J. Stokoe, Calcutta, to Ozias Humphry, Miniature Painter to His Majesty, London
He remembers with gratitude the assistance Humphry offered when in Calcutta, by completing a portrait of him for his mother. He now requests that Humphry paint a minitaure of her, and his four sisters, and a "sixth lady", if she sits. Humphry can set them how he pleases, as long as they are plain and neat. His agent will pay and forward the pictures to him.
He is now on Prince of Wales Island, where he has been appointed engineer. He is about to build a fort. He was in the field for the whole of the Mysore war and then three years in the Andamans. While there he built an impressive collection of corals. He will supplement his collection at Penang and suggests Humphry join with him in the venture.
He asks to be remembered to the
Daniells. The British now have Ceylon and the Molucca islands. Batavia will soon surely fall. Bhow Begum, the Nabob's grandmother, has died and his new wealth has "turned his brain".