Swan with Two Necks, Lad-lane,

LONDON, 11th October, 1793.

My Dear Madam,

I hasten to acquaint you, that after a passage of nine weeks and four days, in the Alexander (Shaw) from Jamaica, we landed safe at Dover, the 9th instant. My heart jumped with joy when I found myself once more treading the sod of Old England, which at one time during our voyage, I did not expect would ever be the case, for an ill-natured contagious fever (when we had been but a few days at sea) discovered itself in the ship, and before it could be checked, scourged almost every person on board; however, by the skill and vigilance of the ship's surgeon, only one death happened. We had been out about three weeks, when it attacked me, and was it not for the good nursing and attention I had from every one, particularly the Captain, Surgeon, and my own good man, in all human likelihood I should have fallen a victim to its barbarity; indeed, Captain Shaw's impartial kindness to his sick, was beyond every thing I ever witnessed before, and in my opinion, stamps him a man of genuine humanity.

Our ship was armed with two and twenty guns, and had between fifty and sixty men on board. We sailed from Kingston the 3rd of August, and the following day fell in with thirteen sail of Spanish ships, under convoy of a frigate, who was so very negligent of her charge, as to permit us to intercept seven of them, which, had they been French, we must have taken, in spite of all she could have done, being at that time so far to leeward, as to be scarcely discernable. A Liverpool ship, bound home, had joined them the preceding day, and now begged to be taken under our protection; this was granted, and she kept company with us until we got into the chops of the Channel.

The fever that infested us, broke out among her crew, and hurried a fourth of their number into the other world. Here Captain Shaw displayed his humanity again, in a high degree, by waiting several hours every day, and thus prolonging our voyage, to the prejudice of his own interest, merely for the purpose of rendering them what assistance he could…