Parliament Street
Gloucester
August 14th, 1863

My dear Uncle

I write this letter to thank you for the very kind and unexpected present you sent through Grandmamma.

I dare say you remember me very well, but of course I do not remember you at all as I was far too young, but Mamma tells me that when I was a baby you used to take me up into your bedroom and hang me up in the dirty clothes bag behind the door to keep me out of mischief when you were doing anything particular, but since that time things have altered.

I suppose the war does not make much difference to you and Uncle Walter as you are so far away from it.

I wish you and Uncle Walter would come home to England "The land of the Free" - we should all be so very pleased to see you.

I have left school and am apprenticed to a Dentist by the name of Fox, who lives at Gloucester. I am apprenticed for 4 years. I like dentistry very well indeed, it is nice light work, but there is enough to learn in the mechanical part of the business, besides the studying which is the worst part of all, especially to me as I am not so very fond of study as perhaps you may have been.

I went to London last year to see the Exhibition & stayed at Grandmamma's. I thought that you were coming home to see the Exhibition, I think you said something about it in one of your letters to Mamma. Please give my love to Uncle, Aunt & all my cousins.

Thanking you for your kind present,

I remain

Your loving Nephew
Elijah Knox Davies