Jack's letter to Sophie (as displayed on exhibit on the HMS Surprise, San Diego Maritime Museum)

Tuesday 14th May 1805

My Dearest Beloved Sophie

Another day in our chase southward, another page in this long letter to you. God-willing when we revictual off Cape St Augustin tomorrow we will find at anchor a fine British or Portuguese merchant man who will carry this (and all my love) back home to you.

I am reliably informed by Mr Allen that there is a floating market where native craft will bring produce out to visiting ships. Stephen is in fine form, even managing to save old Joe Plaice with a damnably clever hole drilled into his skull (you remember Joe Plaice, he is Barrett Bonden's uncle). I dread meeting Lady Blakeney on my return, for reasons you have already read. Perhaps you could visit her as she will have received a letter in this same Package. I have taken on a senior midshipman, Wallace Hollom who defies my utmost efforts. I took him out of pity at Gibraltar, but he remains beyond the reach of any instruction. You encounter such in the service. Men who have found their way to sea when they should have been otherwise employed. Luck has been with us these past few days. Yesterday twelve knots. [Handwriting changes, becomes more or less illegible.]