port after a tedious passage of twenty seven days. My Brig is entered at the Custom House, and I yesterday began to discharge. It is a very bad time to transact any business here. Money is very scarce, and in fact an almost total stagnation in every branch of Commerce. It is however more healthy than I had reason to expect at this

season.

I have met here many R. Island acquaintances, Young Charles DeWolf among the rest. Charles has made himself social with me, and I have treated him as civilly as my feelings would allow me. But nothing here can compensate for the loss of Allen; with him I could have cheerly passed the lonely, lingering hours, with him I could have chatted about old times and talked-with rapture talk'd of old friends, and he only could enter into my feelings when I talk'd of all I hold dear on earth. Yet I think it best that he has taken this trip-he was doing nothing here, and a little is better than nothing. I had the great satisfaction on the day I parted with you of meeting our mutual friend Mosher. The certainty of his being so soon at home was a source of much pleasure to me, as I know there are few whom you will more rejoice to see. And very few indeed who will so well enter into your Feelings-sooth Your anxiety, and pay all those friendly little Attentions to you-alas, that I should be obliged to mention any other person as paying them but myself. My heart tells me 'tis from me, and me only, that those kindnesses and attentions would be truly gratifying to you. But obliged as I am to separate so often from

you, it is a matter of much Consolation to me that you have other friends in whom you can place confidence and whom you sincerely love. I hope you have, ere this, got over the fatigue of removal, and under the same roof with your good sister, and so near your kind indulgent Father, I hope you will try to be happy.

You cannot conceive, my Dear, how much anxiety I have felt from the fear that I have neglected many things which I now can remember I ought to have done for your Comfort and convenience. Yet you, my love, I know will do me Justice. The little time I spent at home last, blest with you and too happy in your ever dear society, I fear that I too much neglected to look forward. Yet I thank God that I was able to leave you in a situation to procure whatever your Comfort or Convenience may require. You well know my wishes in that respect and I hope will act accordingly.

I hope our good and respected friend, Mr. Russell, will continue to call often upon you. Tell him that if he is in any way remiss in his Attentions, or grudges in the least, a little longer walk for the purpose of seeing you, that I will, on my return, use my utmost endeavors to get him ousted from the Collectorship, and I know very well who, (besides Doctor B) has an eye on that office.

I am anxiously looking for the arrival of Capt. Salisbury, by whom I confidently expect to hear from you. Do not, my dear girl, neglect any possible chance of writing to me. All I shall have to support my spirits, will be The Hope of hearing often from you. Hope—sweet

soother of the mind-to Her benign influence we owe very much of what we call Happiness in this world. When Memory, faithful to departed joys, leads me back to the scenes of real bliss-of happiness unalloyed which I have enjoyed with my dear wife, Hope kindly smiles and bids me to believe those scenes will again be realized. Trust me, my Love, they will again be realized.

I expect with confidence, my love, that you will exercise all your Fortitude that you will call the rich resources of your good heart to your aid, and not give way to Despondency at this time-when of all others-I know you will be subject to alarming apprehensions. In this expectation, my lovely Ann, I again bid you adieu-commending you to the Protection of that kind Power who has hitherto befriended us. My love to all those whom I love in truth. When you remember me to friend Mosher and wife do not forget little Ruth Ann. Tell her I long to Kiss her dear little intelligent Face. Our good sisters are very warmly remember'd in my heart, and will be while I am

JOHN W. RUSSELL.

VII

T

TO THE MOTHER OF LITTLE BETSY

HE first mention in the shipmaster's letters of an expected "pledge of their mutual love," is found

66

in the following pages under date of July 28th, 1803. He is again in Cuban waters, more than ever tormented by absence from her whom he loved. "Alas I am far removed from you," he writes straight from the heart, at the moment when you want my tenderness most. He fancies her half-anxious smile as she busies herself with her "miniature needle-work," and yearns to be able to divert her attention from "thinking too anxiously on the expected critical hour."

The object of this sweet solicitude, little Elizabeth Bourne Russell, first child of its parents, was born on September 11th, 1803, and it is to be feared that Captain Russell did not reach Bristol in time to welcome his "little Betsy" into the world. Less than three weeks before that date he was still in Havana, "hoping to be ready to sail in six days at the farthest."

How long he remained ashore with his Nancy and their "babe" is not known, and his next letters, after her birth, are written from Demerara in January of the following year, 1804. Now his thoughts are chiefly of small Betsy and he shows the most serious concern about her training,

Much

even while the precious mite is still in long clothes. so-called literature would suffer if compared, for thought and manner of expression, with many of the passages in the following letters of a self-taught, plodding Yankee skipper of a rough school in a rude era.

To Mrs. Ann Russell, Bristol, R. I.

MY DEAR FRIEND:

It is only a week since I wrote you by the Little Ann. yet I feel great Pleasure that another opportunity has occurred so soon, believing as I do that you will not be tired of my scribbling if I write ever so often. I had hopes ere this to have finished discharging my Cargo, but three or four holidays have intervened, and we have to boat it all to a considerable distance. In two days more I expect to have all out. I am not yet certain whether I shall purchase any molasses-it is scarce and high. I may possibly get a little, and shall get the remainder in sugars and leave here as quickly as possible. I have been much disappointed at Capt. Salisbury's not arriving, and fear that he has altered his voyage. It was the only Chance by which I expected to hear direct from Home, and every hour of my Absence, my anxiety for you, my love, increases.

Why could I not be with you at this Period, when the voice of Love and Tenderness would be so soothing to you. Ah, my sweet Ann, I am continually with you in imagination. I see you with a half-anxious smile busy yourself