write till I could with Certainty say we sail tomorrow and I believe
it would have stood firm, had not my wish to have a Letter from my
dear little Brother Molly before we wholly depart vanquishd [sic] it
add to this Superstition in some Measure has its share, these
two or three last nights I have continually dreamd [sic] of Chappelle
and Mary F. I took it as a warning and determined to write
the first leisure Moment – tho as comfortable as those around
me how much does my Situation in Plymouth Sound suffer
by a Comparison with the Comforts of a Spilsby fire side, the
agreable [sic] Chat and lively Jist of those Friends in whose fa-
-vour we are so much prepoƒsed [sic] as to think every thing they say
or do charming and non pariel from a Conviction of this
Truth, my Ideas of Happineƒs are become more confind [sic] for I
cannot allow any Situation to produce it abstracted wherein
I am deprivd [sic] of the Society of lovely frie my two lovely friends
so pure and warm is my friendship – if you feel but a Por-
-tion of my Sentiments you will write to me immediately
a long and joint Letter, my Chappelle will not be offended
at not receiving a Letter now, I am by no means in her Debt
in yours Mary I certainly am – immediately Lord Howe shall
have taken a short Cruize to clear the Channel of frenchmen
we expect to sail therefore my dears delay not a Moment
in writing – Samuel is well and I am so, we have been
on shore twice or thrice on shooting Parties and enjoy our-
-selves as well as this dreary Season will allow – how long
and often have we wished to get into an hospitable Climate

[ends here]