|
Extracts from Family Letters
|
| Batavia: 14 June 1816, My Dear Crawford
. . I have written to you frrequently but have received no answer,
this added to a letter from Gair [?] which alludes in obscure terms
to some harsh treatment you met at that place puts it beyond doubt
that something must have occurred far from pleasant to your feelings
but what the matter is I have yet to learn . . . How is Mrs. Crawford?
Do you intend saving the family name from sinking into the grave with
its present bearer? 1 The question will, I hope, be satisfactorily
answered . . . It was a fortunate escape on your part to give over
the charge of "The Teignmonth" 2 before she was captured
by "The Peacock". Thus all Lt. Boyce's trouble and his subsequent
triumph was nothing but the secret endeavour of fate to deprive him
of one of his legs. So simple a thing might have been effected with
much less trouble. Receive my best wishes for your exemption from
similar calamities and believe me. |
|
Yours ever sincerely J. C. Band3 |
| (Note: 1. This was answered
by the birth of my father in Nov. 1816. |
| |
2. It should have been "The Nautilus".
The fight between this English ship and the American "Peacock",
a very much larger ship,caused much talk at the time and the
United States government were obliged to pension for life,
(and he lived to a great age) Lt.Boyce, as their attack on him,
in the time of peace, was most unwarrantable and ungallant. |
|
3. J. C. Band was elected Governor of Batavia
and afterward to Colonies Minster in Holland.)
|
|
My Dear Crawford, a note from your friend Gug mentions
an unmerited severity with which |
| you were treated in Bengal, but as for tidings from
yourself, not a line has reached me these 12 months. Does domestic
happiness so engross your attention as to render you insensible to
the charm of friendship heretofor so duly appreciated by you, or has
your spirit of discovery and survey brought you, in an evil hour,
upon some rocks in the China Seas? If I do not hear from you in the
next monsoon, I mark you out for my Obituary and proclaim to the world
that you are dead . . to friendship. My family is perfectly well,
the little boy as fat as a porpoise. Is the august race of the Crawfords
likely to become extinct, or do you intend that it shall in future
ages become the terror of rocks and shoals as it is at present. |
|
Farewell dear Crawford . . .
|
J. C. Band |
|
Nov. 12, 1818, Canton: Dear Crawford . . . I am
glad you have suited yourself with an officer, as your next trip
will require much boating . . . As you mention, your family are
in good health, I trust young Robert has recovered his flesh. On
my word, you marines are killing dogs and if allowed to remain long,
will people the island and breed then famine. I find your late chief
officer has been shot from the window of the big castle and is to
make a lodgement in the two pair upstairs windows. I hope all w3ill
be right till he returns. If she is a well disposed young woman,
the match may in the end turn out much to his benefit. I hear the
"Investigator" will carry passengers to the Bahamas. Pray oblige
me by putting Mrs. Mayo into the heap. Have them on board on the
17th by 1 o'clock. Make my regards to Mrs. Crawford. Yours very
truly,
|
|
T. Metcalfe (Sir Theophiles Metcalfe,
Bart., chief of affairs in China). |
| Private -
Dear Crawford, You will receive herewith certain official documents
for your guidance. I expected sometime ago to have with you here this,
but I have had so much to do that my earlier departure from Calbutta
was impossible. I hope you will be my Flag Captain as it will give
you 240£ per month more pay, which however little will help to educate
one of your dear boys. We are all well. Lady Hayes and Elizabeth send
their best wishes with those of yours most faithfully - |
|
