NELSON & BRONTE.

Mrs. Nelson had better direct her letters to me, unless I am on the
spot. You see, you paid postage, and it lays me open to their Post
Office conversation.




LETTER XXVII.


Amazon, October 19th, 1801.

MY DEAREST FRIEND,

What a gale we have had! But Admiral Lutwidge's boat came off; and, as
your letter was wrote, it got on shore: at least, I hope so; for the
boat seemed absolutely swallowed up in the sea. None of our boats
could have kept above water a moment; therefore, I could not answer
all the truly friendly things you told me in your letters, for they
were not opened before the boat was gone.

I am sure, you did well to send Mrs. Lutwidge a gown, and she loves
you very much, but there is no accounting for taste. She admires
entirely red coats; you, true blue.

They dine with Billy Pitt, to-day; or, rather, with Mr. Long; for Pitt
does not keep house, in appearance, although he asked me to come and
see him: and that I shall do, out of respect to a great man, although