Madrid 8th January 1848[1]
My Dear Sir,
I duly received your letter of the 20th ultimo, and thank you for your kind attention to my requests, as contained in my note of the 7th Dec.
The Cape Papers would come by the Post Office, I understand, as the Regulations as to time do not of course apply to Colonial Papers. Please send them, leaving the original address, if still on them, and scoring out Earl Street and London, and putting Madrid.
There is in your hands (put there by Mrs. Thomson) a parcel containing Plate. Be so good as forward this parcel to Mrs. Morrish, No.7 Green Park, Bath. You will please see it very carefully packed before sending, that the contents may not suffer by the carriage. You will, according to your usual correct custom, receive a receipt for the parcel from Mrs. Morrish.
On receiving this note be so good as forward from my Private Account the sum of Two Pounds, to Mr Thomas Michael, Creetown via Dumfries.
I wish you, and the same for Mrs Hitchin, and your children, many happy returns of this season of the commencing year. May God manifest all his grace and goodness to you all during 1849, and for many years beyond, and may heaven receive you all in God's time.
Affectionately Yours,
James Thomson.
P.S. I add another little note, I beg you to envelope and post, not forgetting of course to address the envelope.
[1] The letter bears the date of 1848, which is a mistake for 1849.