These were written by Andrew Geddes or his wife Emily Jane Eckford. See also Letters from Andrew David Geddes (UK).
From Emily Geddes (nee Eckford), wife of Andrew Geddes to her mother, Catherine Eckford (nee Haldane), the wife of George Henry Eckford.
The letter can be dated November 1864, because of the reference to the birth of John and Madeleine's second son, George. It sounds as if Emily and Andrew are on a hneymoon trip, as they got married in 1864.
Benares
Tuesday
My own darling Mothery
After writing to yesterday, We "did" Benares, in that we went to the top of the minarets and saw the view, certainly a magnificent one of Benares, with the town on one side and the windings of the river on the other. You never saw what an oddly built town this is (I mean the native portion). It is not unlike Malta with paved streets and the houses so near together and awfully high. We had to walk over the pavement as Gharries could not go, and was not pleased with that, and the hundreds of steps I went up after the minurets we went up. The great bazaar or "chabie" (and it was a chabie and no mistake)!!! but we saw no nice things there. We went to the College, an awfully jolly one, not at all unlike one of the Oxford ones, only not nearly so grand. We go next to the English shops and Christian stations, tomorrow I suppose. Adie heard from John last evening. He says Madeliene had another "thumping" son on the 13th and he and she send their love and a kiss to their new sister! I heard from Mrs Patterson this morning, a very kind letter. She says that she has written to you and want awfully you should go to her. You never saw such a horrid place as this is for beggars. There is one bothering Adie's life out just now and saying that he has heard of him and has come from a long way off to see him! To all which he (Adie) remarked he is exceedingly sorry to hear it! Good by now. My own fond love to Papa yourself and Melissa with lots of kisses,
Yr own loving child, Emy.
I hope to get a letter from you today.
From Andrew Geddes to his mother-in-law, Catherine Eckford (nee Haldane), the wife of George Henry Eckford and mother of his wife Emily Jane Eckford.
Dinapore
Wednesday Jan 4th
My dear Mother
I did not write to you on New Year's Day as I intended and have not had a quiet moment to myself since, till now, to wish you all the compliments of the season. We have been busy receiving visitors and making return calls ever since we got into Dinapore and now I am happy to say it is nearly all over and Emy and I can have a little peace and quietness. She is very busy with a canvass on which she is brining out a perfect garden of roses and violets etc. She is looking so well now and is such a little darling, quite different from what she was when you saw her last. You won't know her again I expect when you come back to us!!!
Great gaiety going on still. The Officers act tonight and there is to be a dance afterwards at which Emy will figure in her wedding dress, the bride of the season, but she has got so stout that I have doubts about the lacing. You must know I have taken my degree as lady's maid and Emy gives me great praise for my expertness both in hair cutting and lacing dresses.
A rumour has been going about that we may be ordered to England this year but there seems to be no good foundation for the report, and I think there is no chance of our going, at least for a year.
Don't be uneasy about Emy's settlements, my dear mammy, she and any children there may be will have all I have, and I have arranged it as far as I can at present. I have subscribed also to a fund for her so you see I don't neglect her interests and you may rest assured of her future, as far as I can do anything to secure it. She is such a darling wife. I am as happy as any man can be in the world, and I hope you may never repent of having given her to me. All the pets birds and beasts are as lively as can be, Bobby getting fatter every day and if possible more cross than ever.
We are going to Patna this week to have a look at the house. As soon as we hear from you at Calcutta we have a few things to ask you to do for us, if you will be so good. Some I mentioned in a former letter and the rest either Emy or I will tell you of.
With best love from Emy to you
Believe me, ever your affectionate son
Adie
See Career of Andrew Geddes. He was at Dinapore Nov 2 1863 to 1865. He married Emily Eckfort ("Emy") on 1864. So the year of this letter must be 1865. Their oldest daughter, Emily Edith Geddes, was born in 1865. There are hints in the letter than Emy is pregnant. She was unwell (probably pregnancy sickness), and is now better. She has to wear her wedding dress, as the "bride of the season", but she has grown "stout" (through pegnancy, presumably) and might not fit the dress!
From Andrew Geddes to his sister, Margaret Geddes.
Dum Dum
26th Jan /67
My dear Maggy
I sent you a short note the other day anent the appearance of another little niece for you and I am happy to say that both Emy and baby are getting on nicely. It was an anxious time for us till all was safely over as being at Hazareebargh and the Regiment under orders to move down here it was doubtful whether baby would be born in central India or Bengal or perhaps between the two. The journey down was very trying for Emy as we had to travel for three days and nights without stopping in a carriage innocent of springs and drawn by the most vicious and refractory ponies and horses I have in my long experience ever seen. Then we had a day's railway and when we reached Calcutta I was thankful. The rest of the journey was only a drive of seven miles out here and we were fortunate in finding a nice house empty. The 91st Highlanders who exchange stations with us were most kind. The officers sent us furniture and anything we wanted and the ladies came to see Emy frequently. The second day after we got in I had to rush off for a doctor and nurse, and at 1/2 past 1 on the 28th Miss Geddes No. 2 was giving notice of her arrival. Owing to the 91st being about to move the nurse could not stay so long with Emy as I could have wished and indeed behaved very bady, for she made it an excuse for leaving her before she was strong enough to do without her. The consequence was that Emy got cold and had to exert herself so much that she quite lost all the strength she had gained in the first 10 days. I was glad when just in time the Inniskillings arrived and one of our own women came as nurse. With rest and a few prescriptions from the doctor (Preston of ours who is a most attentive and cleavy fellow) Emy has been able to move about again and I hope she will soon be quite well and strong again. Baby is such a fat little thing and grows heavier every day. It is to be called Helena Catherine, the first considered classical and pretty, and the second being Mrs Eckford's. I am going to ask John to be Godfather and hope he and you will like the names of your little niece. I have sent off by this mail some papers Mrs Harice Harice and Lyall sent me for signature, which through Uncle's kindness makes me a shareholder in the Union bank for over £500. This will ensure my being able to purchase my Majority as uncle says when the time comes, if such an event ever comes to pass; and I think that there is every chance of my rising more quickly as a captain than I did as a Sub.
