On the whole, there were few letters anywhere in the ship; but we found one before we were finished, in a seaman's chest, of which I must transcribe some sentences.

It was dated from some place on the Clyde.

"My dearist son," it ran, "this is to tell you your dearist father passed away, Jan twelft, in the peace of the Lord.

He had your photo and dear David's lade upon his bed, made me sit by him.
Let's be a' thegither, he said, and gave you all his blessing.

O my dear laddie, why were nae you and Davie here?
He would have had a happier passage.