| Title | Venus. Stonegate Creek. John Longsdon to Mother. Glad to hear from William that all pretty well - been very good to John in writing and doing everything for comfort. Reconciled to imprisonment; very sorry to see last accounts from Malta - Packet which brought them lying alongside; - talked with passengers who left Valetta on 21 June and letter dated 15 June on progress of Plague. Does not appear likely that English inhabitants will fall victims. First case and within few doors of the Dobson's house where Mr WHB and family lived some weeks after landing. Houses in Valetta very large, each with supply of water in immense cistern dug out of rock. So large that stone taken out often served to build house. Inhabitants little need to move abroad, terraces to walk on on roofs of houses which are flat to collect rain water.
Main object now to get good employment - sentiments agree exactly with Father's and Mother's. If M & F inclined to offer writer a situation, would do it better without being solicited with a request. Delicate matter and must be left a good deal to its own natural working. Does not imagine it altogether convenient for them to give writer employment even if inclined, if they will help writer at all in procuring situation; keep their good will and get living in respectable manner and increase knowledge in business, he will be satisfied.
Does not expect release until after 40 days. Calculate on meeting Mr M in London immediately after release and then proceed to Longsdon as soon as see future prospects. Promises himself part of Autumn with them. Better off than at sea. Newspapers daily, reading books a few hours and walking deck a few more; very much as in a watering place; principal difference, corn ripening well. Unpleasant to be ¾ yr without benefit of a washerwoman or a supply of clean linen.
Hopes harvest goes well and more methodically than has seen. Wonder how people who hurry in conveying little hay and corn in carts into barns and manage discharge of ship like this when in 1 day on small boats in stormy weather almost £50,000 goods discharge.
31 July 1813 |