as we had found the day before on board the Starling, gun-
brig. The experiments, imperfect as they yet are, furnish a sub-
ject of general conversation amongst the naval officers here;
and I suppose we shall have a paragraph about them in the
newspapers shortly. I have been rather lucky in meeting with
two or three intelligent officers to be present at the experiments,
and who seem to take a good deal of interest in them. They
took interest in the first case, thinking, I believe, to disprove
this novelty in nautical science; but now they it is to es-
tablish it, and to ascertain the quantities of the changes and the
laws which govern them.
      I have had a good deal of fatigue the last two
days, but keep my health well and make most ravenous
breakfasts. I sincerely hope thy strength continues to in-
crease, and that I shall find the dear little brat in a better
state than when thy account of it was written.
      My kind love to thy good sister; and believe me
to be, most affectionately
                  Thine
                            Matt^w Flinders