I hope you will fulfill your promise of writing, which you sent by John, as we are most anxious to hear from you.
Emy sends her best love and will write when she is stronger.
Your affectionate brother
Andrew
From Andrew Geddes to his sister, Margaret Geddes.
Dum Dum
22d Febr /67
My dear Maggy
Last mail brought your letter giving us the sad intelligence of dear uncle's death, and also by the same mail, Emy heard of her grandmother's death, so that our home news was melancholy indeed. I wished so much to be able to see dear Uncle David again and I hoped that he, the last of the generation of our small family, who knew and watched us from our birth up, would have been spared till I saw him again, but it has been otherwise ordained, and the memory of our dear father and uncles is all that will be left to me. You, my dear Maggie, must feel their loss most deeply, for each dear one that went, left you with, I may say, one father the less, for uncles were indeed like fathers to us, and I am sure you must have felt how the goodness of God provided such a stay and support in your bereavement and never failing friends and counsellors, when the death of our own dear parents left you otherwise alone in the world. It has pleased Him to take them all and with them, the dear husband who would have supplied their place so well, if he had been spared to counsel, love and protect you. I am so glad that John went home. I little thought that in so short a time he would be the only one you could look to for help and comfort, and I am sure you found his being able to come to you a very great comfort in your trials. The sad new has here turned a house of joy into one of mourning, as you will see from the letters I have sent home lately, and Emy grieves deeply with me, for she had to come to love the dear old uncle who interested himself so deeply in our common welfare, and longed to see him so much. I am thankful that Emy's health, which as I told you in my last, was not good after her confinement, is now much improved. She had two or three attacks of fever (the first she ever had in the country) which weakened her very much, but it has now quite left her and she is able to go out and is getting stronger rapidly. Baby is such a dear little fat thing and enjoys the best health. We took the first opportunity of Emy being able to go out, and had her baptised last Sunday (by the Rev. Mr. Stone, an old Garruckpore acquaintance of mine). She now rejoices in the name of Diana Catherine which I hope you will like. They are those of a little sister of Emy's who died young, and the second is Mrs. Eckford's, who was much pleased to have her name associated with that of her lost one. Miss Die is not nearly so quiet as Ethey used to be at her age and at the Christening she gave us the full benefit of her lungs, a circumstance which old ladies say prognosticates luck in after life, and I hope they are correct in this instance. We have at last managed to get a very pleasing and correct photo of Ethel, which was taken by an amateur in Bankipore and I am getting copies struck in Calcutta. I shall send you one as soon as they come out. There is a rumour today that two companies of ours are to go into Fort William for a month or so to allow of two companies of the Rifle brigade going through their course of Musketry here, and as my company is next on the Roster, I expect we shall have to go. It is so annoying to have to move again just as we thought ourselves settled, and I would give anything to get out of it, but we have so few Captains that there is no chance of my getting an exchange. It will be so expensive and the quarters in the fort are not nearly so convenient as we have here. We have got a very confortable house, a large compound, at Rs 60/ a month, which is considered very cheap in this part of Bengal, and we have just got it into such nice order that we shall be loth to leave it. As another mail goes soon, I shall leave the rest of my news till then.
With the assurance of our deep sympathy and prayers
Believe me
Your affectionate brother<
Andrew
[Emy's grandmother can't be her paternal grandmother, Diana Eckford, since she died very young, in 1819. It can't been her maternal grandmother, Mary Haldane, since she also died in 1819. Both grandfathers married more than once. James Eckford's second wife died in 1857. I don't have a date for the death of the second wife of James Haldane.]
[Adam Gordon Geddes (father of Andrew) died in 1861. Two of his uncles died before Andrew was born. The remaining two were John Geddes IV, died in 1864, and David Geddes, died in 1867, Adam Geddes was the only one to have children. The husband of "Maggie", Andrew's sister, was James Vernon and he died in 1866, leaving his wife with a small boy. It's not surprising that Andrew feels that the older generation has disappeared.]
[This letter gives the explanation for the name of the baby. Emy's little sister who died was Mary Diana Margaret Eckford (1838-1841), the oldest daughter of George Henry Eckford and his wife. See "Little Di" Eckford.]
From Andrew Geddes to his sister, Margaret Geddes.
Dum Dum
30th June [/67]
My dear Maggy
I have delayed writing to you since receiving your welcome letter of the 3rd May as I was in hopes of being able to tell you something definite as to the arrangements for our embarkation, but all we heard as yet is that the "Euphrates" transport left Portsmouth on the 17th of this month. Whether she comes to Calcutta or Bombay is not stated in the telegram. Nor does it say what troops she has on board. As the first one has started we are in hopes that the rest of the steamers for this side of the Suez will not be long after and we may get away early in October. We intend (if I can get leave) to go up to Bankipore for a couple of months, as Mrs Eckford is anxious to have Emy with her as much as possible before we leave the country. At any rate Emy and the babies will go up and I shall join them when I can. It will be a nice change for them as this damp climate is not good to stay in for long. Emy and the babies are keeping well but Ethy looks a little thin and white from cutting her last double teeth; it does not appear to affect her spirits much, for she is always on the move and never out of mischief. Di is such a fat jolly little baby, now just 6 months old. She is very strong for her age and makes good attempts at locomotion on all fours. She and Ethel have great games of romps and they generally end in Ethy shouting for help because Di gets her by the hair with both hands and won't let go. It rains heavily every day now and it is a chance if we get a drive of an evening. The Musketry Range on which we used to drive is now too muddy and we have to keep on the one main road of the station. We often take the children out with us and they enjoy it immensely after being shut up in the house all day. We are going to take the phaeton up to Bankipore as a present to Mrs Eckford. All the rest of the furniture and traps we shall dispose of by degrees and do with as little as possible when we return. I suppose you will be installed in Salisbury Road about the time this reaches you and I am glad to hear that you have such a comfortable home. We shall be delighted to accept your kind offer of putting us up when we get up to Scotland. It will be so nice if John and his family can form part of the reunion. Quiet Salisbury Road will be frightened out of all propriety with such an influx of children and full grown wild Indians. We shall charter the Newington Omnibus to bring us from the station I think. Is it still extant?
