The happiness we enjoy by corresponding with those whom we esteem, when separated from them, beyond the reach of personal intercourse, ranks amongst the highest blessings of civilized life. It is to navigation and the art of writing, those powerful engines which have established a freedom of intercourse throughout the wide extent of the globe, that we are indebted for the enjoyment of communicating with far distant friends, and thereby rendering our separation less intolerable.

But you will too soon discover how much you have sacrificed your judgment to your feelings, in so strenuously requiring frequent communications, from me, during my absence from England. In the correspondence which your kindness has exacted, you will have to encounter a task, while all the advantages of amusement and instruction will be mine. Still, as you have brought it upon yourself, you must be content to see me your debtor, assured of my regret that the benefit, to be derived, cannot be reciprocal. Did I even possess all the glowing and happy talents necessary to descriptive narration, the busy employment of my time, and the unsettled state of my mind, amidst the perpetual hurry and uncertainty of military movements, must prevent me from observing, and still more from relating what may pass before me, with accuracy; and from being unable to mature my remarks by the recurrent eye of a continued residence, they will necessarily be superficial and undigested.

You can only expect the perusal of hasty notes, hastily collected, by an observer whose time must be devoted to the duties of his appointment; and whose movements and pauses must be regulated by those exigencies of the army which more imperiously demand his attention.

But it were needless to enter into a detail of the allowances you will have to make. You already know them: hence, as apologies are irksome to you, I forego all further comment, and, meeting you as you desire, proceed to my subject.

The adventures of a stage-coach are sometimes amusing, but it happened that my journey, hither, was peculiarly devoid of incident, being, merely, a dark nocturnal ride, without any thing to divert, or to interest.

Amidst the stillness of night we rolled swiftly on, without impediment or delay, always finding horses in readiness at the place of change. Even the great business of eating and drinking was more than commonly disregarded. No social hour of supper was observed: nor were our conductors troubled with those frequent calls of thirst, which are, commonly, so vexatious and annoying to the passengers. To reach the end of the journey seemed alike the object of all.

We arrived at an early hour, and after taking the refreshment of a cold ablution, and a plentiful breakfast, I proceeded, without delay, to head quarters, to pay my respects to the commander in chief. It happened that the inspector-general of hospitals was with Sir Ralph Abercromby, at the time: I, therefore, reported my appointment to both; and put myself under command.

From the quarters of the commander in chief, I accompanied the inspector-general to visit the sick. This afforded me an early opportunity of viewing the military hospital, and I have great pleasure in remarking to you that it does much credit to the doctor’s^[1] judgment and industry. Placed in the direction of the medical department, his exertions have demonstrated how essential it is to commit that important appointment to an officer whose experience qualifies him for all the various duties it demands. From a well-devised arrangement, forwarded by a zealous and laudable industry, he has caused a large old building, late a sugarhouse, to be converted into a commodious, and well-aired hospital; where the sick are comfortably placed, duly attended, and conveniently, as well as liberally accommodated.

The clock tells me it is midnight. Adieu!