A Sea-Officer to his Wife.

My dear Life, Port-Mahon, October 31.

I take the Opportunity afforded me by Captain Copythorne, who is returning to England, to let you know that I am in perfect Health at present, God be praised; tho’ I have, with many of the Crew, been down of the Bloody-Flux, occasioned by being a little too free with the new Wines and Fruit of these Countries; and yet I thought I was very moderate in both. Our Captain continues very civil and kind, and places his principal Confidence in me; and I endeavour so to behave on the Occasion, as to avoid incurring the Envy of every one; and indeed, have the good Fortune to be generally respected.

Captain Copythorne is so kind as to carry to you a Token ofmy Affection; which is a small Parcel of Cyprus Wine, that I believe will be agreeable to your best Friend Mrs. Simpson, to whom therefore you may present half, and keep the other for your own Use. The Captain has also Fifty Dollars to present you with, from me, only paying out of them the Duty for the Wine; for it is but just that it should be so, if he cannot meet with Favour in so small a Parcel; for what the Law of the Land, which protects us all, gives to the King, is as much his Due, (however other People act) as any Part of my private Property, which is secured to me by the same Law, is mine: And I am convinc’d, that if every one acted up to this just Principle, there need not be so many Taxes as there are; and the fair Trader, and all honest Men, would be the better for it.

I hope, my dear Jackey and Nancy continue in good Health, and dutiful, and come on in their Schooling; for that will stand them in stead, perhaps, when the poor Matters we are enabled to do for them, may not be worth trusting to.

I long to see my dear Betty. God give us a happy Meeting, if it be his blessed Will. But, I believe, it will hardly be till we have humbled the proud Jack Spaniard:Which God also grant. For that Nation has been very vile and base to us honest Englishmen.