Letter from James Glencairn Burns to Jean Burns, 27 July 1812

Jarra Mirzapore 27th July, 1812

My Dear Mother

Three Ships being on the point of
sailing, I take the opportunity of writing
you a few lines merely by way letting you
know that Jimmy Burns is living and in
most excellent health growing quite [?]
and fat and tall, indeed I have enjoyed
most Capital health since I recovered my
attack of fever I had on my landing, and
whilst that the Heat is making even old
residents of India unwell I am enjoying
remarkable good health, which I hope is the
case with my Dear Mother. It would
be a pleasant Country this if it was not
so hot. You cannot concern how hot it is here.
A person is in one continued perspiration.

Night and Day and the Station we are
at now and is the worst [?] in
India, for we are quite detached from
any Society but our own which is very
[?]- it however is an excellent Country for
Hunting and on the ensuing Cold Season
I hope to have some sport. I wish you
could see my two Poneys, they are the
prettiest you ever saw. My prospects for
promotion are still very bad. I am
now fairly settled with my Corps and
in consequence of letters I brought up
from Calcutta to the Major of our Corps
here has behaved extremely well to me and
given me a room in this house when I
live free of all expense/servants and
Hours excepted/and I shall now very
soon pay off the Debt I contracted.
My new linin shirts and not of the

[?]being intolerable [?] nothing but
Caution will answer. I have heard from
William repeatedly he is very well and is
porter to his Corps as Ensign he is an Ensign
and I am a Cadet, and yet [page torn]
as him and when I am Ensign I shall get much
more; he is quite vexed that he has not heard
from home, and so I am I. There have been
several Ships arrived an not a letter
How is Mr [?]? better I hope [page torn]
my best respects to him - also to W[?]
Maxwell and I hope they
are all well - and with [?]wishes for
your [?], I am, my dear Mother
Your affectionate Son

J. G. Burns.