Meanwhile if I advise your acting entirely upon your own judgment as to your departure, it is because of the false light in which nearly all our actions are viewed by the Europeans who are however indirectly, concerned with us. I do not want to be misjudged by you even for one moment. But strange and crooked as our ways may appear at first sight I hope you will never allow your European mind to get influenced by your Rothney friend. Well, more anon,
Yours ever faithfully,
K. H.
Letter No. 106 (ML-103) Rec. February 1883
This letter is another rather glaring instance of misdating. Sinnett has dated it 1880-81, when in reality it concerns the proposed new newspaper, The Phoenix. This places it in 1883, although its precise place in the series of letters is problematical. It may have been written, but not received by Sinnett, before Letter No. 105 (ML-80). Olcott, with his usual zeal and industry was going about soliciting funds for the new paper.
It is not known precisely what was troubling H.P.B. at the moment, but "M. will take her in hand."
Received Allahabad, 1880-81.
To accomplish a plan like the one in hand many agencies must be employed, and failure in any one direction jeopardises the results tho' it may not defeat it. We have had various checks and may have more. But observe: first — that two points are auspicious — thanks to kind Providence; Allen has become friendly, and a friend of yours (I believe) is Resident at Kashmir. And second that until the Maharajah of Kashmir — the prince first on the programme — has been sounded the vital point will not have been touched. He — the first as I say on the programme has been left to the last! Not much was expected from others and thus far each of the others who has been approached has failed to respond. Why do not the chelas (?) do as they are told? If chelas neglect orders, and strained sense of delicacy interferes, how without miracle can results be expected! I have telegraphed you to await Olcott's coming because it is best that you should work together at Calcutta to try and set things in motion. One word from you to the Resident would have been sufficient — but you are proud as all your race. Olcott will be at Calcutta about the 20th. Do not listen to the old woman — she becomes weak-headed when left to herself. But M. will take her in hand.
Yours,
K. H.
Letter No. 107 (ML-77) Rec. March 1883
From the beginning of 1883 on, the letters begin to be more spaced out, with fewer and fewer being received. This letter was received by Sinnett while he was in Madras. He and his family had gone there in connection with their plans to return to England, and also probably to discuss the situation with respect to The Phoenix. Adyar, where the headquarters were located, is a suburb of Madras, and both H.P.B. and Olcott were there at the time.
Received Madras, March, 1883.
Pray, convey to Col. Gordon the expression of my sympathy and friendly esteem. He is indeed a loyal friend and trustworthy ally. Tell him that with every allowance for the motives given and his own quiet modesty I yet believe he may do much good in his own unassuming way. A Howrah Branch is really needed and he alone can create the nucleus. Why not try? He cares not for the Service and is ready at any moment to throw it up. But this is unnecessary so long as it lasts and gives him a strength and authority with some native members which otherwise he would not have. At any rate then he is going to be taken to Simla and will have plenty of "nothing-to-do" time. Why not use his opportunities for putting the Eclectic and Himalayan in order — of course in his official capacity, as a member of Council and Vice-President of the Eclectic. I will have Olcott send him an official paper to that effect and write instructions for him myself. I am anxious to remove the Anglo-Indian "Eclectic" to Calcutta, and have its Headquarters (though it be nominal for a while) announced through the journal hitherto as established in the capital — the native members of the Eclectic incorporated in the Himalayan and a para: inserted to notify all those who would join the Anglo-Indian Branch that in your absence they would have to address themselves to Col. W. Gordon, Acting President in your place. Some are born for diplomacy and intrigue: I rather think that it is not my particular province. Withal, I believe the arrangement calculated to impede the disastrous effects of Mr. Hume's intrigue and his endeavours to have the Society (Eclectic) dead and buried, thus showing those concerned with it, that he was its Creator and Preserver, and that his retirement was its death-knell. Thanks for Col. G's letter.
The 30th is as good as any other day after the 27th. No; a Branch at Madras is not absolutely necessary from the very starting. But it does stand to reason that if it is Madras that is to furnish the largest share of the funds that it would also have the preference after Calcutta. So long as the money is not in it is useless to fix any dates. Our paper once established I will never concern myself any more with any worldly enterprise. Yes, I have worry and annoyance indeed; but then it had to be expected, and no fish undertaking a ramble on the river's bank and outside its own element need complain of catching lumbago. We are near the end now, one way or the other, and once I take my leap back into the crystal wave — few will ever have a chance of seeing me peeping out again. Mankind are not always what they seem and I have lost much of my optimism in the late affray. Mankind was somewhere named the poetry of creation and woman the poetry of earth. When she is not an angel she must be a fury. It is in the latter capacity that I have ever met her on my way when Rajahs and Zemindars were quite ready to disburse the necessary funds. Well, the affray is still raging and we may yet win brilliantly the day.
Yours truly,
K. H.
Letter No. 108 (ML-58) Rec. March 1883
This is another letter received while the Sinnetts were in Madras preparatory for sailing to England.
In Josephine Ransom's Short History of the Theosophical Society, (p. 179), she mentions that while the Sinnetts were at Adyar on their way to England, Sinnett was beginning work on his book, Esoteric Buddhism, and he made notes of some questions for the Mahatma and asked his wife to take them to H.P.B. for transmittal. She did so, and was told by H.P.B. to put them in an ornamental cupboard which hung on the wall between her two rooms. (This was the controversial "Shrine" used later by Mme. Coulomb to bring H.P.B. to grief.) The two women sat chatting, and in about ten minutes, H.P.B. told Mrs. Sinnett to look again in the cupboard, and there she found the Mahatma's reply lying with Sinnett's paper of notes. Whether this is that reply is not revealed, but it very well could be, since the letter is obviously answering some questions.