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in reply to the letter you refer to, but was not aware
she was ill, which I am exceedingly grieved to hear,
I trust however you are right in imagining it to
be only nervous indigestion, I write to her today
but do not know whether my letter will find her at
Thornly [?] Park so I do not know whether her former
intention (which you conveyed to me) of returning home
has been attain'd [?], another thing I do not know, is,
whether you will be able to read this letter, it will
puzzle you I think. I envy you all the fruit we
have only had half a dozen bunches of grapes
a few melons and five peaches very small
but civilization is advancing so rapidly
that next year several gardens here will
have abundance of fruit -- I went for a
few days on a visit at Christmas and was so
unfortunate as to lose my horse Felix. I am afraid
he was stolen but he might have strayed out
of the paddock in which I placed him in which
case it is probable he may make his way to
Nth Wollombi - Mr. Cornish was with me and he
also lost his horse, a Chesnut mare branded on
her neck [drawing of brand, like an "8"] four years old I think

With kindest love to Mama and yourself with
Rachel and my most sincere thanks to all, believe me
My dear Father your most affectionate son

[signed, and underlined] D. H. Dunlop