🦋mariposa

It's addressed to his father, like the majority of correspondence from H.T.D. Le Vesconte in this collection, and features some of his nicest handwriting! (He not only became more jaded with age, his handwriting got messier).

He starts by explaining that he has held off on writing a letter due to the uncertainty of his movements, and he's very glad for the educational opportunities on HMS Excellent:

I am sure no one could value more highly the advantages arising from an acquaintance with all the useful sciences than yourself and you must be well aware how far the Navy are in general behind their neighbours in science and literature then you must allow that the Excellents will acquire a no small advantage over their brethren if this ship is properly conducted, I assure you I think we have here every opportunity of gaining knowledge

It sounds like a very good environment for him! He's not only learning maths, but how to use small arms as well as naval artillery! He outlines his career prospects, which are looking up.

the duty is so arranged as to interfere very little with our other pursuits, the Captain is a gentlemanly, intelligent man and we have a first rate mathematical instructor the common course of education here comprises all the higher branches of mathematics and mechanics, besides the regular gun drill, mortar Field-piece musket cutlass - at these latter we work very hard every day & altho I have been in ships considered smart at their quarters I did not know, or half know how to manage a gun before I came here, we remain here sixteen months and then after passing a short examination, are sent as instructors into all ships of more than Twenty guns, one great advantage is being always sure of a ship for when we are paid off we may come again to the Excellent and and remain until again called on

One of the things that I personally love finding in Henry Le Vesconte's letters are any kind of references to literature, songs, or other clues to the kind of pop culture shaping his world.

it is not the most delightful thing in the world, beating this exercise which savours a good deal of the soldier, to the “Tars of Old England” but I must do something. I have passed the college, so that I am quite ready for the commission but its a thing I hardly dare think of. However I shall keep my eyes about me

(Aaaaand we start to get into cross-writing).

He quotes from William Cowper’s poem “Pairing-Time Anticipated”, in an amusing passage about officers on his ship who can now barely stand each other:

We left Lisbon in the Endymion in October last were paid off at Plymouth the end of Novr in the midst of continued rain I believe we “parted without the least regret” except that we had never met”, the day was cold and wet the pay clerks very slow so that it was not until late in the evening that the officers singly and sulkily went one by one over the side some one way and some another four or five of us indeed dined together and even in so small a party there were three who had only become reconciled to each other for the occasion.

Henry's letters, while technically addressed to his father Commander Henry Le Vesconte, were obviously read by all of his family members who could get ahold of them, and Henry was very much aware of this. He always included lots of gossip in his letters, ostensibly for the benefit of his mother and sisters in Canada. Henry acknowledges it at the end of this letter, too: "My dear Mother and sisters will I am sure give me credit for writing them every thing they can wish for"

Henry hoped to someday join his family in Canada (right up until the Franklin expedition, as more and more family and friends emigrated):

I went to Southampton and saw nearly all our friends [...] Sarah as usual mischievous looking seven years younger than when I saw her last she wants to go to Canada before its too late. Wm Le Feuvre is very well one of his children a little girl was very ill not expected to live poor Jane Le F died not long since at Barbadoes his wife is going to be a neighbour of yours her family are going out & she meets them there.

Henry's not alone for Christmas, however, since his younger brother Philip is with him! Aged 18, Phil had ambitions of becoming a doctor (a goal he successfully achieved, living a long life in Canada).

Philip is down here spending the Christmas week with me I hardly knew him again his trip to France turned out very well, he talks of going over again in the summer.

Philip is mentioned again when Henry talks politics:

Philip says while William has turned Tory - and so quarrelled with all parties - but I am inclined to doubt it since he sent me a few days ago a paper bill of a Totnes reform meeting - the old thing eating on it of course

That's not the end of Philip Le Vesconte—there's a scrawled message from him around the border of the folded letter, and he starts out by roasting his older brother for not letting him have more space:

University of London Jany

My dear Father

As Henry has been kind enough to leave me a small bit of his letter I must take the opportunity of letting you know how I am getting on. With respect to my studies I feel every reason to be satisfied

Poor Henry, he longs for more letters from home to enjoy in the cold winter nights:

I hope you will write to me now as I shall be stationary for some time - I long to get a regular letter from you the only one I have had was from Kingston (or your way also) and said but little. will you make them write me a “round Robin” one of these long winter Evenings the said evenings are rather cold here there is now plenty of [damaged portion of letter from broken seal] the ground and it bids fair to be a severe winter

Although his signature is caught up in the cross-writing, I'll include it here with his closing:

My dear Mother and sisters will I am sure give me credit for writing them every thing they can wish for - with kindest love to them and my dear Brothers believe me ever My dear Father

Your truly affectionate son