I do not my ever dear friend [torn page] forever any idea of when or how this letter is to reach you. I begin it I may say upon the first day that I have been able to take the pen in my hand to write with any degree of comfort since embarking upon the 15th of this month on a voyage to Jama.
My dear and excellent Wife was to take some early opportunity of writing to you and informing you of the cause of my leaving her, my friends, and my home and I now go on with a correspondence begun I may say, at Sea, 20 years ago during which time you and I have spent the best part of our lives and I feel well assured derived very great pleasure in the interchange of thoughts and of good wishes. We have not lived in one constant round of uniform existence but have had much to chequer the existence of each. Your life has had however been more tranquil than mine and I Sincerely pray that neither yourself nor your much valued Husband shall ever have to bear the misery which my dear Maria has suffered from the necessity which impelled this Voyage, and from the seperation which it has occasioned. I did not intend saying much upon my own matters, but I believe it will be better to give you a little abstract of them. Knowing how deeply you are interested and you will better account for any symptoms of dullness and depression which may be blended thro this letter. Independent of my Timber Business which afforded me a very comfortable income, I was indeed about 10 years ago to enter into Jamaica