LETTER TEN.
London,
My Dear Sister,
We received your last parcel on Sunday, and were very much rejoiced to learn that father and mother were then both better.
I am rather unwell, and unable to stick to my work as closely as I ought to do. The consequence of which, together with having to lose time for other purposes, is that I do not earn more than it just takes to keep us. This week I shall not earn sufficient. I have had a slight cough ever since I have been in London, which comes upon me chiefly at night, and is worse now than it ever has been. I also have a kind of soreness and stiffness at my chest, and can get no comfortable sleep. I verily believe I have not had a good night's rest since I have been up here. What sleep I do get seems to oppress me more than refresh me, and is very broken* Being pent in a frowsy London garret, with no one to speak to, not even a dog, and breathing the same impure air from week's end to week's end, has made Clarinda very poorly, and half unhappy. Nevertheless, tell my father and mother and all who enquire after us that we are well and happy, as I believe we both shall be when we leave this irksome place.
I shall not write more than one other letter to you before we go, and that on the last day before we join the ship, because of the expense, so I shall endeavour to say all I have to say in this. I have strong hopes of getting a good situation as soon as I arrive at Sydney, as all who have hitherto gone out in Mr. Marshall's ships have been engaged within a week of the time of landing, and if I get a situation at £50 or £60 per year and provisions and a house to live in, I shall be able to send some money home in a year and a half from the present time, and enough soon to pay all I owe at Birmingham. And that will be a happy time with me. I shall write to you by the first homeward bound vessel we meet after we have been out eight or ten weeks, so you may expect to hear from us in about six months, and again at the end of in year. And I hope I shall he able to tell you how I like New South Wales. I wish Maria could come up to London before we go, for I should dearly like to look upon some one of you again, but I know it cannot be, and blame myself for naming it.
With respect to the likeness, I would rather no more was said about it, as I am unable, however cheaply it was done, to be at the expense, and I am most unwilling you should be, but I leave the matter with you. If things were not so very awkward I should dearly like for you to have both mine and Clarinda's. You may get a portrait, a pretty good likeness, for about six or seven shillings. I do not mean one of those black profiles.
I must now conclude with many thanks and good wishes.
Give our sincere love to all.
Yours,