8 Smiths Place, High St. Wapping
London, March 26/45

Loving wife,

I received Anns most welcome Letter this moment sorry to see [by] it that your Leg is so sore but I hope it will not come to any height this leaves me Quite will. Williams work got done with Mr Ronald and kept on saturday but shipped on board of a fine Barque belongen to Greenwich lying in St. Catreenes Dock Bound for Montreal it is above Quebec it will bee some time before he sails, he went on board this after noon Quite will and happy the Ships name I dont know as yet but he will write you himself he sttayes in the same house with me and Sleeps in the same bed— I called yesterday on the Neptunes Brockers and told him that owen to the mean way i wase used I would not go in the Neptune, he wase very sorry to here that— To lose a good man for the sake of a few pounds,— so now I shipped yesterday with Sir John Franklin R.N. to go with him to Daviss Straits, and up Langestersound in search of a Passage through, it may be two years and it may be three & four but I am Quite willing to go it is no use lying at home being allwise in measurin the thought of your leg and leaving the family is worse then the Voyage, Sir John told me that if I want the Voyage with him and landed safe in England again I would bee Looked after all my life. the Ship I go in is the Erebus and the other is the Terror just such ships as the Hecla but not Quite so Large. Sir John is a man above 60 years old, Quite a Hero he is very fond of me so is all the officers, as I answer all the Quistences they put to me about the Land and ice about the Quarter we are going to My wages is £18“ “ P^r Month 13 Months to the year I Receive three Months pay before we sail and then half pay at home pabil at the first Month but that will bee all settled before wee sail— my things is in very bad order just as the came from Quebec, if you are not able to come to London it will bee a bad job for me it will be May before wee will sail, Mr. Enderby hase bean a good friend to me at this time, he will Look after you if I should never Return, but that never comes in my head, there is a number thinking it, [straing] of me gaining, but they would go if the knew about ice is I know— I got all my Instructions so tend so you may considerne me an Mond[X]^[1] one of her Majestas Servants for this Voyage I have Received orders to Ship another ice Captⁿ & 6 Leaden men I wrote to Charles about a week ago to see if he could Recommend any in Dundee but not yet Rec^d an answer, Sir John Told me yesterday that he would send me down to Hull or any other place and Look after them myself and all my expencess ^paid^, I will know that on Monday when I get my Commission I will Try Mr. Enderby for little mony until we get ure advances, if you bee able to come up we will stope at woolwich

Remains your Loving
Husband
James Reid

J. R.

[1] Possibly “Monday’

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