Arlington 1st July 1863 My dear McLean I got your letter of the 24th Ult. by Locke - with regard to the loss of the "Royal Bride" - if what I hear, be true - viz - that she went on shore with , and - I think there should be a most searching enquiry into the matter - In the first place - when the wind first set dead in - she should have put to sea if possible - the heavy sea set in - and if she could not manage that, let go both and even a third anchor and given her all the cable they had - if after that, she really could not be saved - instead of letting her drag her anchors till on the Beach - she should have slpt and given her some canvas when she would probably, indeed most certainly, have gone up so far on the Beach - that everything in her might have been saved - I have known great loss of life in many instances, by letting vessels go on shore while held in the heavy breakers by the Anchors - and in other cases every mothers son saved by judiciously slipping and running up as high as possible - every sea lifts her higher up - whereas in the other other case - every sea helps to smash her up - but of course I may have been misinformed in the case of the "Royal Bride" - again if she could not put to sea - she should have been lighted aloft in every possible way - I shall be down as soon as my Spider can cross the Rivers - I was intending to write to you this mail about Miss Nesbitt going into the Hospital - I am not sure that she will go there, for she has a foolish notion, that an Hospital is next door to a workhouse - but the fact is - we must make her go there if possible - it appears to Mrs. Newman and myself as her only chance of keeping the use of her leg - Mrs. Newman nursed her before for many months - but the treatment she now requires is more than Mrs. N. can stand - she never could dress the limb - it would completely upset her - besides here we are too far off medical advice - What I want to know is, is there any form of application to be made to admit her and if so, what and to whom? - I fancied to you - I may be down before you can answer for I shall take the very first start I was coming just when this fresh burst of rain set in - Our Mail is not yet up - I fear it cannot cross the Rivers - I am going to Waipukurau to see about it - I hope we shall get good news from Taranaki - tho' the weather (if like ours) is much against our men - I think the natives here are simply in a funk that, if they remain quiet, whichever party gains - they are sure to go to leeward that if we gain gain, we shall then be hard upon them, but if the Waikatoes then they will catch it for not helping them - I believe it is pretty certain they do not wish to join either side - Sincerely yours Alfred Newman P.S. Do not mention to Hitchens or anybody else about the Hospital affair - for the girl is quite broken hearted about it and I do not think will go there. A. N.