John sent me a list of the plate and other articles which fell to my share of poor Uncle David's property. They will be extremely useful to us as we have nothing of the sort worth taking home. Do you know if the volumes of Napier's Peninsular War which Uncle used to lend me to read are still with you. I want to present a similar copy to the Mess when we go home as the edition we have is incomplete and old and will be disposed of when we sail. I should like to know how much it will cost. You may see perhaps in the edition you have. I have been thinking of another present the Mess of the Inniskillings would value highly, viz a small sized copy of Uncle portrait which used to hang in the dining room. It would be as nice a present as I could give them but I have no idea what should a copy would cost and it will be perhaps a matter of deliberation when we get home.
Emy is very busy and will be for some time, with preparation for the voyage. I am getting quite an adept at the mysterious markings of Harrack's day clothes and have a faint idea of what flannel is a yard. Under-clothing is not much dearer in this country than at home as the great competition in Calcutta keeps down the price, and the making up by native tailors is very cheap. There is a bazaar in Calcutta where nothing but cloth is sold and you would be astonished if you paid it a visit. Twenty baboos surround the carriage and each mingles invitations for you to inspect his shop with abuse of all the other 19, all at the top of their voices and that in a key no European would ascend to!!! Half an hour's shopping renders the unfortunate purchaser perfectly dazed with the noise, the only respite being when you enter a shop and the 19 defeated candidates silently watch at the door for your re-appearance. I don't recover the singing in my head for a week after a day's shopping and Emy comforts me as we drive home with a cartload of long clothes that the process must be gone through again next week!!! But I must not ask you for your sympathy. John and I shall console with each other when I get home. I heard from him about a fortnight ago; he says they have expectations of another addition to the family party. There seems little chance of the Geddes' family being extinct this generation at all events. Emy also heard from Madeline at the same time. We saw the death of Emy's Grand-father, old General Eckford, at Jersey in last telegram. He was a wonderfully hale old man and married a girl of twenty only four years ago, to the surprise of all his friends and relations. I should like to have seen the old man although I do not think highly of his marrying his fourth wife and leaving his sons to look out for themselves so late in his life. There is a great lawsuit going on relative to a lot of money left by his brother (Mr Eckford's uncle) the other day. I wish some legal puff of wind would blow it to Mr Eckford's way. It would be fine thing for him, something like £200,000 I believe.
I must close now, my dear Maggie, with best love from Emy and kisses from the girls to Alick.
Your affectionate brother
Andrew
[General Eckford was James Eckford - follow that link for a discussion on his various wives. (He was 77 years old when he married his 20 year old wife!) The lawsuit concerning his brother is described on Robert Eckford's page.]
[Maggie's son was Alexander Vernor born in 1864 - that presumably is "Alick".]
From Emily Geddes (nee Eckford), wife of Andrew Geddes to her mother, Catherine Eckford (nee Haldane), the wife of George Henry Eckford.
Dum Dum
Friday
My darling Mothery
I received yours today and I'll see about the white net next time I go into Calcutta. You got it very cheap and if I can succeed in getting it for the same, how much shall I get you? Fancy there is a talk of our Col exchanging with another. No-one knows for certain who it is but it is thought it is Walker of the 25th so we shall have Georgie Walker as our Col's wife if it is the case. Little Di is so strong. She can now turn round on her side quite well if you lay her down on the ground. She will first turn over on one side and if you go to the other side of her and call out, she rolls round with the greatest ease, and she can say "Papa and Mama" quite distinctly.She is really a most forward child I ever saw for her age. Adie will I think apply for his leave next month "July". Captain Cowell has returned from ? after seeing Miss Cowell married. She and Walter have gone to ? for the wedding tour. Mrs Cowell has fever. Major Freer has applied for leave to go to the Hills and goes ere long, I believe. Beaney has been carrying about your likeness in a frame and telling everyone it was "Danmamma" and kissing it. She sometimes calls you "Mammadan" by way of a change. She has today done a great piece of mischief by tasting my tongue scraper and biting it all to bits. There is no keeping things from her. She is so knowing and noticing just exactly like a small monkey. She runs away with the punka wallas ? topis as they sit at work whipping them off their heads from behind and running into the drawing room with them before she can be caught. I must now conclude darling as all my news is done.
With fond love ever yr own Emy
From Emily Geddes (nee Eckford), wife of Andrew Geddes to her mother, Catherine Eckford (nee Haldane), the wife of George Henry Eckford. The last few words are "crossed" over the top of the first page. Someone has also removed the stamp (presumably for a stamp collection) which has left a hole.
