Rangitikei 24 August 1850 My dear Susan Your letter of the 16th inst which I received last night has given me more satisfaction than half a dozen of your previous ones put together. When writing to you by Mr Hickson I was rather disappointed at not hearing from you by the previous mail and at the time I thought of starting so far inland that I might not hear from or of you for two or three weeks. Such however has not been the case. Circumstances delayed my interior trip and I heard of your dance at Govt. House before the receipt of you letter which gave me the first intelligence of Mrs Kelham's report which is of little or no importance beyond a future caution. I am glad you enjoyed the party at Govt. House. It must have been even more agreeable than if all who were invited had attended. Rollin's history will do very well so I will not tease you for more information on that head but of course that history should be followed up by more modern works. Allison's history of Europe will no doubt please you as you have a taste for history. I will endeavour to get to Wellington soon but can assure you that I have my hands full of work at present so much so that I cannot write to you as I would wish today. If possible however you shall hear from me by next overland mail. I spent a delightful quiet day at Mr Duncan's of Manawatu yesterday. It is a sweet little clean comfortable cottage. From some little hint I have had I fancy you must at last have finished Mrs Durie's collar. Good bye puss. Be a good girl and believe me to remain Always yours affectionately Donald McLean