I do not know whether these wounds of mine will give me any claim;—­and, talking about that, I would wish you to inquire whether or not I am entitled to any gratuity for them.  I hear that officers returned “wounded” on the list in the Peninsular Campaign, no matter how slight the wound might have been, received a gratuity of one year’s pay as a compensation; and this, I think, was called “blood-money.”  I do not know how far this may be the case at present, but I do not think that 120l. ought to be lost sight of for want of a little inquiry.

By-the-bye, I had nearly forgotten to say that I have received two letters from Eliza, which I will answer as soon as possible; but I do not think it safe to keep this open any longer, as I may lose the mail to Bombay; so must conclude, with best love to all at home,

  Your very affectionate son,
    T.W.E.  HOLDSWORTH.

LETTER XI.

  Camp Larkanu, Dec. 26th, 1839.

MY DEAR ELIZA,—­I finished and sent off a letter to my father yesterday, giving an account of the storming of Kelat, and the wounds I received in the skrimmage, and telling him of everything that had happened since I wrote before, which was the day we left Cabool.  You can see his letter, which gives a pretty full account of all our proceedings up to the present time.

I have now to make many apologies for not having answered your two letters, one dated May 29th, giving an account of Kate’s wedding, and the other, dated the 29th of July, from Bristol, and likewise for having forgotten to thank you for the money you were kind enough to send out with my father’s, last year.  I can assure you never came money more acceptable, as no one can imagine what expenses we have unavoidably been obliged to incur in this campaign, which I suppose has cost officers more than any other campaign that ever was undertaken.  I think there are few of us who have come off under 100l. besides our pay; and yet this was merely for the common necessaries of life,—­just sufficient to keep body and soul together.  I can assure you I feel very much obliged for your present, as also for the two letters which I received while on the march.  I have often thought of Brookhill during the many dreary marches that we have made, and on the solitary out-lying pickets, with no one to speak to, and deplored my unlucky fate, in being obliged to leave home just as you seem to be comfortably settled there.  Still I have hope that I may yet return, some day or other.

I can now give you more definite intelligence with regard to our movements than I did in my father’s letter; since sending off which orders have come out, and the campaign, as far as our regiment is concerned, is decidedly brought to a close.  H.M. 17th, with Gen. Willshire, Baumgardt, and Head-quarter Staff, marched this morning for Bukkur, where they are to remain for four or five months, so report says, and