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 with feathers and trains, which is quite a novelty in Calcutta. However troublesome these gaieties may be, they are pleasant, as proofs of our ‘giving satisfaction;’ for as long as it was considered a bore to come to Government House, eternal fagging at society was doubly fatiguing. It seemed so much hard trouble thrown away if it did not please others more than it pleased us; but we have somehow risen rapidly in public estimation, and there is no end to the attentions they pay us. Calcutta is become so gay. In short, ‘the wretched tools by which George means to make his arbitrary government popular,’ as calls us, are turning to account; and that being the case, I no longer object to the trouble of the business. It is the only active duty we can perform here.

Dr. Drummond will not let me take the slightest exercise this week, as I have had constant headaches, and am weakly altogether.

Sunday, 25th. I am determined to write one line, dearest, on Christmas-day, to wish you and yours many, many happy returns of the day, and that some of them may find us together again; and in the meanwhile I was thinking at church to-day