Extract from a translation of a Tamil poem:
Who is to judge of the might of Mr ——. He and Messrs —— and —— of the eminent Tinnevelly District have had the pleasure of constructing the bridge so as to be praised by the world and allowed the people to pass over it freely. May they live for ever.
The bridge fell down in the evening of Sunday, 18th November 1869. By the noise of which I swooned away and trouble came also.
How can I describe your pains O Mr ——. You worked as diligently at the words of Mr —— as the swinging of a swing and constructed the bridge with success and very soon and completed it within the fixed time. You beauty!...
I have sung upon you in my adversity and hunger. I pray you eminent men to place your mercy upon me at your pleasure.
While you are all occupying this eminent world with great fame, I undergo troubles like bees that tumbled down in honey. What can I do. Cause some employment to be given me without failure through the hand of —— with certainty.
We will conclude with a specimen of female composition in the form of a letter sent home by a good old nurse or ayah named Martha, who had accompanied her employers to England in charge of a baby, and who had then been sent back to her native village in India. Both in its sentiment and diction the missive is extremely touching.
‘To the Presens of —— and —— most Respected and Honored sheweth The under Signed your Honor’s obediend The Mortha Ayah with due Respectfully Begs to in form you about my considerations which I hope will meet of your honor’s kidest aprovall. Respected Master and Misters I and my Relations are all well By thanks of God and Faver of your Honor’s while in this Time I hope you will be all right By thanks of All mighty’s. This Poor and Obediend servend wrote a letter to your honor when I came to —— I hope you may Receive it, I am doing Nothing Since I left you by the Reason of no any Respected Place to work. here is great Chalara in this year and all so Greatest Famine. 3 mesures of Rice per a Rupee [between three and four times the usual price]. I hope Dear Baby will speek and Walk at this Time I am very angshes to see her and I lovely Thousan kisses to the Dear Baby, Respected Madam will you kindly send me the Picture of the Baby’s to keep with me as you Promist me. I humbly begs you to say my meny Thanks to the Mr and Mrs —— and the childrens of them. Please tell my thanks to Miss Lysa and Miss Looois [servants Eliza and Louise]. I hope I can see you very soon Back in this Place. Therefore I humbly Begs to Remain Most Honored Madam and Sir Yours truely most obediend servent Mortha Ayah. Misis —— she looking to get me a Employmend anywhere. They are all well. The Dobin CURIOUS CASES OF SLEEP-WALKING.