He has just received Humphry's letter of August 1798 and is pained to hear that his eyes are bad. He has not heard from Messrs. Barber & Palmer regarding Humphry's business. When he returns to Calcutta, which he left in December with the Governor General, he will enquire of them.
He assures Humphry that the government of India is not "topsy turvy" and that
Lord Mornington is very much in control. He provides a reverent character assessment of the Earl. He also asserts the rigorous determination required to combat the implacable insidiousness of the French. Humphry no doubt knows by now that they are at war with Mysore. Operations, under
General Harris, with the support of the Nizam, have been a complete success. He entertains every expectation that England's enemies will be utterly defeated.