any idea of their being used: letters of recommendation to some persons in America
would be more likely to be useful, and these, in case of the voyage being actually
undertaken, might be procured in England, for the port to which the veƒsel
might be bound.
      We should indeed be very happy here with this excellent family where
I am placed; but what difficulty, fatigue, and risk, thou wouldst have to
arrive at this happineƒs. No, my dearest love, it cannot be. I ask thee
not to undertake it. As I said before, in the case of all circumstances a-
-bove-mentioned concurring to thy wish, I then leave thee and thy family
and friends to decide; but if they do not concur, or circumstances equi-
-valent to them, my extreme concern and anxiety for thee oblige me to
act the master, and deny my consent.
      In thy letters of May 12 and June 14. 1805 which were received to-
-gether on Oct. 22 (as I informed thee in my last of Nov. 20) thou hast
made mention of another packet of letters which had been forwarded to
me; and my friend Robertson did the same; but none written either before
or since have arrived. I was a long time uneasy about M^r Aken but I
      have learnt, that the ship James was taken by one of
      our frigates, and therefore suppose he was prevented
from writing to me from America, and ^ ^that went immediately to England. Should
it have happened, that my letters written in November have miscarried, I
beg of thee to write to M^r Aken and tell him of my present situation. It is
now ten months since he left me, and in two months more I shall expect some
account of him dated in England. My faithful servant Elder still con-
-tinues with me, and I do not think will leave me before we obtain our
liberty together, though I have offered to demand permiƒsion for him to de-
-part, and which would doubtleƒs be granted. He is indeed a very valua-
-ble and faithful servant. Did I really suppose thou wouldst undertake
the voyage, I should send ^ ^him to England to return with thee.
      March 20. The eldest Mademoiselle D'Arifat desires me to present
thee with her compliments, and to aƒsure thee, that if thou shouldst make
a voyage here, thou wilt find in her a friend. The three young ladies have
wove a necklace of their hair, which I am desired to present to thee by the
first occasion.               This moment I learn that a good occasion of
sending letters presents itself, but it only leaves me a few hours to complete