May next.
    I send away my things by Elder, for whom I have obtained a permission
to depart for America. A ship has at length arrived from France; but though she
sailed six months after the date of thy letter, she brings nothing for me. The French
emperor was then absent, and my friends here attribute it to that cause. Two other
vessels are announced, and if they bring nothing, adieu to all further expectation
from France. I must have recourse to other means, and I am now preparing for
it. Pray Heaven my project may succeed. I send a trunk containing thirteen pac-
kages of papers and letters, besides books, to be left with my agent until my arrival,
as also two parcels for the admiralty; and having room in the trunk, have put
three other parcels, of which N^o 14 contains five table cloths, three sheets, six pillow
cases, seven shirts, an uniform coat and a waistcoat. N^o 15 — four table and
five tea spoons, with a pair of sugar tongs. N^o 16 two epaulets. This I have done
in the expectation that I may be obliged to leave a great many things behind me.
        I communicated to our good family here, the passage in thy letter which
po letter which pourtrayed [sic] in lively terms thy gratitude to
them for their kindness to me, and it gave them much pleasure. They knew how ar-
dently I desired to receive a letter from thee, and how how long I had been deprived
of that pleasure, and they participated in the happiness it afforded me. Indeed
my love, I thought some of thy letters had been lost, not thinking thou wouldst let
such a period ^ ^elapse as from October to July, without writing to me, when thou knewest of
a conveyance; I would have been very glad, also, to have heard from M^r Aken and
M^r Robertson: being very desirous to know how they are how they situated, parti-
cularly the former who has left many things untold, of which he should have given
me information.
      It rejoices me to know of the health of thy good family, and
that they think of me with kindness. The prosperous affairs of William, Penelope and
of my cousin Henny furnished another subject of satisfaction; indeed every thing,
my promotion and liberty excepted, were pleasing; but upon these points two most in-
teresting points, my brother tells me to place no confidence but in myself. I beg
thee my love to repeat the assurances of my friendship and affection to all the per-
sons above named, as also at Enderby and Tidd. Tell to my mother-in-law the sub-
stance of this letter, and explain my regret in being unable to write to her or to
my sisters by this conveyance; being so hurried in preparing my numerous despatch-
es to send away immediately. If I have left any person without ^ ^being mention^ed ing them,
I beg thee to supply the deficiency. Trust my love in my constant affection. Thou
art, and I trust ever will be, the dearest person in the world to the heart of
        thy Matt^w Flinders