Address:
M^rs Flinders
Partney
near Spilsby
Lincolnshire

                    London February 3^rd 1808

To
M^rs Flinders

      Madam

            By the request of captain Flinders
before I left the Isle of France which was on July 9^th 1807 he
desired me either to write, or if an opportunity offered in going from
London to Northumberland I had to call at Partney in my road.
          It is with the greatest pleasure and
happineƒs ^ ^{I have} to inform you that I left captain Flinders in perfect
good health, as far as his unparalleled situation would allow;
he committed to my charge (after procuring me liberty to leave
the island) a trunk containing charts, journals, books, and
several other papers, and a packet of letters, one to you
one to S.W. Flinders, one to Sir Joseph Banks, and one
to the Admiralty, and one to Standert Esq^r all of them

I gave into the charge of M^r . A. Standert captain Flinders
agent; and yesterday he informed me of them all being sent
to their different departments. In the trunk also contained
table linen some silver spoons, the blue uniform coat and two
appalets [sic], with some English and French printed books; and
a small box with a necklace woven by the three Miƒs D'Arifats
and some Markers, an Indian coin; this small box I have
to bring myself by captain Flinders orders; the reason of
me not writing sooner, I was in expectation of finishing
sooner at the navy office, but I find it will be a very tedious
busineƒs to do very soon.
          When I left the Isle of France captain Flind-
-ers was in hopes to be liberated about November, or probably
the first arrival of despatches from France which might be
soon after I left it. – I left there in an American brig, came
to Baltimore; from there, I came down to Norfolk; and ^ ^from there,
in a [sic] English veƒsel bound to Leith; from there, I came in the
packet to London on Sunday 31^st Jan. I wrote to captain
Flinders from Baltimore, informing him of my safe arrival
there, he told me if I had an opportunity of writing from
England to him I might, but at this present unsettled state
of Europe I think it adviseable [sic] to refrain doing it.

If I find no opportunity of coming to Partney, before
I leave London, I will request M^r Standert to forward the small
box with the necklace &^c M^r Standert has removed to N^o 3
Cliffords Inn Fleet Street; I have taken private lodgings at
M^r Elsworth Hatt [sic] and Umbrella maker 23, Upper East Smith=
=field, London – I conclude Madam in wishing you good health
and to hope a few weeks more will bring you through all
sorrows and unhappineƒs, by the arrival of captain Flinders
to his family and native land, is the wish of
        your obedient and most
              humble servant
                    John Elder