Fonda de Alemeda
Malaga, Monday Evening 24th November 1856 My dearest Mother, We have at length reached Malaga: We left Gibraltar on Friday evening about seven o’clock and got into the harbour of this town about four in the morning without any accident. There was excellent cabin accommodation in the steamer and the sea was so calm that the motion of the vessel was very slight. The greatest difficulty was in making ourselves understood, but we found it easier to recollect some of our French than to learn Spanish. Saturday morning was beautifully fine and we got ashore and reached this hotel, which is the best here, about nine o’clock and got breakfast. We found no difficulty with the Custom House Officers and had only to pay the lowest class of them a small sum as I am told they have no other allowance than what they get from the merchants or travellers for passing their luggage or goods. The weather here since we came has been like the finest summer weather at home; we have a nice little sitting room facing the south; but Char bedroom altho’ a very good one is not so sunny and she was a good deal bitten with bugs the first night she slept here. It is a large airy room and very neat, contains two beds, Rod and Catherine sleep in one and Char in the other and I have a bed made up on a stretcher in the sitting room every night between eight and nine o’clock. I hope however to get better rooms tomorrow: where both bedrooms & sitting room will have a southern aspect and where I understand there are no bugs: but at all events I think they can be banished with care as the bedsteads are iron. I saw Mr. Mark today who is the English Consul there and he told me that the boarding houses and lodging houses here are not good, that we would not like the way our food would be cooked and that we would find much difficulty on from our ignorance of the Spanish Language and he advised me to make the best bargain we could at one of the hotels; there are three here. At present we pay five dollars a day: that is about £1.1.0 a day or £7.7.0 a week and have to pay for washing ----- and servants besides: this is rather high but the apartments are good , the food nicely cooked & served up and an invalid requires these things more particularly attended to than those who are in good health. As to dearest Cha’s health I cannot say that there has been any improvements as yet; she took a walk with Rod & me yesterday after Church time: But this morning she had a bilious attack which was rather severe while it lasted but she was able to dine and get up for tea afterwards: I can only say that she will have every advantage here of fine weather, mild air and good and nourishing food well cooked: There is wild fowl in abundance, snipe, woodcock, partridge, oysters, fish, goat’s milk; the goats come to the door as at Gibraltar every morning to be milked. We have grapes in abundance too. I went yesterday to the Consul’s house where we had service read to a very respectable congregation tho’ small and afterward a sermon preached which was a very good one only tainted with Puseyism. I have made arrangements to have letters directed to us at Gibraltar forwarded here and we are anxiously looking out for some which we expect on Thursday: I trust that next week I will be able to give you a more favorable account of dearest Cha’s health, and how dear Mother are you getting on all alone I may say in Churchfield, for Brab & Johnny can not amuse you in the long evenings, which now must be very long; but you are so fond of reading that you will be able to beguile the time if you have interesting books; and then I am sure you hear frequently from Margaret, Lyzzie & Annie, and sometimes from Julius. I wish you to give them all my affectionate love & to George likewise when you have an opportunity and tell them how we are getting on as I do not write to them. I hope the servants are behaving well and that A. Burns and R. Dillon are getting on amicably together and to your satisfaction. I hope too that you have not found much difficulty in the management of my money matters; as to getting the house painted I think it would be best to ask Douglas to assist you with his advice and cooperation in fixing on what should be painted and get him to order the materials from a respectable oil & paint Merchant in Belfast or Coleraine whichever is thought best and in engaging a good grainer and plain painter and I will pay him for his time spent and trouble in the matter. We are most anxiously looking for news of you and our dear little pets Branb & Johnnie & believe me dearest Mother, Yours Most Affectionately John Casement Roddie is very well but is making but little progress in Spanish yet I hear him his lessons in English as usual. Cha’ bids me send her kind love to sisters Margt, Lizzy & Annie and her love to Mrs. McNeill & Mrs I Miller: Give my kind remembrance to Doctor O’Connor and all enquiring friends. Gibraltar 21st November My dear Mrs. Casement, It was very kind of you to write me such pleasant news of our dear little boys who I am so glad had not been naughty so far. Johnnie’s wise remarks amused us so. We enjoy very fine weather here ___________ hot sun that Rod has to wear one of his summer hollands walking but we have not seen fire since we landed. The mornings are so cool John makes me stay in bed till after breakfast when the day is well _____ & the sun out. I am, I think, now as well as when I left home. I was a little weakened by the want of sleep in the steamer. As the weather became milder the cabins were close & the bugs so fond of biting us. We had very pleasant fellow passengers, at least John thought so. It was curious that Rev. Grant formerly curate of Monkstown, where he married two of my sisters, was one of them. He has a living at _____glen. Now he with his wife & 5 children with the servant intend to pass the years abroad for the benefit of his health. His throat is affected. Roddie likes his three little girls very much. Two of them were so pretty. The youngest one, Johnnie’s age, took a great fancy to Rod & liked to sit with him at dinner & supper. He called her his little friend & liked to amuse her with his marbles. Mrs. Lowrie’s two boys, being about the age of the dear ______ we left at home. The occupied the cabin next to mine & came to see me sometimes with her ______. She came to join her husband whose regiment is quartered here. She invited Roddie to her house for a few days till we should be settled but we would not part him. We are to start for Malaga this evening by a steamer which arrived in the morning. It is about 12 hours sail from this. Rev. Grant was sure Catherine would be induced to marry a soldier & that we would lose her __ ___ She admires the artillery uniform & delights in the band of the 92nd Highlanders, preferring the bagpipes to the other bands. She is quite cheerful & ready to leave them all behind today. We find her most useful. She is both kind & attentive to me & John is very glad we have brought her. He took a long walk to the flag staff yesterday & enjoyed _____ view & the distant sight of several monkeys in their wild state. It was too far for Rod to walk. He is quite well. He got a great heat on his body & hand after he came here. Two doses, which he took bravely, as I hope Brab will when he needs one, have done him good & the heat is gone. We have comfortable beds. Iron bedsteads & fair white linen that would please you & no bugs or anything to bite us. We have had three drives which we enjoyed so much. They were very expensive. Roddie sends dear Grandmama his love & a kiss. We feel so grateful for your kindness in taking care of our two little boys who we often long to see. Your affectionate daughter, Charlotte Casement. |