Letter 3

           ToMrs.Saville,England 

           July7th,17— 

           MydearSister, 

           IwriteafewlinesinhastetosaythatIamsafe—andwelladvancedonmyvoyage. ThisletterwillreachEnglandbyamerchantmannowonitshomewardvoyagefromArchangel; morefortunatethanI,whomaynotseemynativeland,perhaps,formanyyears. Iam,however,ingoodspirits: mymenareboldandapparentlyfirmofpurpose,nordothefloatingsheetsoficethatcontinuallypassus,indicatingthedangersoftheregiontowardswhichweareadvancing,appeartodismaythem. Wehavealreadyreachedaveryhighlatitude; butitistheheightofsummer,andalthoughnotsowarmasinEngland,thesoutherngales,whichblowusspeedilytowardsthoseshoreswhichIsoardentlydesiretoattain,breatheadegreeofrenovatingwarmthwhichIhadnotexpected. 

           Noincidentshavehithertobefallenusthatwouldmakeafigureinaletter. Oneortwostiffgalesandthespringingofaleakareaccidentswhichexperiencednavigatorsscarcelyremembertorecord,andIshallbewellcontentifnothingworsehappentousduringourvoyage. 

           Adieu,mydearMargaret. Beassuredthatformyownsake,aswellasyours,Iwillnotrashlyencounterdanger. Iwillbecool,persevering,andprudent. 

           Butsuccess"shall"crownmyendeavours. Whereforenot? ThusfarIhavegone,tracingasecurewayoverthepathlessseas,theverystarsthemselvesbeingwitnessesandtestimoniesofmytriumph.