There are some discrepancies
between the letter extract posted by Kathleen Mirabella and the actual letter.
While the discrepancies do not alter the basic facts, the replacement of “about”
by “above” in two places is significant; as is the spelling of “Musgrave”. While
the photocopy is difficult to read, what I believe to be an accurate
transcription is given below:
“This
Day arrived the Brittania (sic) from Liverpool with Passengers. She brought out
above 200, but being 13 weeks at Sea has buried above 50 and many now very sick
and weak. Our dear Friend Thomas Musgrave Dyed about a fort night agone. The
poor Disconsolate wife and 4 Children are left ashore at Elsinborough.”