Dum Dum
Thursday
My darling Mothery
Yrs of Tuesday has just come. I am so glad you are so much better. You should take tonics. Adie is seedy also and can't eat so I gave him that boule of tonic Dr Preston sent me when I had got better from the fever and which I never took. It is a bad lookout for our six months leave but we mean to try for 2 but even that is doubtful. Our regiment they say will commence leaving this for Bombay in companies, and the first company will start the end of Sept or the beginning of October so that they all reach Bombay by the 6th of November. What about your coming home? Papa had much better take his pension as soon as he can. Adie and I are going to sign a paper when we go home giving Papa the life interest of your money should I get it in his life so that the idea of not having enough to live on need not keep him back and really you will be much better off with little at home than what you have out here. Don't you think so? And in the case of Papa outliving me, he is still to get the interest of the money for his life and Adie to get the interest of it after him. Poor wee Ethey is very cross with her last eye tooth. She is terribly impudent though. She hides things, and lets the servants hunt for them, and when they ask her if she knows what has become of it, she takes them by the hand and shows them where she has hid it. Di is getting such a jolly little thing too. She has such bright eyes, much smaller than Etheys but with the exact same color and a great deal of expression, and you never saw such a laugher as she is. She sometimes quite shouts with laughter, and is so strong. She sometimes straightens her legs and comes off yr lap and stands straight up resting really on her legs and not your help, and you can't make her sit down, she keeps herself so tight. I did not tell you that Ethy went to a tea party at the Cowles, the other day it was, Francis's birthday, and the little Pattersons were there. Ethey was so greedy, and objected greatly to the plate of cakes being handed to any of the children but herself, and especially when the barley sugar was handed to any one, she shouted in terrible consternation! She was the amusement of everyone, for everybody sat around her in fits of laughter, but Ethy never even smiled, only ate her cakes with the greatest interest and never noticed anyone unless they helped themselves to anything! Or now and then in a fit of generosity looked up to offer someone a bite out of her well sucked cake or barley sugar. All the children were sitting at tea when we came into the room, so the moment Ethey saw me she called out "Emy Emy" and offered me her cake.
I hope we shall get our 2 months leave and then we cd all go up to some hill station together. Would it not be jolly? Could Papa think you get leave for a little and you could come to us. The change might do you good after the fever. Goodbye darling, ever yr own Emy
I forgot to tell you that Col McMullin commands the new NI regt that has come here and his wife and 2 daughters have come but I have not yet seen them.
This shows that the parents of Emily are still in India. "Mothery" is in fact the step mother of Emily. "Papa" doesn't seem to have much money of his own.
From Andrew Geddes to his sister, Margaret Geddes.
Fort William
3d. October /67
My dear Maggy
I have delayed writing for some time as we were quite in a state of uncertainty as to when and how we were to sail for home. It is now all settled as far as arrangements go. The 2d. ba. Rifle brigade and 7th Dragoon Guards embark in the "Jumna" Troop steamer which has been in the river for some weeks, on the 29th of last month and I believe they sail in a few days. The "Euphrates" is expected here about the end of this month and we and four batteries of Artillery are to embark in her on the 11th November. The voyage home will occupy six weeks so we ought to land at Portsmouth about the 24 December. By a paper just arrived I see John and Madeline had an addition to their family circle on the 12th August and I suppose they are delighted it is a daughter this time. I must send them our congratulations by this mail. John's Regiment I see is expected to leave the camp in October but its destination is not mentioned. It will be a great pity if they move to Ireland or any out of the way place where we cannot easily reach them on arrival.
We came down from Bankipore on the 13th of last month and as my company had come into the fort with two others we had our furniture and traps brought from Dum Dum and into quarters here, three rooms and a bath-room, very snug and in a good situation on top of the ramparts so that we have fine air and a capital view of the river and shipping. Emy and the children have had troublesome colds as also myself, but we are now all right again. Everyone catches cold on first arrival, from the damp air and sudden changes of temperature, so that we may say with greater truth than politeness that the "Rifles" have been relieved by the "Sniffles". The officers give their words of command through their noses and the Colonel sneezes at the men in Orderly Room in a manner perfectly appalling.
I was delighted to get a note from Simon Ogilvie whose shipp the Pembroke Castle is lying in the river. I went to see him and he is coming to spend the day with us day after tomorrow. He has grown so stout and grown such a beard than I should never have recognised him. He is looking right well but suffers much from prickly heat like most new arrivals at this time of year. I was very glad to meet him and to hear that all his family are so well. His father, from a photo he showed me, looks as fresh and hearty as when I saw him last. I suppose you do not see much of them now as you are so far away from them. Simon said he saw you at Hillhead just before leaving which must have been about the time you wrote last. Willie seems to have done well in Australia and settled down regularly as a married man.
2d sheet
I went down the river to see the "Jumna" the other day. She is the most wonderful ship I ever saw, looked outside like a huge yellow house full of windows and doors and not by any measure handsome. The saloon is a splendid place capable of dining 120 people and the cabins are very nice and airy, except those in the lowest tier meant for the subs who are too near the water to be able to open their scuttles. The "Jumna" has been delayed from some damage to her machinery but they say she will be able to go on till she returns to refit at Bombay. I hope our steamer will not break down in the same way but as she has been well tried there is not much fear for her.
Little Di has cut four teeth and is getting quite talkative now. She bullies Ethey awfully when she gets at her, pulls her hair and shouts with delight. It is a great drawback to our expected voyage that they have nothing but preserved milk on board which is not very palable stuff. We are trying a receipt for boiling milk in corked up bottles which I believe preserves it well and I hope we may succeed. All the ladies go in one cabin and all the children into a nursery adjourning but the space is so limited that I expect there will be great trouble in that department. Fancy twenty children packed into little berths in a cabin where there is scarcely standing room for three or four of their mothers. What a chorus there will be and won't the Captain have a nice time of it, and then the poor little things are not allowed in the saloon except at meal times (three times a day) so what they will do in bad weather is a puzzle for the nursery would be a most unwholesome place for them to stay all day.
Emy expects her papa and mama down soon to stay till we sail. Mr Eckford has been suffering for some time from lumbago and wants to take change of air for a short time. A trip or two down the river would do him more good than anything. They are in expectation of a decision in the Court of Chancery about the end of the year which if favourable will give Mr E. £10,000 - from the estate of his late uncle who died in Jersey some time ago. I hope they come in for it.
