India in order to reach England is, I hope, his last spurt of animosity. It
is now five or six weeks since this cartel was to sail, but the arrival of our
cruizers again off the island, after the hurricane season, has prolonged our de-
tention. At length yesterday was fixed for our sailing, when the Cape cartel
came in sight, and we are still kept in order, as I suppose, to know what has
been the conduct of the governor of that place towards the French prisoners.
I flatter myself with some hope of receiving some letters by this occasion from
the Cape, and perhaps from thee, my dear friend, from whom I am without
any letter for more than three years.
      I now write to thee in the hope that I may find an occasion
of getting the letter on board one of our cruizers in going out of the
port; having little or no hope that I can myself quit the cartel to go
directly to the Cape; the commander of our squadron having, as we are
told, promised to take no person out of this ship. In going to India,
the time of my arrival ^ ^{at home} will probably be prolonged from four to six
months; so that I cannot hope to reach London before January and
perhaps February next, although we should be allowed to sail tomorrow,
which is very uncertain even yet. Before filling my paper any further, I
will wait to see whether I have any and what letters in the French cartel;
only requesting thee, as I write to no other person but thee, to inform Sir
Joseph Banks of this intelligence, and also all our principal friends,
saying that I am in good health and better spirits than I have long been.