Hamma, March 15th, 1813.
My dear General,
Just as I was about to despatch the letters which accompany this, a report of the plague being in different towns in Syria decided us to send expressly to ascertain the fact, which is exactly this, that it is spread all along the coast from Alexandria to Tripoli; Latakia is the only port which is free from it at this moment, and it is making its way towards Damascus into the interior. I have so often talked of setting off that I must be actually mounted before I tell you so again. The Arab chief is now upon his road, and I expect him here in three days.
Respecting the plague, I feel no personal apprehension, but it is an anxious moment, as I am not alone. The desert has again been all confusion, but at this moment things are pretty quiet. I have great confidence in the Arab chief; the pasha sent an express for him almost at the same moment when mine arrived, and his answer was, “The Queen must be served first.”
Mahanna waits my orders, just as Lord Paget with his cavalry would do yours were you to command a great army. Upon receiving them, he was to dispose of the different tribes under his command, in the way he thought most advantageous in case of an enemy; that is to say, not to leave a space, in a straight line, of more than a few hours, without tents. This settled, he was to set off and repair here with my second messenger.
The weather now is delightful, but I have suffered much from the cold this winter; it has been so severe as to have killed the camels and cattle which are not used to it, and for thirty years such weather was never known in this country.
March 19th.—To-morrow, my dear General, I mount my horse with seventy Arabs, and am off for Palmyra at last. I am so hurried I cannot write all I wish, but the Sir D. Dundas of Syria I have made a conquest of, and he insisted upon speaking to the Arab chiefs, and said he would cut off all their heads if they did not bring me back safe. I owe much to the kindness of this old fellow, who, since I have resided here, has thought of nothing but how he could serve me. He tells me every day I must not leave off my Turkish clothes.
I have heard a few days ago from Captain Hope; he expects to come out again to the Mediterranean, and wishes to fetch me away from Syria if he can. His letter pray enclose to Admiral Hope at the Admiralty, unless you should have heard Hope has sailed; then send it to the fleet with Sir Sydney’s letter. God bless you, my dear General; I hope on my return from the seat of my empire to find letters from England.
Yours most sincerely,
H. L. S.