Letter home from Charles Neill, following the stranding of the family’s schooner Triton near Libau, Latvia (then part of Russia), 1856.
Libau
June 20th 1856
Friday.
Dear Father and Mother,
I received your kind letter that you wrote and Mr. Borthwicks and two from Isabella on Tuesday. I would have wrote you before this but Mr. Schnolle was up seeing the Emperor and when he came home he transferred us over to the Danish Counsel as he has not got the position back yet. The Auction will not be till the 3rd of July. I think you need not answer this as I hope we will be on our way home again before an answer would reach this. We were happy to hear that all is well and that the Vessels is doing well. I think it will be August before we get home. I am sorry to hear that William is not keeping steady and happy to hear that John has a good man along with him but I am not certain whether he is steady or not. I suppose Jack is making a fortune with the boat. You would learn from my last letter that I gave up all hope of getting the Triton off again. I was on board of her on the 3rd June and the water was over the Bitts forward and up to half way of the Tafferel rail and there being no ebb here it is impossible to lift her. I also mentioned that the apprentices got their indenture and I have a signment that they have no more claim. I suppose you will see some of them shortly.
I am greatly to fault for not insuring her with the London Company but I had no thought of this. It was something about the binnacle and the ships iron was the cause of this but there was a Dutch man just stuck alongside of us but of less water and he got off. I understand there is a brig ashore about 15 miles to the norrard of where the Triton is lying. Belongs to Blythe in Scotland.
We have first-rate lodgings and is well but always troubled with the loss of my old craft. The landlord that holds the property abreast of where she is lying has all the materials in his charge and he claims one fourth for his part of the whole. With surveys and one thing and other the Russians will get all I believe. I wish I could get a craft to fetch home or something to do as we are losing all time at present. There is a fine harbour about l0 to ll feet water on
the bar. The people here are much pleasanter and agreeable than at some parts of Britain. Give my best respect to Mr. and Mrs. Borthwiek. I thought I was lying in the Bay last night with the Triton but it was all a dream.
Hoping these few lines will find you all in good health. We join with respects to Isabella, John and Jane and Bill and all our friends. Accept the same yourselves.
Your son
C. Neill.
I think it will be Memel that we will go to first. I believe my father has got a contract for the Union and Isabella had mentioned at what figure. We got four letters on the one day and we could have read as many for all did not satisfy us.
With best love to all I am
C. Neill