Address:
Captain M. Flinders R.N.
    Naƒsau Street
      Soho
            London

Annotation:
Oct. 11. 1811 – Capt Kent

            Agincourt in the Tagus September 17^th 1811—

My Dear Friend

    I have this moment received your very obliging
favor of the 14^th Ult^o – The letter you mention to have addreƒsed to me
in the Downes in October last never came to hand, the Agincourt having
sailed from Harwich on the 25^th of that Month, and arrived here on the
3^d of November. – Although it be a considerable time since I communed
with you, be aƒsured you ever have ^ ^been and ever will be, poƒseƒsed of my best
wishes. – Prayers for your prosperity are all the powers of your unfortunate,
your afflicted Friend. – A News Paper informed me of your return to
England, and the Admiralty List pointed out your obtaining the
Post Rank on the 7^th of May 1810. – this was something, though but a small
compensation for unjust detention in the Isle of France, and all your
consequent sufferings: – however it appears to be as far as M^r Yorke
could go, having so recently been placed at the head of the Admiralty. –
With other first Lords your Promotion rested, and their neglect, under
your peculiar circumstances, was the height of injustice.— A melancholy

proof of our devoted Service being in the hands of a set of Borough – Mongers. –
Can it be poƒsible the Admiralty is so devoid of consideration as to expect you
to sit down, in so expensive a place as London, to put together your Voyage
for Publication without any allowance from Government? Why, my good
Friend, it is more than probable, any advantage that may arise to you
from such a Work, will not cover above half your expenses; and even of
that (by the account you give me) you have no certainty. – I conjure you
give the subject your serious attention, and do not suffer yourself to be
involved in debt to gratify persons who seem to have no feeling. – The
allowance of a Maritime Surveyor (a Guinea P. Day) is the smallest
sum that ought to be offered to you, whilst so employ'd. – If you explain
your situation to our worthy and considerate Friend Sir Joseph I am
persuaded he will endeavour to obtain justice. –
                  The first information I had of Samuels
misfortune was from Commodore Owen on my joining the Agincourt in the
Downes in 1808, who spoke of him in the handsomest manner. – As your
Brother knew my addreƒs in Town, it is to be regretted his not writing me
as soon as Charges were exhibited against him; for had he done so, I
wou'd have gone to Sheerneƒs, where it is likely I could have been useful,

either in softning the Sentence, or getting Captain Jones (who was 3^d
Lieutenant of the Melampus when I was first) to withdraw the Charge.
this, however, was unknown to poor Samuel. – You may be sure I will
at all times have great pleasure in complying with any wish of yours,
and should we be vacant a Lieutenant an immediate application
shall be made by me for Samuels appointment to the Agincourt: you
must however be aware, should a vacancy happen whilst under a
Commander in Chief, as at this place, he of course will be anxious to
fill it with one of his young followers. – Offer my sincer
regard to your Brother, and aƒsure him I will ever bear
him in mind. – If you are in London at Christmas I should like you to
see my dear little Boy, and to hear your opinion of his progreƒs in respect
to Education: he is at present at an Academy in Canterbury, but will
be in Town at the Vacation: you will find him at his Aunts at N^o 6
Bridge Road Lambeth. – My beloved Girls are in the West of England;
Eliza at my Brothers in the Royal Hospital Plymouth, and Mary at
a Boarding-School in Ivy-Bridge. – I have no conception when it is
likely I shall be in England. – At my return I hope to have the pleasure of
seeing you. – Offer my respectful Compliments to Sir Joseph Banks. –

[written along the side of this page:]

If you walk into the Church on Paddington Green you will see the Monument of my ever-to-be lamented
Eliza, who loved you with the Affection of a Sister. –

Adieu my valued Friend. – Say every thing kind for me to your good Lady. –
May you long enjoy that happineƒs, the Almighty, in his wisdom, has thought
proper to retire from me, is the fervent Prayer of
                Your most Affectionate Fri^d
                            W^m Kent

P.S.
          Offer my best Compliments to Meƒs^rs Brown and Bawer.[sic] – Is our
poor friend Waterhouse still living? or has pernicious Grog washed him to
death? – What a failing! –