[After March 1855] My dear brother You certainly would have received my letters from Liverpool last April also from New York in May last acquenting you of my welfair and how the world was using me. I must state I have been comparatative idle all the first part of this year. I had command of a splendid ship called the 'Gray Feather' going to Melbourne. You may then think how overjoyed I was to think I was going again so near my esteemed brother with a full hope of seeing him and the rest but fate altered that the 2nd day before being ready for sea I was taken very ill and could not go. That was on the 3 August and she sailed with another Captn on the 5. That was a heavey blow to me as I then thought I was going to do well. I wrote to you to send me some help to purchase a vessel here to take out there, I mean to New Zealand where I am convinced with good management trading in those seas we could clear her in one year, indeed I want to get out there and settle and if you can only send me through my wife who will doubtless know my destination, say £200 or £300, with what I have got I will accomplish the