AN UNEXPECTED LETTER.
This is a copy of the letter received by Richard Shandon eight months
previously:--
ABERDEEN, August 2, 1859.
MR. RICHARD SHANDON, _Liverpool_.
SIR,--This letter is to advise you of a remittance of 16,000 pounds,
deposited with Messrs. Marcuart & Co., bankers, at Liverpool. Enclosed
you will find a series of drafts, signed by me, which will enable you
to draw upon Messrs. Marcuart & Co. to the amount mentioned above.
[Illustration]
You do not know me. No matter; I know you, and that is enough. I offer
you the position of mate on board of the brig _Forward_, for a voyage
which may be long and perilous.
If you decline, well and good. If you accept, five hundred pounds will
be assigned you as salary, and at the end of each year of the voyage
your pay will be increased one tenth.
The brig _Forward_ does not exist. You will be obliged to have it
built so that it will be possible to set to sea in the beginning of
April, 1860, at the latest. Enclosed is a drawing with estimates. You
will follow them exactly. The ship will be built in the stocks of
Scott & Co., who will arrange everything with you.
I beg of you to be specially cautious in selecting the crew of the
_Forward_; it will consist of a captain (myself), a mate (you), a
second mate, a boatswain, two engineers, an ice-master, eight sailors,
two stokers, in all eighteen men, including Dr. Clawbonny of this
city, who will join you at the proper time.
Those who are shipped on board of the _Forward_ must be Englishmen,
independent, with no family ties, single and temperate; for the use of
spirits, and even of beer, will be strictly forbidden on shipboard:
the men must be ready to undertake and endure everything.
In your selection you will prefer those of a sanguine temperament, and
so inclined to maintain a higher degree of animal heat.
You will offer the crew five times their usual pay, to be increased
one tenth at the end of each year. At the end of the voyage each one
shall receive five hundred pounds, and you yourself two thousand. The
requisite sum shall be deposited with the above-named Messrs. Marcuart
& Co.
The voyage will be long and difficult, but one sure to bring renown.
You need not hesitate, then, Mr. Shandon.
Send your answer to the initials K. Z., at Gottenburg, Sweden, _poste
restante_.
[Illustration]
P. S. On the 15th of February next you will receive a large Danish
dog, with hanging lips, of a dark tawny color, with black stripes
running crosswise. You will find place for him on board, and you will
feed him on barley bread mixed with a broth of lard. You will
acknowledge the receipt of this dog by a letter to the same initials
at Leghorn, Italy.
The captain of the _Forward_ will appear and make himself known at the
proper time. As you are about setting sail you will receive new
instructions.
K. Z.,
_Captain of the Forward_.