DEAR Wordsworth, I have this moment received this letter from Gilpin in reply to 3 or 4 short questions I put to him in my letter before yours for him came. He does not notice having recd yours, which I sent immediately. Perhaps he has already answered it to you. You see that his hand is sprain’d, and your questions being more in number, may delay his answer to you. My first question was, when it was he called to your brother: the rest you will understand from the answers. I was beginning to have hard thoughts of G. from his delay, but now I am conftrm’d in my first opinion that he is a rare good-hearted fellow. How is Dorothy? and all of you?
4th question was, was Capt. W. standing near the shrouds or any place of safety at the moment of sinking?
| 308 | LETTERS OF C. AND M. LAMB | March |
Sir—I did not receive yours of 16th inst. till this day, or shd. have answered it sooner. To your first Question, I answer after the Ship had sunk. To your second, my answer is, I was in the Starboard Mizen Rigging—I thought I see the Captn. hanging by a Rope that was fast to the Mizen Mast. I came down and haild him as loud as I could, he was about 10 feet distant from me. I threw a rope which fell close to him, he seem’d quite Motionless and insensible (it was excessive cold), and was soon after sweep’d away, and I see him no more. It was near about five minutes after the Ship went down. With respect to the Captn and Webber being on the same Hencoop, I can give no answer, all I can say, I did not see them. Your fourth Question, I cannot answer, as I did not see Capt. Wordsworth at the moment the Ship was going down, tho I was then on the Poop less than one minute before I see the Captn there. The Statement in the printed Pamphlet is by no means correct. I have sprained my Wrist, most violently, and am now in great pain, which will, I hope, be an apology for the shortness of this Letter.
* This is merely a kind way of expressing himself, for I have no acquaintance with him, nor ever saw him but that once I got introduced to him.
I think I did not mention in my last, that I sent yours to T. Evans, Richmond. I hope you have got an answer.
