Sir.

I now beg to acknowledge receipt of your note.¹ I am glad to find by it that you are upon the whole pleased with the two testimonials forwarded. I could not help remarking on absence of any note as to energy in ordinary avocations from M^r. M^c.Nab’s testimonial…² I thank you most sincerely for the admonitions & advice which you have given me on these matters; and I assure you they will not be neglected in my future.

Since I last wrote you³ I have heard from those I had been making enquiries as relative to expenses for an outfit & voyage to India.⁴ I am sorry, however, that neither can afford me any definite information whatever. In the one case the young men went out in vessels belonging the firm to which they were engaged. In the other they went the overland route, but he cannot remember the cost of outfit… The young man who accepted the situation which I was offered at Darjeeling⁵ was allowed I think somewhere about £20, for outfit; but I do not know anything as to actual cost. He also took overland route… I will be glad if you have heard anything as to expenses. Whatever these may be however I beg to assure you that as you have so kindly and unhesitatingly offered to advance this to me: I will be most careful to cause you no unnecessary outlay: and I trust by the influence you have incited in my behalf soon to gain a position in India by which I may at least have the satisfaction to be able to return the pecuniary part: still evermore indebted to you for the confidence placed in me & the opportunities of ultimately being enabled to follow out the only pursuits of life which afford me an unalloyed pleasure—viz a practical acquaintance with subjects of Natural science.

Should you have heard what an ordinary outfit would cost, I will by your kindly forwarding it to me go in to Edinburgh. I could there get M^r. M^c.Nab or failing him one of the Superintendents of the firm of the Messrs Lawsons & Sons⁶—who likewise no of these matters—to go with me to one of the general Indian outfitting warehouses, where I believe I could get as cheaply as anywhere else the necessaries. I will be glad indeed however, if you will suggest the best plans for me: truly sorry that ignorance in these matters should thus cause me to encroach so much upon your time likewise.

I have also to acknowledge receipt of yours of the 4^th.⁷ I am glad to find that D^r. Hooker is likewise satisfied with the testimonials.⁸ The extract which you have enclosed from D^r. Hookers letter is indeed most highly gratifying⁹   I only wish & shall more & more make it my endeavour to personally merit such. I do feel deeply thankfull to D^r. Hooker for all that he is doing for me.¹⁰ It will be indeed a favour if you express to him my thankfulness for this as I am quite at a loss how to do so.¹¹

In reference to P.S. in D^r Hookers letter I shall be glad indeed to go via the Cape so as to look after the case which he then proposes to send.¹² In this however, as in other points, I would that you would decide as it is entirely through you that I can entertain any prospects of getting out at all.

You have kindly offered to give me a scientific testimonial.¹³ I need not tell you how much I would prize this. I would indeed like to have such from your pen.

I have the honour to remain | Sir, &c | John Scott