We have got all the Regiment in the fort now and will be very comfortable I think for a time. Our baggage is getting put together and if there seems too much I shall send some boxes round the Cape as it will be a great trouble in crossing the desert. I daresay Ogilvie will take some home for me.
I must close now as Ethy has just walked in having been employed in trying to bathe in my tub with her clothes on and now wants to brush my white trousers with a blacking brush. Emy joins me in best love.
Your affectionate brother
Andrew
The Suez canal opened in 1869 and this is 1867, so they would have had to cross from Suez to Cairo overland (with two small children!) Even Andrew is appalled at the conditions for the children on the sea journey. Ethy is about two years old and Di about 10 months old. The account of the Indian Mutiny describes their trip home.
[Click here for an account of the "decision in the Court of Chancery". I think he didn't get the money!]
HMS Jumna
From Andrew Geddes to his mother-in-law, Catherine Eckford (nee Haldane), the wife of George Henry Eckford and mother of his wife Emily Jane Eckford.
Hong Kong
6th December
My dear Mothery
The long expected boxes from the Coop've came yesterday and great was the excitement over the opening of them. You hit off my birthday in the most wonderful way, and also my wants, in sending such a nice purse. My old portmonnaie was completely worn out and it is a custom of mine never to buy my purse or jewellery. It is a clear case of electro-biology or whatever the name is for that mysterious communication of wants and ideas between people at a distance. Emy's bonnet is a beauty and the children are all wild at the different things which came out of the wonderful boxes. Cosmo certainly is not likely to starve for some time and I think we cannot excuse ourselves for not writing for want of paper.
We were at a grand ball on 1st of this month (St Andrews day festival) given by the Scotchmen of the colony. I was a Steward and Emy has annexed a very pretty silver badge which the Stewards wore, St Axdrews X with the thistle in the centre {picture} which makes a nice brooch. There were over 400 at the ball as it included everybody who could put a decent coat on in the colony and one half of the people did not know the other or only by sight, but it was great fun. There were two Strethspeys and Reels with a piper, and our our band played the rest of the dances. It would have suited Ethey and she could have exhausted her enthusiasm for Scotland both in dancing and eating haggis which was plentiful at supper. We got home about 3 o'clock in the morning.
Cosmo is quite well and very fat and strong now. He is cutting teeth but it does not affect him as it did before. The others are all in fine condition. We were so glad to get the drawings which are very neatly done, and the letters (two) which came by the last mail in the same steamer as Captain Wodehouse. I suppose all the other officers are coming in the Himalaya which we fancy sailed about 6 Nov. I hope Major Hales will come out too. Hessing went home in the "Orontes" and will be home about end of this month.
Love from Emy and all the bairns
Your affectionate son
Adie
Cosmo Gordon Geddes was born in 1878. They came to Hong Kong in 1879. The next child, Mabel Ada Geddes, was born in 1880, and I would have thought that Andrew would have mentioned the youngest child. So a likely year for the letterr is 1879. Cosmo died, in Hong King, in 1881.
From Emily Geddes (nee Eckford), wife of Andrew Geddes to her mother, Catherine Eckford (nee Haldane), the wife of George Henry Eckford. The last few words are "crossed" over the top of the first page.
January 7th
My darling Mothery
Last Wednesday I wrote you this packet, but our letters now do not go off till ten at night and as we were going out to dinner, we left the letter which we now forgot to be given to the post man so here it is now with this sheet added to it. This week we had a grand school treat for all the regimental children. At half past one, after their dinners, we took them in a steam launch to an Island not far away Stone Cutters Island. We landed there and made all the children run races and gave them as prizes four cents for the first, three for the second two for each other so that it insured all getting something, and James Malkey was put into a race with five or six other boys quite a head taller than himself, he being by far the youngest, and no one gave it a thought but that he would come in quite the last but he was just put into that race as there was no other for him to be put into, and to the astonishment of all on the ground, his small lordship passed one boy and then another and so on until he left the whole six boys far behind him and came unto the finishing post quite four yards before any other! There were such shouts of cheers for him you never heard, and he got his four cents prize. After we came home from the launch the children had tea and there the Xmas trees (2 of them) were commenced on and then all landed in a grand scramble for sweets. Each one got a bit of cake and then went home. We did not get dinner till 9 o'clock and I was so tired Sunday I had to remain in bed. I don't think this post will hold more so goodbye till next week, your loving child Emy.
From Emily Geddes (nee Eckford), wife of Andrew Geddes to her some of her children. The last few words are "crossed" over the top of the first page.
Emily and Andrew are in Japan, with their youngest children. The youngest of all, Gwendoline, hasn't yet been born. The baby is Mabel, aged about 1. Then there is Cosmo ("Cosey", aged about 3), Caroline ("Carry" aged about 6), Malcolm ("Malcey" aged about 7) and Lilian ("Lily" aged about 9). These ages fit in with their behaviour described in the letter. There is also a Nanny. The letter is address to the next three children, Marian ("May" aged about 13), Ernest ("Erney" aged about 12) and Violet ("Vi" aged about 10). The two oldest, Wmily and Diana, aren't mentioed. It could be that the letter is addressed to "Di" rather than "Vi", but that would leave out Violet, and if it is Violet, the three children are addressed in descending age order, which makes sense.
This took place while Andrew Geddes was serving with his regiment in Hong Kong. I assume they have gone to Japan on a family holiday.
Records show that a typhoon passed the southern shore of Japan on the night of 2nd August 1881, so that fixes the year as 1881.
