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Sicily November 5 1810

My dear Father

I have this instant had the plea-
-sure to receive your very affectionate letter of the
29th of August written at Portsmouth – and tho' the
Packet in which it came from Gibraltar will not
sail again for some days, I sit down to acquaint
you now that my imagination is in a glow how in-
finitely rejoiced I am to perceive that you were
in such good spirits and to assure you how much
my own are augmented by so pleasing a consideration

Mr. Wells of the 31st Regiment informed
me some days back that he had seen you in the
Isle of Wight, and I was puzzling to find out what
could have taken you down there, but however
I did not remain long in a state of hesitation for
it soon suggested itself to me that you were a-
-waiting on the Island the departure of some
vessel for N.S. Wales. You tell me my dear Father
that Colonel Johnston hopes I may soon have a
Company – but make my remembrances to him
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have only to acquire their idioms, and familiar phrases to
make myself Master of that language – For the present adieu
I shall leave the conclusion of my letter for cooler moments

Novr 9th
We yesterday, my dear Father, had a Field day; the Regiment was
reviewed by Lord Forbes, and some other General Officers. We have
since heard that we are to be removed from this Quarter into the
Town of Messina; and on Friday or Saturday we shall move –

I have only seen General Campbell once since I waited
upon him; and then in the Streets; he was very polite to me, and
said now that my Regt had removed from the Faro he hoped to have
the pleasure of seeing me at his House. He asked me how I liked
my Cell, in this convent – I told him that I liked the life of a Mili-
-tary Monk very much. General Campbell is a very great, and pow-
-erful Man in this Army, and much obliged I am to the Hinton Fa-
-mily for their introduction. I am making a collection of Seeds, &
if I am so fortunate as to obtain some which a Priest of my acquain-
-tance promised me, I shall not forget Mr. McArthur.

We have lately heard that Lord Wel-
-lington has obtained a great victory in Portugal – The Day before
yesterday the French fired a Grand Salute, and sent us word it was
in consequence of their having annihilated Ld. Wellington & his Army
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