Item 11: Letter received by John Fowell from Newton Fowell, 4 June 1787

First Fleet Collection of journals, correspondence and drawings, ca. 1786-1802, held in the Mitchell and Dixson Libraries.

Transcript of letter:
Teneriffe June 4th 1787
Hon'd Father/
We arrived at Santa Cruiz last Night after a very good passage of only three Weeks which we think very tolerable as the Charlotte one of the Transports sail very well bad indeed and she is a very great hinderence to us, as we came here but yesterday I have not yet been on shore but intend going tomorrow I would put off Writing this Letter but the Packet sails to morrow evening for some part of Spain. I hope to be able to get this Letter in the Commodore's Packet of Dispatches which will save a great deal of Postage, I keep an Account of all the Necessary Transactions such as the making of Land &. The Hyæna Convoyed us clear of England and I wrote you a Letter by her just to tell you I was very well.
She parted with us on Sunday May 20 and that Day two Convicts were brought on board us to be punished for Mutiny they had their plan fixed very well but were informed of they were to take the Ship in the Night and as there was at that time a fair Wind for france most likely they would have landed if possible there. We shall stay here only a few days and then sail for Rio Jenairo on the Coast of Brazils the Passage is supposed to be about 10 or 12 Weeks from there we go to the Cape of Good Hope & from thence to Botany -
I like Capt Phillip vastly he is very good humoured & Chearful, he sent for me to day & told me as the first Leiutt Mr Bradly is to be day Officer I was to take his watch and do Duty as Acting Leiutt tell my Mother in case of Writing to me not to make a Mistake & Direct L.t as most likely it is only for a Week so you see I am just like a Sheet Anchor used only on Particular Cases Mr King the Second Lt in whose Watch I was in I beleive has always used his Interest with C Philip in my behalf, he has been with him before, to the East Indies, and it as I understand a Mistake in the Commissions was made, he was to be 1 Leuit. I have no other News - Give my Respects to Capt & Mrs Ourry Dr & Mrs Birdwood My Compts to all the list
I wrote a Letter to Mr Nepean which Capt Philip was good enough to enclose in his frank to him
Give my Duty to my Mother & Aunts & Love to my Brothers I am
Hon'd Father
Your dutiful son
Newton Fowell
John Fowell Esq.r
Black Hall
So Brent
Devon
June 4th 1787

Item 11: Letter received by John Fowell from Newton Fowell, 4 June 1787

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