Fujiya Hotel
Miyanoshita
Aug 6
My darling May, Erney and Vi,
Papa and Mama were glad to hear of Erney being top of his class last term and that he is so well up this term and hope that he will get a prize though he does not expect one. How is Erny getting on with cricket, can he play at all well yet? Our new chaplain in the place of Mr Henderson is such a good and nice man, every one likes him but I don't think he likes children so well as Mr. H. but he does a great deal of good among the men and already two or three have turned from being Roman Catholics to Protestants. I had a long letter from Mr Henderson. He is paying lots of visits among his friends. So Sonny? has a new suit and looks so nice in it. How Malcey would like to see him in it. Our journey here was a very tiring one. We came in a large carriage with four horses, bringing a good deal of our own baggage and our Tiffin, as far as a place called Odawara, where we arrived at one o'clock, having left Yokohama at eight in the morning. At Odawara we took our Tiffin and then into "Jinricksha". They are little carriages like perambulators exactly, pulled in front by one man and pushed behind by another. Papa had one to himself, I and Baby had another, Nanny and Cosy had another, Lily, Malcey and Carry shared another while our baggage went in two others. We arrived in these to the foot of the hills, then we changed into "Cangoe" travelling the same as we had done in the "Jinricksha" til we got up to the hotel here in the top of the mountains, but it appears Lily, Malcey and Carry soon fell out in their "Cangoe" being so cramped for room. Carry said the others would not give her enough room for her legs, and Lil and Malcey said it was "very disagreeable" altogether. But I forgot to mention that directly we got to Odawara, Master Cosey nearly burnt the "Tea House" down we stopped at, directly he was given his liberty out of the carriage. He directly began to look about what mischief he could do and found a large basin full of ashes and charcoal fire. This he forthwith turned out of the basin and strewed it all over the floor which is made of boards and matted all over. The whole of the house also is made of wood from top to bottom, like a Swiss Chalet. Luckily I caught him and got it all put right, but no thanks to Master Cosy, who is the very essence of mischief when not watched. There are a great many children in this hotel, which is nice for the chicks. They have plenty of play mates and there is a large pond, of gold and other coloured fish in the middle of the pond, which they are never tired of watching. But Malcey's friend is a small white pig, whom Master Malcy goes to tease sometimes, and it chases him all round and round the yard. At other times Master Piggy gets quite mad and throws its tail up in the air and runs about in the most crazy manner, squealing and jumping all over the place, no one knows why! The other night we had a terrible typhon here, and we were all afraid the hotel would come to pieces, but these houses are wonderfully built for earthquakes and could stand a good blow, but all the ladies in the hotel were terribly frightened and we were all up in our night dresses, walking about the passages in case of accidents. I must now say adieu with greatest love, your loving Mammy
[on the front page] I enclose some stamps for Erney.
From Emily Geddes (nee Eckford), wife of Andrew Geddes to her mother, Catherine Eckford (nee Haldane), the wife of George Henry Eckford. The last few words are "crossed" over the top of the first page.
Fujiya Hotel
Miyanoshita
Japan
Aug 28th
My darling Mothery
It is some time since I wrote to you but we are at present living in such an outlandish place in the interior of Japan with nothing but mountains round us and the people half savages. Our hotel is kept by a Japanese and as far as comforts go, very different from the "Grand" in Yokohama, which is kept by a Frenchman, and everything very nice. Here we have to "pig it" a good deal, but the scenery and climate are splendid. Some of the scenery is equal to Scotland, people think, and the weather is so cold that I find I have not brought warm enough clothes for the chicks, so they are to be put into several petticoats and frocks, one on the top of the other to keep them warm. To prove the uncivilized state of the place, Nanny has to do all the washing here, no washerman being procurable! I have engaged a Jap woman whom Nanny teaches the art of washing clothes to, and make help her. The children are looking ever so much better, quite strong and saucy. We take long walks in the country, up hills and down valleys, and our rooms are all fitted up in Japanese fashion, with sliding doors instead of ones to open with hinges, and the walls made of splendid embroideries with gold thread on silk. You never saw such a curious mixture of grand care and "Slummyness" as the hotel is. We sit in a room with grand frescos of horses and birds and mountains and rivers, and we dine off the dirtiest and filthiest table clothes and napkins you ever saw, and have our mustard served in a hair pomatum pot! We sleep on a most gorgeous gold bedstead with grand furnishings round it and only 2 pillows and no bolster. Sheets and pillow slips hardly every changed. The scenery round is so splendid and we often go out on long expeditions on "Cangoes". A "Cango" is a very small "dooly" just like the "Ayah's" doolys in India, and no bigger. You get stiff after travelling two or three hours in one, but there is no other way of going over the hills. Adie has to tie his legs up to the pole which runs through the top of the "Cangoe", that being the only way he can fit in at all! I get on better, being shorter. We went one day to a town or village called Hakonie. It has a lovely lake in it where you can sail about, and mountains all round. Another day we went to the "Tome Tome" pass, from the top of which we could see "Fujiyama", the grand and sacred mountain of the Japanese, where they make yearly pilgrimages to worship. "Fuji" looked so grand from the pass, you can't think. Between us and it there is a large plain of 30 miles, and then suddenly rises this grand mountain with its immense base, and the top looks as if it was quite lost in the heavens. The view is really too grand and varied to describe or even to be able to show in a picture. Adie says no one but a Turner could do justice to it. Fuji was once a volcano, and plenty of people now go to the top to see the crater. It must have been magnificient when working. But the climb up top it is an awful one, everyone says, so we don't mean to attempt it. Our hotel is furnished among other things with grand baths (one of the best things about the place) and all the water is brought down from the mountains, both cold and hot. There are hot springs all round us, and one of these is brought through the bathrooms and we have boiling water at any hour of the day or night we want it. By taking a quarter of an hours walk, we can go to see the spring of hot water coming out of the side of the hill, and you can see the steam rising all round you. But the largest hot springs are about three hours journey from here, to which we are going to pay a visit one day.But they are rather dangerous places. We must take a guide. One young officer who went some years ago would not mind his guide, and would go off on his own respnsibility. He fell into the boiling stuff and got both his legs boiled off and died in agony. These springs are called "Ojikogu" and come out of a mountain (to the top of which we mean to ty and go also) called "Fusinoco[?]" which in Japanese means "Hell". This mountain is still, now and then, an active volcano, and smokes, the natives tell us. Adie has taken such a lot of views of different places and we have bought plenty of photos besides. Some of the later we mean send you, and tell Erney this is the place where all those Japanese tops, and that snake Miss Gowan gave him, are made. We see the carpenters turning them in nearly every home here, and we buy them for a few pence each. They import lots all over the place. I must say goodbye with fondest love, your loving child, Emy.
