Dawn of Steam: First Light by Jeffrey Cook & Sarah Symonds

Author:Jeffrey Cook & Sarah Symonds [Cook, Jeffrey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-02-26T00:00:00+00:00

July 19th, 1815

New York

40º 47'N 073º 58'W

Dear Sir,

I was quite relieved today when we reached New York safely, having completed the tasks you recommended with Dr. Mitchell.

As you are likely aware, the Coltranes have their own holdings here in New York and have been quite at home since our arrival. Under the circumstances, everyone travels with some degree of security and in numbers, save for Eddy and Miss Bowe, both of whom have refused any escort.

It has been a source of great excitement and rumor here that their number of airships in their mooring docks has almost doubled, for it seems our opponents in this endeavor have also procured a military airship of their own from some agency, explaining how they reached the Americas only shortly behind us. Despite their presence here, there has been no contact with them. The city is better secured than the rough lands where we last met their agents on the way back from St. Louis, and the security detail around the city's mooring station, where we have the dirigible, has assured us that there will be no trouble. Despite this we have left a detail of armed men from our own crew on board the airship at all times.

I am still unsure what sort of men our opponents are, for we have not yet been able to get any news of them. Even amongst the soldiers of this base they are quite secretive, though it is clear they have sources of information regarding ourselves, and significant monies and reach to accomplish their goals. I do not know if their presence here is specifically to try to hinder us, or if they are as focused in this time about recruiting as we ourselves are. I am left with the simple gratitude that they seemed to not yet see fit to menace the women of our group about town. They have restricted their aggressions towards those of us best suited to meet them.

We are quite eager to be on our way to the north while there is still summer warmth (though I must say it is an unseasonably cold summer here) but may be delayed in pursuing your goals. News has just reached these shores of the historic agreement made between the motherland and France. I am unsure as to how much of a hand you and your peers had in the agreement, but regardless, I must extend a congratulations on the compact. The city is in quite the festive mood, and a number of celebrations are being scheduled to accompany the diplomatic functions, some of which are happening here for the obvious symbolic reasons.

In addition, it seems that news of our objectives, in addition to Sir James's and Eddy's considerable innate celebrity, has given us a great deal of popularity here. As such, we have been invited to one of these functions where the former French territories will be signed over to colonial hands by the former French governor of New Orleans. (11) We could not pass up such an opportunity, and indeed, Miss Coltrane, Miss Wright, and Mrs.

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