A SEAMAN'S LETTER.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2883, 13 May 1878, Page 3

A SEAMAN'S LETTER.

The following is a letter from a sailor with the British Fleet off Constantinople, to his friends at home. It is dated Touzla Bay.—"l 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 we was prepared if they had fired on us. We had all bur guns loaded, and we 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 us, as his 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, but in the picture they hare got the Agincourt as firing. Our Captain, the Duke of Edinburgh, came round to each of the guns and s told us that he knew that we would uphold the glory and honor of our country if required. We gave him three cheers as only English bluejackets know how to. I can't tell 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 the. picture of us going up 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. I belong to what is called the top riflemen or sharpshooters in a place about half way up the mast, and exposed tothe wind and snow frirn about halfpast 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 ever 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. '*i have been in sight of it. We have our f gunsloaded day and night and keep watch ? by them. We are doing so now; in'fact, - it is my watch from twelve o'clock tonight till<fo>|fan the morning. I dare say • by the tim? you get this letter we • shall be iji^o jt, head and ears, for we are expect&Dj^Clie telegram every hour. - Will you ftal my sister I am quite well, : and that I am in a good fighting ship, so that she need not be anxious about me. I hope she. is quite happy; it would make jme feel very bad if she were not. I dare say you have seen H. since he has been home; he will be very soon sent out here again, as'there are seven ships comiDg out here. Tell him how as he has been out of all the excitement, and that his old ship the Baleigh 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 we left Malta

there were games, arid 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."

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