P.S. — I wish when my medal and three clasps are ready you would get them from Moncrieff ^^ and ask m}'' mother to keep them for me. I do not want to have them sent out to me, but perhaps instead you could get for me 5 or 6 inches of the ribbon that I may wear some on each of my coats.
To Lady Stephenson
My dear Mother, — Just one line to tell you of my luck. I am appointed Military Secretary to the new Commander-in-Chief out here, General Simpson.*^ This
appointment is the more flattering as it was totally unsolicited by me or anyone who takes an interest in me. Lord Raglan (so General Simpson told Lord Rokeby the other day) had mentioned my name to him on three different occasions should he, General Simpson, be ever in want of assistance — adding that he had never heard anything but good of me, that I had been out the whole time, seen everything, and always been well, so you see how complimentary I feel this appointment. Then the congratulations of all my friends, who declare it to be the best selection that could be made, together with the thought of the pleasure this news will give you all, has made me feel happier than I can tell you. My pay will be increased to about;^400 a year. William will tell you what the appointment is like.... It is as much as I can do to write this, not being very well from an attack of dysentery, but from which I am getting all right. — Ever your affectionate son,
Fredk. Stephenson.
To Lady Stephenson
H.M.S. Agamemnon, July 21.
My dear Mother, — I am still on the sick list;... you can have no idea how difficult it is to rally in this climate. I have left the camp for a time, and am now staying for change of air on board the Agamemnon, Sir Thomas Pasley. I was to have gone on board the Tribune, Captain Drummond whom I know extremely well, but suddenly he received orders to sail for the coast of Circassia, and so he handed me over to his friend Sir Thomas Pasley, whose kindness and attention although an utter stranger nothing can exceed. It appears, however, he knows something of us, and through whom do you think? Through the Aunts at Kensington.*^ He married a niece of General Wynyard, and seems to have been at the old palace a good deal; he is a man under forty. This illness comes at a provoking time, just when I have got the new appointment and which I
[fragment illegible in the scan of the first edition]
ought to be working at now. My additional pay will not be so much as I told you at first; it will be about;^300 a year, and the first year will be almost entirely absorbed by the expense of my outfit. I think we are all beginning to get heartily sick of this war, Army, Navy, and everybody. I see no prospect of a satisfactory termination of it, and should heartily rejoice at a peace....
July 3 1. — I am still convalescent on board the Agamemnon, and am getting better every day. This climate does not help me at all, and although I am at sea the air is far from being bracing; this is certainly one of the greatest drawbacks to invalids in this part of the world. I long to be at my work, but I am afraid another week must elapse before that will be the case. I have literally nothing whatever to tell you, and you may easily imagine how utterly void of incident my life is just now; in fact, I only write these few lines in case you should be anxious to hear how I am; but I am all right now, and only want time to give me strength again and set me to work.... — Ever your affectionate son,
Fredk. Stephenson.
To Lady Stephenson
My dear Mother, — Don't tumble off your chair when you read what is coming, which is to tell you that I start for England to-night for the recovery of my health, and shall probably be with you at Hampton Court quite at the end of the month, and hope to stay with you four or five weeks. My illness has never been serious, but has completely prostrated me. I cannot get well out here — nobody can.... General Simpson has kindly given me unlimited leave, and my appointment will be kept open for me.... — Ever your affectionate son,
Fredk. Stephenson.
H.M.S. Agamemnon, off Sebastopol, August 7, 1855.
To Lady Stephenson
Sebastopol Camp, November 16, 1855.