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The Flinders papersletters and documents about the explorer Matthew Flinders (1774-1814)
 
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Letter from James Wiles to Matthew Flinders (1 of 2) (FLI01) Page 1


Address: Capn Mattw Flinders


Annotation: April 18. 1811


                Botanic Gardens, Liguanea, Jamaica
                20th Febry 1811


My dear and most valued friend,


      The newspapers informed me of your return
from captivity from the Isle of Bourbon , but I was much
alarmed lest the account should prove incorrect, knowing
you was confined in the Mauritius; your letter, however, which
I have had the happineƒs to receive, has set me perfectly at
ease. I am extremely anxious to know every thing that has
befallen you; your detention by De Caen was contrary to the
law of nations, of humanity, of hospitality, and the progreƒs
of science; but law and justice are now quite out of the
question with the french; indeed I was afraid the tyrant
would never have allowed you to return to England, I feared
the fate of the late Capt Wright awaited you. — I hope the
account of your voyage in the Investigator, will be chiefly done
by yourself, and this, I should suppose, to be the public wish.
I please myself with the idea that you have now nothing
but prosperity and happineƒs before you. I am well aware
your voyage when published will do you infinite credit
not only as a navigator, but as a man of generall [sic] knowledge
and science. Time and absence, my dear Flinders, have
made no impreƒsion upon my friendship and your letter
convinces me, that you also remain unchanged. I am very sorry
to hear of our friend Smith's death, he was an honest fellow.


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Related people
De Caen, Charles Mathieu Isadore
Smith, Christopher
Franklin, Thomas
Aken (Aiken), John
Chappelle (Flinders), Ann
Wiles, James
Flinders, Matthew

Places
Ile de Bourbon

Vessels
Investigator

Related Documents
Other documents written by Wiles, James

Other documents received by Flinders, Matthew

Other documents written in 1811