A SEAMAN’S LETTER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5350, 21 May 1878, Page 3

A SEAMAN’S LETTER.

The following is' a letter from a young sailor with the British fleet off Constantinople to Ins friends at Home. It is dated Touzla Bay "I write these few lines hoping you are quite well, as I am at present. I received your paper that you sent me about the British fleet: entering the Dardanelles, which I thank you for very much. We have had some exciting times since I last wrote to you. I, can tell' you that we was prepared if they had fired on us. Wo had all our guns loaded, and wo was all stripped to the waist, so that our clothes should not be in our way. I can’t tell you exactly how I felt; but I felt very anxious, as I dare say we all felt. We had the admiral on board of ns, as bis own ship had not arrived from Malta. .- There was a mistake in: that picture you sent,’ for it was our' ship,: the Sultan, that fired the salute; i but in toe picture they have got toe Agiucourl as firing. Our captain, toe Duke of Edinburgh, i came round. to each of the guns and told us. that he knew that we should uphold the glory and honor of our (Country, if- required.. We gave him three cheers: as only'English bluejackets know how to. T can’t toll you the feeling of disappointment that ran through all the fleet as the signal was, hoisted to return again to Besika Bay to anchor,'.after going so: far up. When you see toe picture of us goingup the second time I should like you to send me the paper, for we-want to see it. . I don’t'recollect such a cold day in all my life as when' going up. -1, belong to what is called the top riflemen or sharpshooters,in .a place about half-way up the mast, and exposed to the wind and snow from about half-past nine in the morning till three o’clock in the afternoon with my rifle and 150 rounds of ball cartridge and completely wet through. My rifle was about > two inches thick. with snow, regular froze on. - I suffered at that time more than I over did in my life. We are laying in a better place now than Besika Bay, but we are all ready for: leaving it .at any moment for Constantinople. ■ We have been in sight ‘of it. Wo have; our g ins loaded day - and - , night,.... and, keep watch ■by them. We aro doing so now ; in fact, it is my , watch , from twelve o’clock to-night, till four in the morning. I dare say by tho time you get this letter we shall be into it bead and, oars, for, we are expecting the telegram every hour. Will yon tell my sister I am quite well, and that I am In a good fighting ship, so that she need not bo anxious about me. I hope she is quite happy ; it would make mo feel-very, bad if she were not. I dare say you have seen 11. since he has been home ; ha will be, very soon out bore again, as there aro sovcu ; ship's coining ‘out ‘here. Tell him how ho' has been out of all the excitement, and that his old ship the Bnlcigh has been ashore for about a week, but she is all right now. P.S.—-The Duchess of Edinburgh is the.nicest lady that ever was, and all for the sailors.. Before wc left Malta there were games, and the sailors were getting rather the worst; then the duchess said she would never believe British sailors could not beat all the world, so we went at it again—and didn't we win, and didn’t we cheer the duchess,”