Private. New Plymouth Dec. 12, 1859. My dear Sir I duly received your esteemed favour of the 3rd. instant by the last Mail and was much pleased to hear of your convalescence, which I trust will be followed by a speedy restoration to health for your own sake, and especially for the public weal, which must suffer for the time being. I am sadly disappointed at the uncertainty of your return to this place. There are many questions which I was anxious to see you personally upon, and have kept them in abeyance for your arrival, prefering doing do, to writing