Entire pre-stamp letter

[Cover]

Lady Maxwell

Messrs Laurie & McGregor

17 Charls St St James Sqr

London

"4636"

"3"

"8"

"SHIP LETTER"

[datestamps]

"KORORARIKA / 1840 / NEW ZEALAND"

"S / 12 DE 12 / 1841"

Awanui May 11^th. 1841

My dear Lady Maxwell

You must make all allowances for me in the arrangement of this scrawl, you must consider me a New Zealander and that almost in the most northern extremity of the northern Island which in most cases and most parts we scored the most barbarous and uncultivated but in this instance I am happy in being able to say that is not the case although bad enough it is the best place I have yet been in in New Zealand I must begin by trying to give you some description of your ultimate abode you will under stand this if you shair[?] your memory to a comfoact[contract?] made between us on my last visit to England; but I suppose like many other little talkings you have forgot this

Well I must remind you of it your promise was that when I had a nice house garden and grounds to make you comfortable you would come

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and live in New Zealand coming from you I was obliged to believe it or at least seem to do so but I always thought you had better senses and am sure that I shall not find your breaking my confidence in your ideas of comfort but however In this place nature has but a powerful hand i[?]ing it all one might wish some little strength and expense combined with a little taste will make it quail[?] to the finest of our english parks or great medow districts to enliven this the essential but here expensive addition of cows and horses are required every farthing I am able to scrape together I immediately lay out in I ther[?] the one other I will here enumerate the small stock I am possessor off One handsome bay mare with black points called Carrowness[?] one large bullock called Gomy[?] one large bull called Billy three cows and cone calf and the share of a lee[?] purchase of two more bullocks – The pigs I will not enumerate to your ladyship – as beneath your acquaintance although most particular friends of mine and Chr__t but this heart not much upon

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the promised description of this place ..

The river which I at present see from the little window on my right hand is about fiften yards distance the tide at present is at its hight and the rain falls in torrents bubbly upon its surface the vessel now loaded waiting for fine weather swims before me almost level with the banks.

This river winds up to the house I am building in distance about a mile and a half on the peice of land where the house stands the river takes a direction of a half moon enclosing on both sides a beautiful spot of about four acres of fine land which I intend for a rich garden where are to be planted with weepy willows I have cutting from the garden Celebrated of C[?]r McDonnal I got them and carried them almost a hundred miles __ The land behind this is completely level for the distance of four or five miles where the hills [?] the western coast rise this place when I can afford to fence it of in to separate enclosures with the [?] [?] grasses sown will make a most enviable spot for any persons eyes

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but I fear it will never be honoured by a glance from you you will excuse this nonsense I shall get better as I continue to write you and especially when you deign to honour me with a few lines __

I remain by requesting you to remember to your dear Mother and father and all friends that know me or cared for me

Glory to God to spare the healf of the generals and yourself

I remain

My dear Lady Maxwell

Yours truly indebted

W Maxwell