Pièce 19 - Letter from R. C. Trevelyan to Anna Maria Philips

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Port Said. - Thanks his aunt for her 'kind' letter, which he received at Naples. The sea was rough in the Bay [of Biscay] and off Portugal, but he took remedies against seasickness and did not suffer too much. The weather was fine for the passage through the Straits of Gilbraltar, which are 'magnificent'; then more bad weather on the way to Naples, but it has been 'beautiful' since a thunderstorm at the Straits of Messina. They will reach Port Said at around 4 this afternoon. His 'cabin-companion' [Hugh] Lawrence, 'turned out to be a very pleasant fellow', and is an electrical engineer going to take charge of the works at Khartoum, who comes from Accrington which must be near his aunt. Got some China tea at Birkenhead, but has not yet used it, though the ship's tea is 'horrid'. Very kind of Jan Hubrecht to visit the ship again before it started. Bessie's letter is 'cheerful', and she and Julian seem well. Hopes his aunt did not tire herself on Saturday; it was very kind of her to come to the ship to see him off, and made it 'much pleasanter' for him and Bessie. Is reading "Studies of Indian Life and Sentiment" by Bampfylde Fuller, which is 'most interesting'. Will send a postcard from Bombay. Much looking forward to seeing Port Said, the 'first Oriental town' he has visited. Glad Jan Hubrecht could come to the Park [his aunt's house] and that she liked him. There is 'a nice elderly Dutchman on board who knows some of Bessie's relations'.