Page:Letters from India Vol 1.djvu/168

 Wednesday, May 11. There was such a good set of American editions of English books advertised to-day, that I sent off forthwith and bought Mrs. Butler’s Journal and Theresa Lister’s novel, ‘Anne Grey,’ and one of Lady Morgan’s novels and another book, all for ten rupees; and George grumbles at them every time he picks one off the table; but as we are cut off from English editions and from all other amusement, I am thankful for these. I tried at an English shop for some books, and they asked 2l. for Poole’s ‘Scenes and Recollections,’ and 3l. for the commonest novels in three vols. They have no French novels. I wish, if Mr. Rice has an odd copy of the ‘Marquis de Pontanges,’ and any other recommendable French books, you would buy them and send them out to me.

We had only three gentlemen at dinner to-day, who were fresh arrivals from the interior, and more talkative than the Calcuttians.

Thursday, May 12. Several visitors, but all gentlemen. No lady could come out. Even the oldest Indians own