google-analytics-for-wordpress domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home2/grunard/public_html/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6121redxunlite domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home2/grunard/public_html/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6121Brindisi Sunday night, Jan\u2019y 23\/98.<\/p>\n
It is now 8:15 p.m. Dinner is just over but there\u2019s been a great commotion since 6:30, the overland passengers arriving & it appears their train was 2 hours late. We have got 2 batches of mails on board but the largest from England for the East is yet to arrive. We are likely to be here many hours yet:\u00a0I got my letters about 10 & papers later. I sent you a p. card early after coming out of church, which is immediately opposite the ship, also one to Berwick.[1]<\/a> Yours & theirs, if joined, gives an extended view of the harbour front, and as I have seen most of what\u2019s worth seeing here, not a very charming place, I thought I would mail this home also, as I won\u2019t have another opportunity till Port Said. By the way, you will get the letter posted on board last night, probably [1:52] by this same post. The silk was enclosed in it. Well, it has been a fine, dry day but cold, & this is my first experience of a continental Sunday. It is no more like Sunday as we know it than Wednesdays. Shops & labourers full swing, & while we were out visiting orchards, orange and lemon, many labourers were in the fields, mostly vines, & towards sunset droves came into town with their implements over their shoulders<\/p>\n Steamers loading & how very singular of two alongside the quay are named \u201cMelo\u201d\u00a0and \u201cNilo\u201d, & both big steamers. The former came in after us & began loading huge casks of wine & basses[2]<\/a> of figs, numerous Customs & other uniformed officials moving to & fro, & several in attendance on our ship. What an excitement goes on around & about these P&O\u00a0boats, & Cook\u2019s\u00a0agents [1:53] in uniform are much in evidence. They have a suit[e] of offices close to, not 1 minute from the P&O\u00a0berth, & next door is the P&O\u00a0offices. Street musicians were at the ship\u2019s side before we were moored, & several mendicants, & as one moves about the very children ask for money. They seem to have been trained to it, & innumerable interpreters are ever on the look out for employment. Their street vendors are also about & 2 or 3 men with rows of deck chairs from 2\/9 to 9\/6, the latter just like mine for which I gave 12\/6 in Leadenhall St.[3]<\/a> Wine shops everywhere, & caf\u00e9s, & especially in the former, card playing seemed going on continuously, & tonight there is a ball masque in one of the houses of entertainment. It appears this has been a church festival week & I suppose it finishes with this entertainment. [1:54] It will be the festival in commeration [sic] of the conversion of St. Paul Jan\u2019y 25th<\/sup>. The preacher this morning dwelt at length upon it, & in Malta\u00a0we were told it was being commemorated & finished next Tuesday. Brindisi has a fine harbour & beautiful for yachting. The buildings are wretched & only a few show signs of having been architecturally rich. There is a very huge, old castle here & it must have been a fine building once. It is now used as a convict prison & presently contains over 700 prisoners, & the guards are soldiers. Peculiar carts are used here, flats with very high wheels & drawn by mules. The carriages are drawn by small ponies, very sharp & seemingly well cared for. Goats here too are driven from house to house as in Malta. We saw one big herd coming in. Now the new [1:55] comers are begin[n]ing to move about. The ship is crowded. I see the Richmond heir[4]<\/a> is here & sits just next table to where I am, & in company of Lord Locke[5]<\/a> & family. So full are we, the down stairs saloon is full up with diners but a clearance will take place at Ismalia,\u00a0as I told you in my last. The band discoursed most delightful music during dinner tonight & everything looks grand. I told you in my p. card how pleased I was with all letters & now I have the 2 parcels of papers & prospect a treat in them. During this afternoon we were in the grounds of the Turkish Consul. Very fine they\u2019ll be in season, tho\u2019 now the oranges & lemons look very tempting. In fact the oranges are perfectly ripe, & the lemons in beautiful bloom, no olives just now. In some [1:56] shops, which took my attention & much in our style, maccaroni was on sale in enormous lots, in many shapes & large patterns. Olives in great bowls, Italian cheese, many kinds & all sorts, shapes & sizes of dried polonies & sausage, wine every where & children carried bottles to these shops similarly to the usage at home with off beer shops. Electric light here. We are far behind, I see, in regard to electricity at home.<\/p>\n The preacher this morning before he began his sermon, (\u201cBe ye followers of Christ as I also am\u201d Ephesians) intimated evening service to begin at 5 or as early after the electric light was available<\/u>, the building in & out is anything but church like. However, they have all arranged very precisely, cool stony floor but I see they have a wood platform & chairs thereon. Harmonium, 2 Ministers, no endowment, [1:57] supported only by contributions of visitors. The building was well filled, the hour couldn\u2019t have suited better as just after breakfast & preparation, then came the hour of service & so close to the ship<\/p>\n Now the baggage of the newcomers is being stowed away & I expect there will be confusion till very late.<\/p>\n How sorry I was to learn from Willie\u2019s letter the death of Mrs. Tate.[6]<\/a> She has had a long life & well spent. How T. & D.[7]<\/a> will miss her. I regret I could not be present at the last ceremony.<\/p>\n Pleased to receive Sir Thos. Lipton\u2019s very kind letter & one of introduction to his agent at Colombo,\u00a0with request to aid me in seeing all that\u2019s interesting thereabouts, so I shall pay my respects Mr. Duplock\u00a0on arrival.<\/p>\n I\u2019ll get time to look more minutely over your letters, Willie\u2019s & Mary\u2019s[8]<\/a> too, & revert more fully in my next, [1:58] & I must try & condense my writing else my books will very soon be exhausted. Besides, I fear I say too much & that chiefly personal.<\/p>\n Glad to hear of & about \u201cMy Comely\u201d, & that he enjoys himself to your satisfaction & freedom. I hope to hear in Bombay of Albion\u2019s[9]<\/a> arrival.<\/p>\n Pleased Willie\u00a0got so nicely home & entertained you thereafter. At 11 a.m. your time today Sunday, tho\u2019 at service, I gave a minute of spirit with you.<\/p>\n My berth companion is here tonight & seemingly a fine young man. It\u2019s astonishing the number of young men & women that are on board.<\/p>\n Now I\u2019ll close. It is near 10 with us, so good night, & God be with us all till we meet again.<\/p>\n Posted at Brindisi p. office, Sunday night, Jan\u2019y 23\/98, SS Victoria, in harbour.<\/p>\n [1:59]<\/p>\n [1]<\/a> Berwick-upon-Tweed, where William was born in 1847 and where his father, Andrew, and sister, Mary, still lived.<\/p>\n [2]<\/a> Bass bags<\/p>\n [3]<\/a> Offices of the P&O\u00a0Steam Navigation Company located at 122, Leadenhall Street, E.C.<\/p>\n [4]<\/a> Possibly Charles Henry Gordon-Lennox, son of the 6th<\/sup> Duke of Richmond. He became 7th<\/sup> Duke of Richmond in 1903, but was styled Earl of March before this date.<\/p>\n [5]<\/a> Unidentified.<\/p>\n [6]<\/a> Sarah Tate (nee Gibson), wife of Ninian Sheraton Tate, uncle of William\u2019s wife, Mary Tate.<\/p>\n [7]<\/a> Children of Sarah and Ninian Sheraton Tate, William Thomas and Dorothy Tate.<\/p>\n