Address:
M^rs Flinders
        Partney near Spilsby
            Lincolnshire

Annotation: N^o 35         July 19^th 1808

                            Wilhems Plains in the I. of France

                                          Jan. 20. 1808

      I am sorry, my dearest love, for having given thee in Aug^t
last, too sanguine hopes of seeing me so soon in England; that
period, alas, remains still uncertain. The British cartel by which
I had hopes of passing to India was detained here until October,
and on receiving orders to sail, the commissary of prisoners made
an earnest application for me to be permitted to embark on board,
but without success: he was answered, "that so soon as circum-
"stances would permit I should be set at liberty, and to that ef-
"fect sent to London"; an answer as inexplicable to me as to every
other person, since no ship is ever likely to sail from hence for Eng-
land unless sent express.
      In September, the books, papers, and letters taken from me were
returned, with the exception of one journal of which I was the most
in want; and I was told, that the value of my little vessel would
be paid me at the time I should be set at liberty, but when, or by
what means I was to receive that liberty I could not learn. These
proceedings announced at least, that the captain-general con-
sidered [illegible] the order he had received to be sufficient
authority for setting me at liberty; and I hoped, that it could
not be long before the execution would take place, and this hope
continually prolonged, prevented me from writing again to thee 'till
this time. By the British cartel I sent to India all the letters com-
mitted to my charge at Port Jackson, as also several essential
papers for my agent, which I hope will make my accounts pass.
These I had fortunately put on board the cartel some time previous
to her sailing, for she was sent away so suddenly that I could
not have had time to do this otherwise, or to write to Sir Ed. Pellew.
      A friend of mine, by whom I had written to James Frank-
lin and several others, was to have gone to India in the cartel, but