pose was the last letter that I wrote to him from South Africa。 It was in answer to one from him enclosing a munication from the late Mr。 Blake； who was at that time my lawyer； in which for various reasons； both personal and connected with our property； they remended our return to England。
My dear Father； — I have delayed replying to your kind letter of June 22nd in order that I might have time to give it full consideration； and also to enable me to try to arrive at some satisfactory conclusion as regards the probable course of events in this country。 I must now tell you that after thoroughly thinking the matter over I have made up my mind to return to England next month。 This will probably seem a somewhat eccentric announcement； but my reasons are briefly as follows。 First I have given due weight to what you and Mr。 Blake write to me； and admit that there is a great deal in what you say。 What brings me back in such a hurry however is the state of the country。
I can only trust that I have arrived at a wise decision。 Of course you will understand that； under the circumstances； if we are to go； the sooner we go the better。
Cochrane is ing home with us on a trip。 I am sorry to say that he is suffering from a prolonged attack of dysentery； and I think that a rest and a change of air is the only thing that will pull him together again。 The farm will be left in charge of George and Mr。 North （our engineer）； a very respectable man who has the advantage of experi