The Sterley’s of Oakland Park, SAREJESS [best e reader for epub .txt] 📗

grandest places in the entire world. The mountain when so disposed puts on its table cloth of cloud and is the most splendid thing to observe.

We have found a little house in Long Market street one of the best streets in the colony and here we have set up a home in the most domestic bliss. With the help of one of our Dutch neighbors Mrs. Viljoen a matronly woman of many years. We managed to find the most delightful cook and a number of house servants.

Last evening we had the very great honor of dining with his lordship the governor Lord Charles is an indifferent and difficult man who delights in the rule of law for in his household every thing is done to an order and prescription that I have seldom seen.

I fear that Tom will soon run afoul of his lordships temper if he dose not trim his sails and obey to the letter any and every instruction that his lordship issues. I am right now in a highly agitated state of nerves as Tom has been summoned to attend his lordship the messenger came early with a note that Tom was to come on a matter of the greatest urgency.

Dear Mamma please allow me to put your fears to rest on our behalf for Tom has just returned and imparted to me the following news his lordship has signaled out Tom for a mission of the greatest importance. I had feared that he would fall under his lordships displeasure after a certain incident concerning a gravy boat last evening during dinner however Lord Charles has found Tom to be exactly the type of person he needs for an excursion into the interior of the country. The mission is to take several months and I fear that I will be all alone while Tom goes into the interior to map with a certain Captain Barrow a number of places which have previously been explored but not properly mapped or detailed.


The purpose of this excursion is to find suitable habitations for a number of new settler parties which Lord Charles is trying to get the government to agree to send to the Cape.

This is the best news for it means a rapid advancement for Tom, I have just this instant recived a note to call upon her ladyship thus I close this letter one of the hippest people at the Cape


My love to all at Oakland’s please give my deepest love to Lydia and George and if the letter arrives after the blessed event of the birth of there first child.
Your Loving daughter
Arabella


Missive
Thomas Sterley
Cape Town,
Cape of Good Hope
3rd December 1814

To: Sir Thomas Sterley
Oakland Park
Notheringay
Surrey
England
Dear papa,

While we were at Gibraltar we hear that the French were out and that Napoleon had escaped which put us in great fear. We proceeded from Gibraltar with caution in the expectation of meeting a new French fleet bent on war in this we were fortunate enough to find none. However as we closed on the coasts of Africa we chanced one morning to have to beat to quarters for the foretops men had sighted a sail of unknown origin the men with the spy glass told us that she was a Barbary pirate out from her base in Algeria thus we readied ourselves in the event of battle and ran before the Wind Captain Braithwaite not wanting to expose the ladies and children on board to the sights of heated battle. For this we gave him our appreciation. However the ship began gaining and we were forced to stand ready to sell our lives dearly. It was at 2 o’clock PM that the vessel came in range and to our great surprise found ourselves in the company of a privateer under the command of James Aubrey you will of course remember captain Aubrey for the hot work he did when he cut out the French man of war “Le Emperor” at Marseille it seems that he was also under the impression that Napoleon was out. We continue din his company for a number of days before he began to inspect some of the North African ports thus we continued to the Cape.

Upon our arrival we were reliably informed that the story of the French been out was a falsehood spread by those who would sooner see us once more at war to suit there own pockets then to see us at peace. A fast sloop had overtaken us while on the way to the Cape with the fortunate news that the emperor is still tucked up safely in Elba with little prospect of him getting of that island.

I had occasion this very morning to attended Lord Charles who has imparted to me a mission of the utmost importance concerning inspection of an area known as the Zuurvield (Sour field) for settlement by prospective people of farming quality from England. As this is a mission close to Lord Charles’s heart I would ask that you do not spread it abroad until such time as it has been officially confirmed. There is a great depletion of persons in the area in question. I am reliably informed by Lord Charles and a number of those people in the office of the governor that it is one of the best parts of the interior for settlement. The fact that there is an occasional disruption by the natives is of no concern for our superior fire power keeps them in obedience of our rule.

Thus in a weeks time I shall begin my exploration of the African interior I am of the opinion that it will give me much time upon which to work upon a new book of verse which I have lately begun.

Your obedient son
Thomas Sterley

“Pray dear husband who is this captain Aubrey of whom Tom speaks?” asked Lady Ann. “You will recall my dear that it was in the year12 when the America’s declared war on England. That we first heard of a dashing young commander who by ruse extracted the frigate John from a very precarious position in New York harbor” said Sir Thomas. “Indeed I recall that at the time you said it was a hot piece of work,” replied Lady Ann.

“Quite so well the dashing young office was none other then Captain James Aubrey I believe he has some connection to the earl of Waterford a nephew of sorts I think,” said Sir Thomas.

“really husband his lordship if ever thing you have communicated to me is true is the most insufferable tyrant in the whole of Ireland I am surprised that you could have any thing good to say a bout a relative of his” remarked Lady Ann.

“It is remarkable that some one from his lordships family can be of such a daring nature I have heard that he styles his actions on those of Lord Nelson you will recall my dear that the men used to follow the gallant Nelson in to the very heat of battle with out a care as if they were going to church. Well captain Aubrey is very much the same if I am not mistaken he is currently seeking out enemies of England in a captured Barberry vessel and err long the gazettes will be full of his exploits,” said Sir Thomas.

“Is he not the same captain Auberry of HMS Surprise?” Asked William Parker who had been sitting listening intently to the conversation. “I do not think so for Captain James Aubrey is a young man of but four and twenty, whilst Captain Aubrey of whom you speak is a man of some seniority,” remarked Sir Thomas.

“At this rate dear husband one can say that the service is full of Aubrey’s, said Lady Ann thinking herself quite a wit. ”The gentlemen looked at each other for a moment before the idea of what Lady Ann had said struck them. Sir Thomas was unable to contain his mirth and begun to shake in response to the jest that his wife had just made. “Indeed madam you are quite in form this afternoon.

“It is indeed gratifying to know that Lord Charles thinks so highly of your son that he sends him on a mission of such importance,” remarked Emily Parker. Who did not understand the wit of Lady Ann but was trying to be good company and have some thing to say. “Yes it is most fortuitous that his lordship has the good sense to see the quality of young Tom, said Lady Ann.

“It is of some concern to me that he is been sent in to the country on such a mission has there not been a war of some sort in the region? Of late asked Mr Parker. ”I fear that you have greatly underestimated our Tom, sir for he is well equipped to face any adventure which might chance upon his way,“ replied Sir Thomas.

“Come now brother-in law Sterley surly you can see that my concern is well founded and is in the best interests of young Tom” remarked Mr Parker. “Quite so, I had not thought of it until you mentioned it I trust that the expedition to the interior will be well armed and ready for any occasion” said Sir Thomas.

Missive

Lady Ann Sterley
Oakland Park
Surrey

Mrs. Arabella Sterley
Long Market Square
Cape Town
Cape of Good Hope

Dearest Arabella,

I am writing this instant having just returned from Morton to let you know that our Lydia has been delivered of her first born a handsome boy who lit the world know that he had arrived by screaming the moment he arrive din this world. He is the most delightful child with a head of red hair. Which is most surprising to us for neither the Parkers nor we have any relation who is of that color.