Wm. Warre.
Pray desire Hawkes Piccadilly to send me a Hat and Feather, the same shape exactly as the last, by 1st opportunity; my old one is gone to pieces. Adieu.
Cove, June 17, 1808.
My Dear Father,
I have to thank you for your kind letter on the 11th inst., and for that you wrote to Genl. Payne, in which you have said everything that can be said. I am much afraid he is offended with my carrying my point in spite of him.
It is however of consequence my remaining in the Regiment, as more Captains are quitting it I hear, and I have therefore this day written to Greenwood’s with the enclosed paper of exchange signed, of which letter you have an extract annexed. It may do good, and cannot do any harm.
Seymour, I think, will do what he can for me; his letters are as friendly as possible, though he will not allow me to take Rankin, which is very annoying, particularly now that I have bought a horse, nor do I know what to do for a servant here. There is no such thing, and as all the troops are now embarked, and we may be ordered to sail every hour, I have no time to write for one. I should therefore be much obliged to you, if you would enquire about some honest, trusty man, who must understand horses, and send him out to join me at Gibraltar. Agree about wages, clothes, etc., and send him out to join me at Gibraltar, or off Cadiz, as soon as a conveyance offers. To be on service without a trusty servant will be exceedingly unpleasant.
We know nothing further of our destination or plans. We have been here amusing ourselves in perfect idleness, though very gayly. We yesterday dined on board Ld. Thomond’s yacht, and went in the evening to a play, acted by the Officers of the Resistance, for the poor of Cove. It was exceedingly crowded, and went off very well. I have bought a nice little hack, a mare, the only thing of the kind I could get for the price, 30 guineas Irish, for which I drew yesterday on you. They ask 50, 60, 70, for nice hacks, and the Genl. and Mellish have been obliged to pay it. I got mine from an Artillery Officer, through a friend of mine, and am very lucky. I also further drew upon you for £20 British to Mr Mayhew, of which Mellish has half and is to pay me in the money of the country we go to. I hope we shall now leave this very soon. All the Regts. are embarked, and we only wait for orders. I will write as soon as they arrive. I rejoice to hear that dear Tom[4] was safe at Stockholm, and daily expected. God send him safe, dear fellow. It would have been great happiness to have seen him before I sailed, but I shall now be satisfied with hearing of his safe arrival. Give him my kindest love and welcome home.