* * * * *
ISLE OF WIGHT,
ST. HELENS, _December 29, 1807_.
EVER DEAREST FATHER--If you have not been prepared for it, my
arrival in England will be to you an agreeable surprise, as in fact
it is almost to me.
We had a favourable passage of thirteen days, and came to anchor
last night. When I have seen Sir John Moore in Portsmouth and
General Morse in London, I shall be better able to fix my
movements; at present my thoughts are to stay here two or three
days, then to London, and so meet you at Sudbury before the 9th.
Hereafter I shall probably wish to adhere to General Moore, who has
intimated a disposition entirely friendly to me. But I cannot help
hoping to spend the greater part of the winter with you--a hope,
however, too flattering to be implicitly trusted. I heard, by means
of Colonel Campbell, the valuable intelligence that you were all
well on the 12th November. As I trust we shall meet very soon I
need not lengthen this letter, farther than to say how much I am,
my dearest Dad, your ever most affectionate