Kings Arms Hotel Gibraltar 24th April 1857
My dearest Mother
We left Malaga on the morning of this day week and after a rather rough passage we landed safely and got in to our quarters here about six in the evening. Dearest Cha’ bore the journey pretty well altho’ the tossing was so great that she was a little sick. Catherine was very sick and unable to do anything; and I was rather so likewise. Roddie was the only one of us who proved himself regardless of the sea. We have been now a week here waiting for a steamer to take us to Liverpool, which is an unusual long time but just a day or two before we arrived several had gone. There is one daily expected which may come in tomorrow before I close this as the mail does not leave for Southampton till 5 in the afternoon. I got no letter by this mail (arrived today) but a newspaper dated the 14th and I conclude you were waiting to write by the Southampton Mail of the 20th which is expected here tomorrow. We have been so unfortunate as not to get your usual letter of the 11* and suppose they have neglected to forward it from Malaga as I asked them to do. Dearest Cha’ is not better; her pulse has become a good deal quicker and she is weaker and altho’ her appetite is still pretty good considering her delicate state; her tongue does not look so well and she suffers from uneasiness in her stomach at times. I trust we will be so fortunate as to get a comfortable cabin for her and fine weather for our passage home. She has borne her long illness and suffering with Christian patience and is often supported from on high when quite exhausted by the protracted coughing. Dear Roddie is quite well; he was much bitten by mosquitoes when we first came here on the face which was very disfiguring but now the marks have nearly disappeared. We all long to see you and our dear children once more and often pray that God will support dearest Cha’ through it and preserve us all from the dangers of the sea. Saturday afternoon 25th April. Your kind letters of the 15th and 18th have just reached us together with a paper. We are very sorry to hear that Walsh has been so seriously ill but trust with care he will get over this attack. And that he will remember it as a warning for the future if the illness has been brought on by his own folly. We feel for you too that that you should have an additional cause of anxiety and trouble. In case we reach Belfast in the week commencing on the 3rd of May. 1 fear Walsh will not be well enough to drive us from B’money home - but Laverty has a steady man called Blair, who if Mrs McNeill lent him her carriage, could be depended on to take it to meet us at Ballymoney. Perhaps you would send me a line on receipt of this directed to Belfast saying if the carriage can meet us directed to me at the Post Office,
Belfast. Cha’ continues much the same today as usual. It is perhaps best that we have been delayed so long as the weather will be warmer likely when we reach England. The steamer for us has not arrived but we look for it daily. With respect to meat it would be well to be supplied with some fresh beef, chickens if any to be had, and a set of cow’s feet for jelly if to be had. We find ourselves pretty comfortable here and do not think it is so hot and dusty as Malaga now. We hope Margaret‘s weakness will not continue long if it be the evidence of another baby coming. I trust she will not so much as before the last one. Give her, Lizzie & Annie our fond love when you write. We will need to have a cart to meet us to bring our luggage but should it not be convenient to send one the same day as the carriage we perhaps could perhaps get it put away at the railway station till sent for. Cha’ thanks you for your kind note to her. Kiss the dear children for us and Roddie. The nurse deserves our thanks for her so regularly writing little notes for Brab & Johnnie.
We and Rod wish our fondest love to you and our dear boys & believe me
Your very affectionate son,
John Casement.
My dearest Mother
We left Malaga on the morning of this day week and after a rather rough passage we landed safely and got in to our quarters here about six in the evening. Dearest Cha’ bore the journey pretty well altho’ the tossing was so great that she was a little sick. Catherine was very sick and unable to do anything; and I was rather so likewise. Roddie was the only one of us who proved himself regardless of the sea. We have been now a week here waiting for a steamer to take us to Liverpool, which is an unusual long time but just a day or two before we arrived several had gone. There is one daily expected which may come in tomorrow before I close this as the mail does not leave for Southampton till 5 in the afternoon. I got no letter by this mail (arrived today) but a newspaper dated the 14th and I conclude you were waiting to write by the Southampton Mail of the 20th which is expected here tomorrow. We have been so unfortunate as not to get your usual letter of the 11* and suppose they have neglected to forward it from Malaga as I asked them to do. Dearest Cha’ is not better; her pulse has become a good deal quicker and she is weaker and altho’ her appetite is still pretty good considering her delicate state; her tongue does not look so well and she suffers from uneasiness in her stomach at times. I trust we will be so fortunate as to get a comfortable cabin for her and fine weather for our passage home. She has borne her long illness and suffering with Christian patience and is often supported from on high when quite exhausted by the protracted coughing. Dear Roddie is quite well; he was much bitten by mosquitoes when we first came here on the face which was very disfiguring but now the marks have nearly disappeared. We all long to see you and our dear children once more and often pray that God will support dearest Cha’ through it and preserve us all from the dangers of the sea. Saturday afternoon 25th April. Your kind letters of the 15th and 18th have just reached us together with a paper. We are very sorry to hear that Walsh has been so seriously ill but trust with care he will get over this attack. And that he will remember it as a warning for the future if the illness has been brought on by his own folly. We feel for you too that that you should have an additional cause of anxiety and trouble. In case we reach Belfast in the week commencing on the 3rd of May. 1 fear Walsh will not be well enough to drive us from B’money home - but Laverty has a steady man called Blair, who if Mrs McNeill lent him her carriage, could be depended on to take it to meet us at Ballymoney. Perhaps you would send me a line on receipt of this directed to Belfast saying if the carriage can meet us directed to me at the Post Office,
Belfast. Cha’ continues much the same today as usual. It is perhaps best that we have been delayed so long as the weather will be warmer likely when we reach England. The steamer for us has not arrived but we look for it daily. With respect to meat it would be well to be supplied with some fresh beef, chickens if any to be had, and a set of cow’s feet for jelly if to be had. We find ourselves pretty comfortable here and do not think it is so hot and dusty as Malaga now. We hope Margaret‘s weakness will not continue long if it be the evidence of another baby coming. I trust she will not so much as before the last one. Give her, Lizzie & Annie our fond love when you write. We will need to have a cart to meet us to bring our luggage but should it not be convenient to send one the same day as the carriage we perhaps could perhaps get it put away at the railway station till sent for. Cha’ thanks you for your kind note to her. Kiss the dear children for us and Roddie. The nurse deserves our thanks for her so regularly writing little notes for Brab & Johnnie.
We and Rod wish our fondest love to you and our dear boys & believe me
Your very affectionate son,
John Casement.