Madras 6th May 1821

My dear Anne,
I have at last got this long talked of charge of the regiment. The Surgeon embarked for England a month ago. It is not of so much advantage to me as you may think from what I have told you; for though I am nominally in receipt of an immense income, there is not much of it falls to my share, as I was obliged to agree to give up the principal part of it to the Surgeon to induce him to go home, which he would not have done else. Half a loaf is better than no bread. However I get about 900£ a year, and will save 700 of it; and if the regiment remains in India a year and a half or two years longer, I shall have realized quite enough to enable me to go on half pay and spend my time as I like. I have fully made up my mind to go on half pay when I get my promotion to Surgeon, which I am very confident of doing. When I go home I will find out some pleasant place to set myself down in -- probably Richmond or some place in your neighbourhood, maybe Hauxwell itself. You will be disappointed to hear me talk of remaining so much longer in the country, and I really should be almost as well pleased if the regt. were to go home now, though it would put a stop to all my present pains. But I should be very much to blame to sacrifice such an opportunity as now have of making myself easy for life, by bearing the evils of this country a little longer. Rely on it however nothing shall hinder me to stay more than about a couple of years more. There is now less prospect than there was years back of the regiment going home soon, but I could almost at any time get home without it. My constitution is a good deal weakened by the climate, but without proving the least danger to my life, and I have only to get another medical man to give me a certificate that it would be advisable for my health to return to Europe, which would certainly procure me leave.

It is an age since I heard from you. Pray write oftener. Best love to my mother and Bessy, who I hope has quite recovered. I wrote to you in August last, and sent you some copies of this book of mine by an officer of the regiment, who was going to Hull. I hope you have received them long before this. The book has succeeded very well, and I must say (though it comes ill from me) has gained me credit. I have received the most flattering letters about it from all the Medical Boards of the three Presidencies. I have a good number of copies disposed of by private sale, and the Government have purchased from me 100 copies, for which alone I get about 140£. They are intended for distribution to Superintending (or Head) Surgeons all over the country; which is a very flattering thing for me. People tell me the book will sell well in England. I wish I had an edition of it printed in London, and have intended all along to have it done, but I hardly know whom to apply to to undertake it. I shouldn't wonder if someone was to print it in London without asking my leave, as they probably have a right to do if they like. It is a great pity I have not somebody to look after it; for it is likely the sale of it would be at least as productive at home as here, and might fetch several hundred pounds. James is highly delighted with my production; and tells me that whenever he feels low-spirited he reads it, and every cloud disappears -- which of itself is a gratification sufficient to repay me for the labour it has cost me. I should be bringing forth my second volume, but must defer it some time. The application which the first cost me has done my health no good. I think I shall not attempt to finish the other until I get home.

My life is a [ ] blank at present, and hangs rather heavily on my hands. In this country very few have quiet domestic female society; and that is certainly the greatest charm of a man's life. My almost sole amusements are books, and laying schemes of happiness to be put in practice some couple of years hence at home. I think I should like to live in the country and have a few acres of land - keep a cow or two, some sheep and pigs, a horse, a few hives of bees & very much in your style. I would take a trip to London now and then, and perhaps to France and Italy; or if I found myself cured of the itch of wandering, I might drive you or Bessy in a gig down to the sea-coast, and come quietly back again.---You would naturally be looking out for a wife for me, and I shouldn't be surprised if I found myself fairly coupled some fine morning - that is if I could find any body whose society I could value to have me, and it is not all a clear thing with me that I should, for you will find a vast change in my appearance since I saw you. I am always thin, and between the sun and the Seringapatam fever I have got a vile complexion. Besides this, I have within this year or two back made the unwelcome discovery of a number of curved lines in my cheeks, which had no business to be making [an appearance?] for many years to come. However, I hope breathing [ ]with you will fill them up again --- I think a gallop [ ] have on a frosty morning on Barden Moor would put new life in [ ].

I have no news to give you of James or his [ ]. He sometimes takes low fits and does not write[ ] a great while (as ....... I do myself) and that is the case at present. He is now in a very good situation, and I hope is laying by money fast to enable him to get our of this vile country. ----I would have sent you some money with this but there is a terrible loss in procuring bills on England at present.

God love you all, says Your ever affectionate 

R. Orton.