My Dearest Annie,I was so rejoiced to see your handwriting again and to get the twoletters from you and Biddulph. How kind it was of you to write twice tome before the ship sailed, in the midst of all the confusion there musthave been on board!What a wretched day that Thursday was! After I had watched the steam-tugyou went by, out of sight, I came back to the pier, for I could not restanywhere else while I knew the ship was still in the river, and I saw thelast steamer, with Mr Bright and his friends and the mail, go Off; butthey refused to let me go,After that I went up in the town, shopping. But came down to the magneticpier again in the afternoon, but the Great Britain had then gone down theriver; so, finding it was all over, I betook myself to our lodgings,where perhaps it was as well that I had my hands full of work till quitelate at night.I do not know why I am writing you this long account d that miserableday. Before this reaches you, it will be one of the many black days wehave to look back upon in our lives. It is already a past thing, and Isuppose we shall not always have such a vivid remembrance of it as I havenow.You left behind you your two teaspoons after all. I am so sorry I forgotthem. Everything. you or Biddulph have had or used seems valuable now;certainly the way to be valued and missed is to go to Australia. I thinkI shall try it next year, and see if it will arouse my friends to a duesense of my merits, but I am sure nobody could miss me as I do you anddarling Biddulph. Even here I am reminded of you by something every hourof the day.COLCHESTER,SEPTEMBER 27TH