Falmouth, Jamaica
December 28, 1841
My ever dearest Mary
After a long and hot ride I have at last reached Falmouth safely, and according to promise write to you a few lines as I shall not have time to write much as it is now approaching the time for the messengers to leave. Mr. Hector this morning thought proper to take me the Mountain Road to the Bay which he said was the shortest but which I thought was the longest, as from the rugged state of the roads I was obliged to walk the horse nearly the whole of the way, and to mend matters or make them worse one of the horse's shoes becamse loose so that I could not go very quickly on that account, or I might have lamed him, which I would have been very sorry to have done. I was compensated however by the absence of fog and the extreme beauty of the country which I passed through, which made the distance appear shorter than it really was. I found a letter in the office for your Mamma which I suspect is from Mr. Anderson by the writing, and which I shall send up with this. The Packet has not yet arrived but I hope it may in time to enable to get out the letters and send them on the Bay by the Postman, which I shall do if opportunity offers. I am happy to say that I have received the License from Spanish Town so that there will be no delay in that account.
I have a long letter from Mr. Challis in the old strain. It appears he has a fresh fair one in view, and I should really be happy to hear that he's successful. If perseverance in the search could command success I think he would carry off the palm as he has been a most devoted adherent to Cupid's banner, but the sly God has deserted him as yet and only held out a shadow instead of a substance. Faint heart never won fair lady. He must not be discouraged but return again and again to the charge, and success must ultimately crown his endeavours. In one part of his letter he says (He was refused by a young lady in Honduras) "You say I might have taken pity on some one of the Honduras damsels. I did so and what was the result? I believe you know, and my mind was made up in that matter not to offer my hand to another in Honduras knowing full well I would not experience true happiness being daily compelled to see the lady who retained my affections. I therefore packed up my traps, no longer to be tormented. I own many offered but I could not entirely ---all what was in the possession of another, viz my affections." He never told me before what was the real cause of his leaving Honduras nor do I think he intended to do so now, but it has evidently slipped out unawares. I will have good fun with him now and tell him that I do not at all consider him a true votary of Cupid who would not have been so easily repulsed. He complains much of the fatigue and ill health occasioned by the extra duties thrown upon him by Mr. Franklin's absence. I have no letter from the latter nor had he heard up to the time he wrote. I am rather uneasy respecting the improvements in Mr. Franklin's health that it may not be so speedy as was at first anticipated. I trust however that it may be entered(?), and that we may find him in the active discharge of the duties of his office when it shall be our lot to proceed to that part of Jamaica. I have not been able to hear any thing with I hope [obliterated] of news since my return, but no vessels have yet arrived either here or at the Bay. The bad weather or at least light winds that detain the Merchant Vessels will also have its effect on the Packet which otherwise would have been here ere this, as it was due on Sunday. I will deliver the letter entrusted to me in the morning and let you know anything interesting by Post on Sunday. I hope the weather will break as to allow your Mamma and Mr. W. to proceed to the Bay tomorrow.
With best regards unto your dear circle.
Believe me only
Your own dear John
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