Address:
Mr Hendry
      Marine Row Hull
For Miƒs Chappelle

                        16 King S^t Soho. Dec. 18. 1800
My dear friend
      I will begin by informing thee, that a ship is fit-
-ting for me to go out to New South Wales in. She is to be ready, it
is said, in the beginning of January. An astronomer and a natu-
-ralist are already engaged, and draftsmen are searching for. Every
thing seems to bespeak the utmost haste, but my appointment is
not yet given out. The ship carries 20 guns at present, and is cal-
-led the Xenophon, but she is to be rebaptized the Investigator,
and her guns reduced to 12. It seems, that promotion cannot accom-
pany my appointment to the command of her; there are, however,
some promises made on that head, to take place shortly.
      It is now somewhat uncertain whether time will permit me to
come into Lincolnshire; but if the admiralty will give me leave, I
will accept of an offer from Sir Joseph Banks to accompany him down
on the 26: he returns on the 2. following.
      I beg of thee, my dear Annette, if thou still valuest my friend-
-ship, to return to the home of thy anxious parent; and let my entreat-
-ties add something to the swiftneƒs with which thou flyest to
cheer up her drooping frame. Filial affection cannot be weak in
thee. I will reach Spilsby, if tis but for a few hours; let me, my
dearest friend, find thee at Partney.
      How would thy loved society have cheered me in the arduous task
I have undertaken, during such part of the time as we might have been
together? With what rapture should I return to Port Jackson after
an adventurous cruize, wast thou, my love, but there to receive
me? Oh fate — oh fortune, what do ye not deprive me of? Why
did ye