I send you Noble's letter; therefore, I hope you will get your cases in good order: they have had some narrow escapes.
I am glad you liked South End.
How that Coffin could come over, and palaver, Rowley, Keith, &c. and Coffin to abuse the Earl! Now, I can tell you, that he is the Earl's spy.
It is Coffin, who has injured Sir Andrew Hammond so much: and his custom is, to abuse the Earl, to get people to speak out; and, then, the Earl takes his measures accordingly.
To me, it is nothing. Thank God! there can be no tales told of my cheating; or, I hope, neglecting my duty. Whilst I serve, I will serve well, and closely; when I want rest, I will go to Merton.
You know, my dear Emma, that I am never well when it blows hard. Therefore, imagine what a cruize off Toulon is; even in summer time, we have a hard gale every week, and two days heavy swell.
It would kill you; and myself, to see you. Much less possible, to have
Charlotte, Horatia, &c. on board ship!
And I, that have given orders to carry no women to sea in the Victory, to be the first to break them!
And, as to Malta, I may never see it, unless we have an engagement; and, perhaps, not then: for, if it is complete, I may go home, for three months, to see you; but, if you was at Malta, I might absolutely miss you, by leaving the Mediterranean without warning.
The other day, we had a report the French were out, and seen steering to the westward. We were as far as Minorca, when the alarm proved false.