"Sunday, November 25th, Spithead.—I wrote to you, this morning, from St. Helens. The happy moment is at length arrived when I can despatch a letter from Spithead. Yours of yesterday is in my hand. To-morrow you will be setting off; but I fear the service will prevent our meeting till the day after.
"I have despatched Dumaresq to Newport for our dear boy; and I depend on seeing him to-night. Le Duc est empressé de le voir. I hope to get the party on shore, de bonne heure, to-morrow: but we are still in quarantine whilst I am making these arrangements.
"Tuesday morning.—Great is my disappointment at being kept thus long in quarantine: it is a cruel contre temps, and the more so from its being unforeseen. What adds to my disappointment is, that I am at a loss to know if our pratique has been received by this day's post, the weather having prevented all communication with the shore. It will rejoice you to learn that our beloved boy has been with me since ten, yesterday morning, and that I find him all you have described. I expect to hear every moment of your arrival at the Fountain. Mr. Maxwell writes there is no doubt of our being released to-morrow.
"One o'clock.—If our pratique is not received by this post, request Sir Peter to set the telegraph at work, now that the weather has cleared up. 8 P.M. Your letter has this instant reached me. The tidings of your arrival have relieved my mind from great inquietude. The messenger has orders to wait your commands until after the post hour to-morrow; and if we are not then admitted to the privileges of Christian charity after our Egyptian bondage, we must endeavour to submit to our fate. James is by my side, and glows with thankfulness at being so soon likely to embrace his beloved mamma. He has indeed been a real comfort to me under this sad contrariety of events. I have placed Monsieur Le Duc, and the rest of the party, at cards, to send these lines in time pour ton réveil demain. Encore adieu, ma très chère! Write every hour of the day, and send your letters to Mr. Maxwell.
"Wednesday morning.—Grieved as I am to be a prisoner still another day, there is consolation in the certainty of our being released to-morrow. Ardently as I aspire for the moment of our meeting, I must delay going on shore until after the performance of divine service in this ship:[22] and I know this arrangement will have your full concurrence. Your note is just received: how well have you anticipated my thoughts, and met my wishes even before they were expressed. Please God, to-morrow we shall be compensated for a separation of two long years; and on a day in which none can have greater mercies to commemorate than ourselves.
"Wednesday evening.—I have just ascertained that the Duke and the Marquis do not proceed to town before Friday; therefore expect to receive them at dinner, and desire Mrs. Fielding to prepare for eighteen or twenty guests."
Sir James remained at Portsmouth, until the 15th December, when he sailed for Plymouth, at which place he arrived on the 22nd: and on the 6th of January 1799 the Orion was paid off, when Sir James went to Bath, where he was once more free and happy in the bosom of his family.