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00939 1 Off Cape Hattery, Monday, August 2d 1880, 10 A.M. My dear wife. All goes well. For a few hours we will be in
Victoria. The voyage thus far has been singularly calm uneventful. Leaving you is the only event that has marked the trip
it is marked sorely but I shall make haste to you reach you ere? you have the time to grieve weary. If you will only be calm
cherry all will be better for my short spell of ice work. The sea has been very smooth, nevertheless Mr Magee has been very
sick now he is better as for me I have made no sign though I have had some heartache heartache. We are now past the Flatting
rocks where we were so roughly storm tossed last winter reach Bay? . Where we sheltered? 36 hrs. How placid? it seems now,
the water black gray with reflections from the cloudy sky, fur seals popping their heads up here there, ducks gulls dotting
the small waves, Indian fishing-boats towards the shore, each with a small glaring red flag flying from the masthead. Behind
the gr illegible of white houses nestled in the deepest bend of the bay 3 the small waves are tipped with white mild white
caps, almost the only ones we have seen since leaving San Francisco. The Captain first officer have been very attentive to
us, giving us the illegible of their rooms books etc besides answering all our questions about? the sea ships. We will reach
Victoria about 2 or 3 o clock. The California will not sail before tomorrow sometime so that we shall have plenty time to
get the charts odds ends we need before leaving. Mr Magee will undoubtedly go on to Wrangel but will not be likely to stop
over 10 minutes past 2 in your clock. We are just rounding the Esqusmall? light house in a few minutes more will be tied up
at the wharf. quite a lovely breeze is blowing from the island, the strait is ruffled with small shining wavelets glowing
in the distance like silver. Hereabouts many lofty moutoneed rock bosses rise above the forests bare of trees, but brown looking
from the mosses that cover them. Since entering the strait, the heavy swell up down, up down has vanished 00939 5 of
honest green woods jagged toothed wolves wild cats harmonize smoothly enough but engines for the distruction of human beings
are only devilish though they carry preachers prayers open up views of sad illegible tears, Now we are making fast Make fast
that line there? make fast let go then , give away . We will go on to Victoria this afternoon taking our baggage with us stay
there until setting out on the Cal. The ride of 3 hrs? through the woods round the glacial bosses is very fine, this you would
enjoy. I shall look for the roses? Will mail this at once, write again before leaving this grand old ice rubbed island, now
my dear