TRIP FROM VALPARAISO TO LIVERPOOL, VIA PERU-PANAMA-ST. THOMAS, CUBA AND OTHER WEST INDIAN ISLANDS AND NEW YORK, 1863.

MY

LIMA, PERU.

28TH JANUARY, 1863.

Y DEAR WIFE,-Nothing is so dear to me as letters from home-and yet they come not. I was grievously. disappointed in not receiving some here from Panama! In my whole life nothing has been so dear to me nor would link me so much to home, nor the absence of anything lead me so much to feel that I had lost it. And now I may not hear from you, God knows when! I cannot tell you where to write to me. How much and how soon you would learn to forget me if I let months pass away without a line from my pen. To not hear from home seems like living uncared for in some strange world where friends and children and kindred live not and where the evening and the morn alike yield no joy. I send home books and bats, and shillings and dolls; but hear no more of them. I know I am not a saint, but the idea of caring for nobody and nobody for me, is painful. I regret that anything ever tore me from home and led to trials which I shall ever repine, and to separation which teaches man and woman and families, like death, to seek new means of life and to forget each other. All the wealth of Peru will not yield me the virtuous pleasures I have lost-millions of dollars will never repay the loss of those joys which your letters would have given.

I heard before leaving Chile that Mrs. had got the £50 that I sent through you. I heard here that you were in Manchester two months ago and had got the £50 that I sent you. Pickstone has written me every mail-perhaps I told you not to write! I perhaps should not complain—and I

hope when I see you again, if ever I am spared that blessing, that the joy of meeting will chase away from your mind and mine all the wrongs we have felt, and the sorrows we both have suffered. I had much to say but not hearing from you has blotted it from my memory and I don't feel like writing at all: I am not quite certain whether I shall remain here fifteen days or a month: if there are no letters now in Panama, I think I shall never come home again!

I am rather at a loss to know when I shall get home: though I am 1500 miles nearer. When I get to Panama I shall know more about it. My Father's prayer about Mexico has been heard-I don't think I could get there now, if I tried. And my course may include only Cartagena-Santa Marta-some of the West Indies and the United States. I might pop in upon you suddenly or delay some months. But when I do return I hope that we may not have visitors. I shall require to be quiet, and you would do well to give out no invitations, and to avoid all delicacy by politely declining visits which anyone may have in store for us. I shall need all your love and that of my children to myself; and, as I shall have much to think about when at home this summer, visitors would only be an inconvenience. I thought of this before and perhaps told you, but if not you can easily judge that my feelings, my family affairs, and my business ones, all require that I should spend the summer with as little intrusion as possible, during the broken intervals that I may have to spend with you.

Lazonby goes on very nicely and quietly. I shall carry on the business myself from England. I look with more favour now on the partnership with Messrs. Thornton & Co.; but until my return I cannot tell what may be carried out : meantime we must preserve the same rigid economy, as I have many affairs not wound up. I should have preferred joining Pickstone's firm to Thornton's: and I dont know how far new partnerships may suit me. No doubt the profit and the respectability of the position have their attractions: and their uses.

Pray desire the boys to keep right industriously at their lessons until my return: and then we can see what changes are necessary.

Kiss my Mary and Tita-and Addy and Henry for me. I shall be so happy when I have my Jemima in my arms

again. I hope my Father still holds on to life under my Mother's care. I can hardly tell how happy I shall be to meet you again. God bless you and make you loving and kind to your affectionate,-HENRY SWINGLEHUrst.

LIMA,

29 JANUARY, 1863.

MY DEAR JEMIMA,-You see I am now 500 leagues nearer home! I was thinking yesterday what I could get for you: but then I remembered having, when here before, sent you some small things for which you neither gave acknowledgment or thanks. Some months ago also I sent presents of money to Ma, you, and your brothers and sisters: no one has even had the politeness to say they received them. It is good scripture that "it is better to give than receive "—and you seem to dislike gratitude! Pickstone has written to me on business steadily-love and affection find no means to do it: no doubt it is a bore! I think after this letter I also will spare ink and paper: Richelieu said "never write a letter, and never destroy one.' I fear however that my letters did not give you my address. Kind words feed love and friendship-neglect quietly removes both from a man's soul.

Before leaving Chile I went twice to Santiago and went with Col. Blakely to San Felipe, Santa Rosa, and the Colina Baths. On Christmas day I presented Tita's god-mother with a splendid bouquet of flowers, in her name. The Alameda, that handsome poplar-shaded promenade of Santiago, two miles long-at one end commanding the near snow-clad Andes, and at the other the setting sun, and the paseo strewed with fountains and statues, was alive with gay carriages and the paraphernalia of festivity.

I had a very agreeable run here by steamer, not being seasick. The Budges were in Santiago when I left. John James came down from Arequipa to meet me as I passed Islay. I left Mrs. Gibson a small book as a recuerdo of her hospitality at that port. Campbell came along with me from Arica but we don't speak. We quarrelled over a mere tonteria! A fine old French Baron was with us he is travelling round the world and is on his way to China now-has been in motion for twelve years. I was kindly received here by Mr. Jordan

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