SIERRA LEONE, Aug. 25, 1792.

My Dear Friend,

You must not promise yourself either instruction or entertainment from this letter, for my strength of body and mind are so debilitated by a severe fit of illness, that with much ado I could summon resolution enough to take up my pen, or prevail on myself to write you a syllable by this opportunity, but having made a beginning (which is equal to half the task), I shall now endeavour to spin out what I can.

I was confined three weeks with a violent fever, stoneblind four days, and expecting every moment to be my last; indeed I most miraculously escaped the jaws of death: fortunately, just as I was taken sick, a Physician arrived, to whose attention and skill I consider myself principally indebted for my recovery. I am yet a poor object, and being under the necessity of having my head shaved, tends to increase my ghastly figure. You will readily guess it was very humbling and provoking for me to lose my fine head of hair, which I always took so much pride in, but I cannot help it, and thank God my life is preserved.

A few weeks since arrived the Calypso, from Bulam, with a number of disappointed adventurers who went to that Island; they came here in expectation of finding accommodation for a part of them during the rainy season, who meant afterwards to return to Bulam: but they entertained wrong notions of our Colony, when they supposed we had it in our power to accommodate them, for most of our own gentlemen are obliged to sleep on ship board, for want of houses or lodgings on shore.

The adventurers seem vexed at being thus defeated in their expectations, and intend to return to England in the Calypso when she sails, which will be shortly.

Perhaps you have not heard of the Bulam expedition before, and I can give you but an imperfect account of it; however, I will laconically tell you what I know.

A Mr Dalrymple was engaged by the Directors of the Sierra Leone Company to come out as Governor of this Colony…