Auckland, 13 April, 1850. My Dear Sir, I received your note of the 27th March from Makara and did not reply to it by the return of the mail as I supposed you would have started for the Southward before it could have reached you I send you this by the Victoria going to Wellington with Governor Eyre and his bride. The courtship and marriage caused more talk and commotion than any similar affair I have ever known. If such were necessary it would be sufficient to frighten some of us quiet bachelers from ever thinking about wedlock. Perhaps Governors do these things in a different way from other people. I congratulate you on your new appointment which is highly honorable to you. A wider field and a more important career are now open to you than ever, and if you retain your health which I trust will be the case you will not only earn laurels but crowns or sovereigns in abundance. The Governor has gone on improving in his health ever since his return here, and is now about as well as I have ever seen him. Lady Grey complains a little. Clarke desires to be remembered to you. I have got him a temporary appointment in the Customs. Many thanks for the shells etc. etc. Yours truly, A. Sinclair.