Fond kisses to all from all. I think we shall leavve this for Yokohama on the 8th, and then by the steam of the 13th to Hong Kong.
From Emily Geddes (nee Eckford), wife of Andrew Geddes to her mother, Catherine Eckford (nee Haldane), the wife of George Henry Eckford.
Emily got the date of this wrong. It must be September 4th, because the previous letter is August 28th, and they are about to leave the hotel.
Miyanoshita
Aug 4th
My darling Mothery,
I wrote to you last week but when the letter will be sent on to home or when it left this, I know not. Japanese post is by no means in a satisfactory state, so by what mail this will leave and when reach I don't know, but I am just going to post it and let it take its chance. Some days ago I wrote a long letter to May, which I shall enclose in this packet and then that will be the last letter you will get from us from Japan, as we start from this the day after tomorrow for Yokohama, and two or three days after, sail again for Hong Kong. By last mail, Adie heard from Capn Michaelson who writes to say that he is engaged to a Miss Waler from Derry, and will be married in Sepr. We got a packet from you also, thanks for asking Dr. Orton about Cosey's legs. I'll try the food he mentions if I can get it in Hong Kong. We laughed so at the scene with Mrs Rodgers and the ship being lost and Erney thinking someone being "wapped in an ?area". You should not have to pay a penny for our letters, for the sergeant who takes them away is supposed to stamp them always, anyway we pay him for the stamps I know, but Adie means to speak to him about it when he goes back. Thank Ethey very much for her last latter, I'll answer it shortly, and Vi for her letter to her Papa and all the other little notes to Lily, Malcy and Carry, they were delighted with them. Major Webb is here. Now he has been up to Fujiyama the mountain and is delighted with it. It takes twelve hours to climb from the bottom to the top and the cone alone, it takes four hours to get up, but the views from the top are lovely, and the climate so cold as there is always snow on the top of the mountain. Major Webb has taken such a fancy to Lily. He thinks her such a pretty child, so does everyone admire her. He gave her a present of five dollars to divide between herself and brothers and sisters. Goodbye with fond love, your own child, Emy.
From Emily Geddes (nee Eckford), wife of Andrew Geddes to her mother, Catherine Eckford (nee Haldane), the wife of George Henry Eckford. The last few words are "crossed" over the top of the first page.
This letter describes the death of Cosmo. Click here for more on Cosmo's death.
Sunday
May 15th
Hong Kong
My own darling Mothery,
I have sad news for you by this mail, but we must not murmer as the Lord gives to us and he takes away in his infinite wisdom; our sweet precious Cosmo was taken from us yesterday morning after a few hours illness. It was a shock to us as it was unexpected and sudden, but perhaps that was all the better for us and done in mercy. I forgot if I told you about three months ago that a wretched little dog we had ran into our nursery in which were Cosey, Nurse with baby in arms, and that little soldier's child we took in after her mother's death, called Annie Reeves. Poor darling Cosey ran up to the dog and it turned round and bit him in the finger (not a bad bite at all). It then ran at Annie R and caught her by the calf of the leg and held onto her. Nurse, who had caught Cosey on her other arm, and both the children screamed, upon which Malcey ran in from the veranda and seeing Annie could not get away, caught the dog by the hind legs and tore it off the girl, upon which it turned on him, but he ran out of the Nursery and down the stair where the dog was hauled off by some coolies, and we cannot be thankful enough that he was not bit too. I came into the nursery on hearing the noise and immediately had the two childrens wounds sucked out well, and got Adie to send to the nearest Dr who came and cauterised the hurts and examined the dog who was pronounced by all to be quite well and sound. But for the sake of satisfaction, Adie had the beast put into a room alone, and ordered the best of food and plenty of water to be given it. The next day, Trowers went in as usual and took it its food and water, and he says he saw it drink plenty of water and eat its food well. Adie also had seen the dog that morning and says it looked all well, but half an hour after Trowers saw it, it was found dead with its tongue hanging out, which we suppose was done by by the Chinese servants who could not understand Adie making so much of the dog after what it had done, for Cosey was a great pet with them all. Any how nothing more was thought of it all until Friday morning last, when Nurse told me Cosey was a good deal out of order and restless. I ordered him a dose of castor oil but it did him no good and on Saturday morning Dr. M gave him two powders and all day he was restless but still nothing to frighten us, until about seven in the evening, I went in to look at him, and thought there was a strange expression in his eye and he was very excited, calling out for things and running about the room.I got Adie to send for Dr. Murray at once, and another Dr. They both came and ordered him a hot bath, which seemed to do him good for a time, but about eleven, he got very excited again, and kept on so till three, when he suddenly got quite quiet and mild, lying quite still on his pillow, and slowly faded away. At half past three, his dear little soul went to his Saviour. His last words were "Pa Pa" and his last looks was at him, whose hand he held all the time. Adie nursed him nobly all through, for towards the last, when I heard the diagnosis was 'hydrophobia', I felt it too harrowing to stay near him, the darling, and I don't know what I should have done without my own darling Adie, who saved me everything as much as he could. I am very anxious to hear of that poor girl Annie Reeves, who went home in the "Tyne". You know, I myself had an idea that Cosey died of inflamation of the stomach and ? so still, for by nature he was always an excitable child and very troublesome to manage when sick, and I have a fancy that he swallowed a marble or coin or something which had not come through him as all his medicine seemed to have so little effect on him; but still there were other symptoms which point to the bite of the dog the Drs think. All the darlings are well, and felt the loss so much. Carry especially cried a great deal, and little Mabel keeps looking about for him, poor wee man. He had a large funeral about two hundred men, all the sargeants and corporals nearly, and nearly all the officers went, besides some outsiders and soldiers wives. He had a pretty little white coffin which was carried by eight drummer boys, and quantities of white flowers and green leaves sent me by Lady Henessey. Adie , Nurse, Lily, Malcy and Carry went. He always used to call himself "Papa's boy" and he was "Papa's boy" to the last, the little precious. I will not put this letter in a black envilope as it may frighten you on first getting it.
