter. It does me good to see the name of B.N.C. on notepaper. I had my battels sent me last Saturday, and had never more pleasure in writing a cheque. I sympathize with you in Mods. term. I never felt so like junking an exam - as just before Mods. On the other hand my pleasantest Oxford were just after it - in London and then a wild walking-tour with the
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black-faced John in Liddesdale & Eskdale. You mustn't overwork for the I.C.S. Remember that it is not of deadly importance to get in your first shot.
The weather is delightful now and I am very well. Last Saturday I had to go to Pretoria to see Lord K - rather unfortunate for the Rand Rifles were called out & saw a little - a very little - fighting. Our butler made his will and went off on a great horse, and came back three days after half-famished, having
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nearly killed a loyal native scout.
However Pretoria was very pleasant. K. was amiable and communicative. On Sunday evening I climbed a hill and got a wonderful view of the foothills of the Magaliesburg Range, and the bush-veld to the north. It is a wonderful romantic country to the north, full of fever and big game and lions and savagery. I am thinking of writing a book to be called 'African Studies' - on the history & scenery and politics of S. Africa. It would be a pleasant memento of my sojourn here.
I have just finished drafting
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the Land Settlement statute for the O.R. Colony. I am also deep in complicated questions of Railway finance, and have a despatch on Relief & Reconstruction to go off on Friday. I have also to interview 20 or 30 people a day; so I cannot complain of an empty life. What I enjoy most are the long talks with H.E. But what I should enjoy more would be a crack with you and John Edgar and Sandy Gillon over a peat fire in a Highland shieling. Ochone-a-rie
Ever yours John
