Authors, English -- 19th century -- Correspondence; Borrow, George, 1803-1881 -- Correspondence
We did not start from Yarmouth till past three o’clock on Thursday
morning; we reached Newcastle about ten on Friday. As I was walking in
the street at Newcastle a sailor-like man came running up to me, and
begged that I would let him speak to me. He appeared almost wild with
joy. I asked him who he was, and he told me he was a Yarmouth north
beach man, and that he knew me very well. Before I could answer, another
sailor-like, short, thick fellow came running up, who also seemed wild
with joy; he was a comrade of the other. I never saw two people so out
of themselves with pleasure, they literally danced in the street; in
fact, they were two of my old friends. I asked them how they came down
there, and they told me that they had been down fishing. They begged a
thousand pardons for speaking to me, but told me they could not help it.
I set off for Alnwick on Friday afternoon, stayed there all night, and
saw the castle next morning. It is a fine old place, but at present is
undergoing repairs—a Scottish king was killed before its walls in the old
time. At about twelve I started for Edinburgh. The place is wonderfully
altered since I was here, and I don’t think for the better. There is a
Runic stone on the castle brae which I am going to copy. It was not
there in my time.
If you write direct to me at the Post Office, Inverness. I am thinking
of going to Glasgow to-morrow, from which place I shall start for
Inverness by one of the packets which go thither by the North-West and
the Caledonian Canal. I hope that you and Hen are well and comfortable.
Pray eat plenty of grapes and partridges. We had upon the whole a
pleasant passage from Yarmouth; we lived plainly but well, and I was not
at all ill—the captain seemed a kind, honest creature.
Remember me kindly to Mrs. Turnour and Mrs. Clarke, and God bless you and
Hen.
GEORGE BORROW.
LETTER VI.
INVERNESS,
_Sunday_ [_September_ 26_th_, 1858].
DEAR CARRETA,
This is the third letter which I have written to you. Whether you have
received the other two, or will receive this, I am doubtful. I have been
several times to the post office, but we found no letter from you, though
I expected to find one awaiting me when I arrived. I wrote last on
Friday. I merely want to know once how you are, and if all is well I
shall move onward. It is of not much use staying here.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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