' and have had time for no information upon

' which any good opinion can be formed.

I have just got into possession of a great 'house, without any one convenience. Fran'çois is perplexed; and for some days I must live upon the public, for here there is no 'such thing as an inn.

'The situation of the town is beautiful. I • look forward to hear from you by the packet. My love to all, and believe me,

My dear Mother,-For some reasons ' which we know not, no packet sailed for this in July; that which arrived yesterday, left England the 7th of August; and 'brought me sundry letters from you and all 'the rest of the family, in different dates ' from the 15th of June to the 29th July, the last was from Graham. I find you are all 'well except Jane, who has suffered for at

'tempting too much, and from the heat of 'the weather. I hope, however, by this time

she also is well. Upon the whole, consider

ing our number, to have only one slightly

indisposed, is cause of joy, and I feel much rejoiced accordingly.

'I had seen in the foreign papers Graham's

appointment to the Marlborough.

James

'tells me he thinks him quite well enough to

6

serve, and if so, he was quite right to apply. 'I wish we could meet and serve together.

Upon succeeding to the command, it was 'necessary for me to go to Palermo; and I 'was absent a month, from the middle of July to the middle of August. The heat this summer has been excessive, the people

say, beyond what they ever remember. I myself never felt so uncomfortable from heat, even in the West Indies. Whether it

was from this, or any other cause, I was il the last week at Palermo, and was 'obliged to return by sea to this place. I

have gained strength daily since my return, ' and am now as well as ever. You may be

lieve I have little time to be ill; for since 'the peace of Tilsit, we can expect no other ⚫ than to be attacked here. This government gives much trouble, and our Minister, instead ' of aiding, counteracts me; and our force, 'weakened by the expedition to Egypt, is ' insufficient. The Admiral, Thornborough, 'fortunately is an excellent man, everything 'that is good in the sailor's character, and we' ' are accordingly in close union and so I 'hope that, whatever happens, England will 'not be able to say we have not done our ' duty.

:

James has written to me in better spirits 'than usual.

'I shall, before the packet sails, write to ' various branches of the Moores. I have 'begun with you, as is right I should. My 'kindest remembrance to Jane, whose letter gave me, as usual, pleasure.

' manufacture of this place, not but what you 'could get a better in London, but it would not be a present from my son from Sicily.'

'Gibraltar, Dec. 12th, 1807.

My dear Mother,The packet came in 'here yesterday, and I had the pleasure to ' receive your letter of the 2nd of November. It is very natural you should be a little low ' in separating from Graham; but from this ' of course you will recover, when you con'sider that he is following the career which is alike honourable and becoming.

6.

'I had letters from him from Cawsand-bay:" 'he did not then know he was coming so 'near to me. I arrived here with my troops ' on the 1st of this month. I left them to complete the transports with water and provisions, for we had a five weeks passage 'from Sicily, and immediately proceeded off the Tagus, to communicate with Sir Sydney (Smith), with whom my instructions di' rected me to co-operate. I was flattering myself with the hope of seeing Graham, but

before I reached the Tagus, the bird was

flown, and Graham had proceeded with the 'command of four line-of-battle ships, to convey the Royal Family of Portugal to the 'Brazils. This is a very honourable com'mand, and consoled me in a great measure ' for my disappointment.

'The service for which I was intended is passed, and I am about to return with the troops I command to England, where I

' trust I shall arrive about the end of January, and sooner, if we are fortunate in our

6

passage; I expect to leave this in three days. Orders were sent to detain me in Sicily, but I had already left it, which I ' consider as a fortunate circumstance, as, all things considered, that command had no 'longer charms for me.

'I shall give you a call on my way to Lon'don, and shall, after I have performed my 'duty there, return to you, and shall be most glad if I am allowed to pass a few months with you in quiet.

I am, you may believe, not a little occu