The Letters of George and Elizabeth Bass by Miriam Estensen

Author:Miriam Estensen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: HIS004000
ISBN: 9781741764215
Publisher: Allen & Unwin Pty Ltd
Published: 2009-04-01T00:00:00+00:00

George Bass to Elizabeth Bass

Venus in Matavai Bay Otaheiti [Tahiti] Jan. 30. 1802

My beloved Bess.

I have ever written to thee when an opportunity offered; I wrote from Port Jackson before we sailed upon this part of the voyage. I lament much it was inconvenient, hazardous, & impossible to take thee with me upon our voyage from England, which I fear must be very very long. However my love ever consider it is now too late, by no means set out to attempt to join me at Port Jackson; no not even if thy father or thy brother Henry wl’d go there, for we shall certainly miss each other. Whilst thou art fixed I know where to find thee, but if thou ever gettest away from the place where I expect to find thee, we may perhaps wander about after each other for years unsuccessfully. Bishop will stay on this island for four or five months whilst I take the brig to the Sandwich Islands137 & rejoin him here. It w’d have been dangerous, thou mayest be well aware, for a married man to remain exposed for months to the temptations of 5000 handsome, naked females. My fears on this head thou dost not believe. That’s right. Such females [I]’d never depreciate, but they w’d infinitely exalt thee in the opinion & esteem of thy husband. His affections instead of being estranged from thee, w’d be fixed upon thee more firmly. Be confident my love that nothing but thy own conduct can ever alienate my warm, my sincere love.138 The females of the Royal family who with the old King & suite too often incommode us in our little cabin, have seen thy picture (little Bess); they much admire the waheine of Brittance and are much pleased when they hear that I will bring her by & by to visit them in person.

Their acquaintance my love w’d however do thee no great honor, not after a few days w’d they afford thee much pleasure, but w’d create disgust.

The young king cannot visit us, he & his queen are carried on mens shoulders, & every place they enter is their own as well as every place or thing they touch. They are two sad wretches.

Adieu my love for a few months G Bass139

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.