Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Letter received by John Fowell from Newton Fowell, 4 March 1787
MLMSS 4895/1/7

[Page 1]
Feb'y 1787

Hon'd Father

I rec'd your Letter Yesterday and am much obliged to you for the Inclosed and hope now you will not have any Trouble with me these five years as I hear the Station is to be for that Time. I have now, I beleive got every thing I want such as a hammer, a saw Chisels & as I suppose I shall not be able to get any of these things at Botany. I have got a small Book that gives a Discripsion of it and I beleive my Mother sent you another in two Franks. Now I will answer all your Questions as well as I can Capt Philip goes out in the Sirius as 1st Capt and Capt Hunter as 2nd Capt Phillip is not yet from London but is expected on Tuesday. some of the Convicts came down last Friday. they are not yet on board the Transports as it has been blowing so hard they are at Present on board the Gorgon a Ship out of Commission and will be embarked on board the Transports the first fine days. As to Promotion nobody knows any thing about it as it is quite uncertain, I do not know yet any thing of Sea Stock as I have been Weather Bound all this last Week it has been blowing so very hard it was impossible to get on board

[Page 2]
so I know no more of the People, tho I understand there are only five of us that has passed the Chest I got safe you sent me from Plymo it cost six Shillgs car- my Chest from London cost 15s and my Boxes one Soap and the other Hats cost 4s so in all I payed for Car- 25s. I Rec'd a Letter from my Mother tother day she was at Brick Hill, Finny Statford she leaves it to morrow which is Monday and goes into Lincolnshire I shall write to her soon. I am very much obliged to Mr Nicolls for his goodness to me I have left a Power of Attorney with my Mother for you and like wise my last Will and Testament so if I die you will be able to get all my Pay & Give my Compts to Wilkins tell him I would advise him to pass as I think it quite or in Short Nothing but what every knows that has been at sea 2 yrs or ought to. I have been enquiring about the Solitaire's Prize Money they tell me it is gone to Greenwich and while you are alive no power can get it, you I must appear. I am very sorry for Henner he was a very good young man - it is true [L Mudge?] has passed but he was an hour and 20 min about it, I saw him last Friday on board the Ardent, there was a Court Martial on a Mr White he was Acting Leiutt and Commander of the Vixin Galley in No America

[Page 3]
He was in Debt there and was obliged to Run away and come to England in a Transport - he made a very good Defence he was Sentenced Never to serve again as an Officer in his Majesty's Service there was several other Charges all of which he proved to be Maliciously prefered against him, I have no more News to tell you. Make my Respects to Capt and Mrs Ourry and Capt Palmer tell him I am much oblig'd to him for his Recomminding me to Capt Hunter who promisses to be very good to me - the only one I know on board at Present is Mr Lowes one of the [Surgs?] Mates he is a very genteel young man. I Learn all I can of Recommendations but tell Nothing he was Recommended by Mr Nepean -

I saw C- Bickerton on Friday and thanked him for his Civility in offering to take me She is now at Spithead waiting for Orders - let me know what is become of Wolfe - we dont know any thing about coming to Plymo but I dare say some of the Squadron will go in - Give my Compts to all the Club I beleive it is with you this full Moon
I am Hon'd Father
Your dutiful Son
Newton Fowell

There is the Music for Rosina set for the Guitar I thank you to send it if the Ship comes to Plymo

[Page 4]
John Fowell Esqr
Black Hall
So Brent
Devon
March 1787