He started on his mission.
The next day a dirty-looking letter was put in my hand by a native, which, being addressed to me, ran something in this style: "Honord Zur "I'm sorry to hinform you that the carrige and osses has met with a haccidint and is tumbled down a preccippice and its a mussy as I didn't go too.

The preccippice isn't very deep bein not above heighy feet or therabouts--the hosses is got up but is very bad--the carrige lies on its back and we can't stir it nohow.

Mr .-- -- is very kind, and has lent above a hunderd niggers, but they aint no more use than cats at liftin.

Plese Zur come and see whats to be done.
"Your Humbel Servt, "H.

PERKES." This was pleasant, certainly--a new carriage and a pair of fine Australian horses smashed before they reached Newera Ellia! This was, however, the commencement of a chapter of accidents.