Portsmouth November 27, 1836

My dear Sister,

I have not much to tell you, if anything,

but to pass away a half hour, which as I am slightly

indisposed, I can spare from study, “I shall scribble a

few lines to thee." By a Mid'n from Philadelphia I sent

you a letter, though the chances were two to one that he

would lose it. I hope you received it safe. I gave you an

account of my change of residence, of the inmates of the

house & of our neighbors, we all get along quite cozily,

having the interest in the Navy in common, I believe I did

not say Mrs Page is the widow of a captain in the Navy,

H.N. Page who has the Boxer is her brother-in-law, &

pretty little Miss Denison is the Orphan of a Lieut, the

neice of three Commodores, so that you see & more we are all

Navy, & by the way, yesterday we had a most excellent dish

of curry, not quite as good as Hannah's, but very acceptable,

& received a hearty welcome, I study very hard, & make

myself quite comfortable by a good fire, the weather has not

been cold but cool. I have but a short walk to the yard,

& we have a fire to turn out by, in the morning, then it is

put out & when we come home at one it is blazing again and

kept up till we turn in. I warm my boots, shirt, &c for I

cannot stand cold, & leave my room very seldom, write soon,

immediately. I got the last paper, do not neglect them.

Take care of Adab, I should like a letter from John, my

love to you all, I am your most affectionate brother,

William

remembrance to the young ladies as usual