Thursday
I left this letter til today to finish. We have all gone to our every day work but still we miss the pet. The mail goes in a few minutes so I have not much time to write. Adie is making enquiries about the missing cheque. We got your letters saying one had not come. Adie wrote to the Scotch bank about it and has written to them to send you another £100. Fond love to all ever, your loving child Emy.
From Emily Geddes (nee Eckford), wife of Andrew Geddes to her mother, Catherine Eckford (nee Haldane), the wife of George Henry Eckford. The last few words are "crossed" over the top of the first page.
Sunday
May 31st
My own darling Mothery,
Tell Erney, Pappa sends much love for the nice pen wiper, and Carry thanks for the hood. Carry is also great at the time of day now, tell Vi, with her new watch! Everyone is so delighted with the photo of the chicks. They think them such a nice looking group, but are much astonished that I can have babies of such a size. I believe the people here don't think I am much over twenty or twenty one years of age! Adie says that sometimes when I am in my short tennis dress, I don't look more than 18! And the other day I was talking to a gentleman when Malcey came up to us and said something to me, upon which the gentleman said "I never would have thought you could have a child of that age!" Upon which I informed him he ought to see my strapping big girls at home, to which he replied "Never - you haven't any older than that little fellow?" and when I said "Yes, I have six older than him", he turned up his eyes and said "Well, all I can say is you must have been married at one year old!" Since I have got tennis, I have got younger looking, I suppose. We go every Sunday and take fresh flowers to darling Cosey's grave. It is in a pretty little part of the cemetery with all little children's graves round him. We are not going to put a stone over the grave till after the rainy months are over. Carry is the one who cried most for him, and Lily next most, but I don't know if that is want of feeling because Lily very good feeling of anyone seeing her cry, and she might have cried a great deal more alone. Malcey seems never to have quite realised the loss, but I think though more forward (for he is very muscular and strong though not big) he is not nearly so advanced in mind. And Little Mabel did miss wee Cosey so much, it was quite pitiful for three or four days after, she kept pointing to his cot and calling out for him, and when taken to see him when in his coffin, she thew herself out of nanny's arms in delight on the top of him. Adie can hear nothing of the lost cheque here but has written home to the Union Bank of Scotland upon which it was about it, to stop it and in the meantime has written to them asking them to put £100 to your account. Our letters are getting very much lost now, several of Adie's officials have never reached England, and you keep saying I don't write, but beyond once in a way, I write regularly, but great complaints are made by the people here, as the robberies in the post office here, and I wrote of my letters were full of stamps and crests for Erney. Perhaps they took these for bank notes and opened them. I must now say Adieu, every your loving child, Emy.
These are a copy of two letters. They are on a single sheet of paper, in the same hand-writing, with a note on the outside to explain what they are. They are obviously a record of an official complaint about Andrew Geddes concerning a St Partick's Day incident, and his defence.
Note:
22d March 1880 - Revd. B. Vigams RCC to Genl. Donovan
co. my reply to Bdr. Major
First letter
Hong Kong 22d March 1880
Your Excellency
It is with the greatest reluctance that I am compelled to inform your Excellency that on St Patricks Day an entertainment having been given at St Patricks Hall the Colonel of the 27th Inniskillings on the next day ordered to be furnished with the names of all the soldiers who took part in it under the false pretext that the "Home Rule" was cheered three times during the entertainment. As I was present from the beginning to the last of it I am qualified to say that the statement is a shameful calumny and I have reasons to believe that it is an intrigue and an attempt from the part of the Colonel to cast disgrace on our Catholic Institution. As a President of the Institution and as Chaplain to the Roman Catholic Troops it is my painful duty to submit the case to your Excellency and to ask your influence to put an end to Colonel Geddes' uncalled for interference in our most innocent Catholic Entertainments.
I have etc.
Father B. Vigams, off. R.C.Chaplain
Second letter
To A.M.S.
23 March 1880
Sir. With reference to a letter dated 22/3/80 from the Revd B Vigams off R.C.Chaplain addressed to HE the M.G. Comdg - forwarded for my perusal. I beg to remark that the Rev. B. Vigams has therein attempted to interfere in a most serious manner with my duty as C.O. in questioning my right to make an investigation into the conduct of the men under my command in a matter affecting their military discipline.
2. The language used by the Rev. B. Vigams of "false pretence", "intrigue" and "attempt to cast disgrace on the Catholic Institution of which he is president" I consider as most insulting and derogatory to my position.
3. The facts of the case alluded to are already known to HE the M.G. by whose directions I made an investigation into a report that soldiers of the regiment had been present at a meeting which took place in St Patricks Hall on the 18 inst, at which three cheers were called for and given for "Home Rule" and "Parnell" about 10pm.
4. The statement of the Revd B. Vigams that I next day ordered the names of all soldiers who took part in an entertainment given in St Patricks Hall on that day should be furnished to me is quite untrue.
Under these circumstances I beg that H.E. will take such steps as will vindicate my authority and prevent any future interference with the same which the Revd B Vigams has in his position as acting R.C. Chaplain attempted in this instance.
I have etc.
sd A.D.Geddes Lt Col
Colonel of 27 Inniskillings
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