8 Smiths Place High St. Wapping March 22/45

Loving Wife,

I hope you have Received my yesterdays Letter with the one poun chake from William there is a Letter come from Quebec from the Owner statting that if Captⁿ Reid can bee found to get him if not engaged to take charge of the Neptune and sail for Quebec 1^st April——

now you can see how some mean some scotsman is to pay a Master of for a few weeks, I called on them to day and told them that, i wase engagen with Sir John Franklin R.N. to Go with him to the North as ice Captain, but I would give them an answer on Tuesday, During th[X]^[1] time i will call on Sir John, at Woolwich [X]^[2] if he puts me on pay just now @ £18 Pe[X]^[3] I fix and take my chance of the Voyage, I [go][X] Master & Pilot, it is sure pay and good [co][X]^[4] I dine with all the officers, we are fo[X]^[5] no servant we must find one amongs[X]^[6] you will have half pay if I should never Return, there will bee something for y[X]^[7] and the family Mr Enderby will see after that whate I have mentioned all Depends on puting me on pay just now, if not I take command of the old Ship.——

William is Quite well he wants to go to sea. Its hurts me Very much to think how bad of we are but I hope god will Spare me, on any of the Ships we will get over this If I wase clean of all in Aberdeen & you & the family in London or any other Place I would bee happy——

Aberdeen will never see mee again and I Rather think William is the same. I Received my parcel from the Mate of the Steamer, If I Engage with Sir John I will Draw Money same way as other & send for you you will bring all my [X]arm[8] things up, my things here is in [X]ad^[9] order never [touched] since we Landed [X]ld[10] James would be handy here with me

I am Quite happy with Mr. Ronald sister and her Husband and I am due him^[11] three weeks Lodgens, say 36s. that is nothing, I am informed From sum of the officers that we Receive three Months pay, before we sail then your pay commence I will write you on Tuesday again when All will be settled, Hoping this finds you and my three Darulins well

in Haste
Remains your Loving
Husband
Jas Reid

[1] Likely “this” or “that”.
[2] It’s possible no words are missing here
[3] “Per”
[4] Possibly “company”
[5] Possibly “found”
[6] “Amongst”
[7] “you”
[8] “warm”
[9] Possibly “bad”
[10] Possible “Old”
[11] This might also be “her”

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