U. S. Ship Peacock

Rio de Janeiro February 12^th, 1834

My Dear Father

Although I have nothing new to communicate, I can not let this opportunity pass by the Brig Independence for Philadelphia.

We are all well, and in high spirits at the prospect of soon reaching our own Firesides a thing by the way which we have not seen during the cruise.

By the Ontario I recπd your letter of October 16^th which gave me a great deal of pleasure, I cannot but think that there are more letters here for me, date from July to October, as I have recπd none dated in the intermediate months, I presume they have been mislaid, as our Consul here, is a very imbecile old man and incapable of attending his duties.

The Ontario said this morning for Monte Video the Lexington it is supposed sailed from there on the 1^st of this month, we expect her here directly, and that she brings orders for us to proceed home, is the general impression. She goes home also immediately, The Boxer sailed about ten days ago for Monte Video, I think that this ship, the Lπ__n & the Bπ__x will sail in company for the U.S. about the 1^st week in March.

I have recπd from Mr. Thatcher a letter date Decπr 5^th, they are all well.

It is raining very hard, and there seems no prospect of it clearing off. By the way you have never seen it rain, in these tropical climes the rains are perfect deluges – second floods – though we are in a better sea boat than Noahπs Ark was – and are therefore – capable of bearing them. But to the storm, it is also my days duty and I am below here to scribble these few lines, not having time to get a drier sheet of paper, a better pen, or better ink, or write a better letter.

Good bye my love to you all

Your affectionate Son

W^m Reynolds