Page:Letters from India Vol 2.pdf/196

 I suspect there will be no great crash. The Chinese have already begun to. say that they hope there will be ‘a good deal of talkee before fightee,’ which looks as if they did not mean to come to the fightee at all.

There have been two or three such dreadful shipwrecks; two at Bombay the same day, one the ‘Lord W. Bentinck,’ with troops from England; most of the passengers, all the ladies and children, and eighty recruits drowned within sight of the crowds on shore; boats and steamers trying to get to them all through one day, but the gale was too violent, and the ship went to pieces at night. Six hours after another ship was lost at the same place. The details are so shocking in the papers to-day.

Ever, dearest sister, Yours most affectionately, E. E.

Calcutta, August 5, 1840. ,—I’ve got No. 67, and there it appears that Malcolm has behaved as a Malcolm ought; the contrast between him and Gubbins is most singular and striking. I am so glad you