Page:Letters from India Vol 2.pdf/267

 pressing men on board who have never seen a ship before.

Calcutta, July 7.

Here we are on dry land again, and find George and Emily well, and all of you well. Such a pleasure! I found you sailing pleasantly about the Bay of Naples. The overland post is gone, but I am just in time for George’s express. Such a furnace as this Calcutta is after having been cooled! We have been rolled about a little more than has agreed with me the last week. After being becalmed for eight days in the straits, we ran home in ten hours at the rate of ten knots an hour; and, though it was the very easiest ship I ever sailed in, we had more than sufficient rolling in the Bay of Bengal.

I’ve got something pretty for you; I am going to make you a present of it; the first man that goes to England shall take it for you. It is one of the small inlaid tables they make at Penang. I declare I think it quite pretty.

I’m glad the sea-air has taken some of your hair off, for it has taken nearly all mine. I