Extract from a letter from Raffles to his sister Maryanne Flint

Bencoolen, 8th February 1824

My dear Maryanne

A chance opportunity of
writing to you by way of
Batavia enables me to repeat the
disturbing particulars contained
in a letter I wrote to you two days
ago by the way of Bengal –

To set your mind at ease
before I do so, let me satisfy you
that your dear Boy Charles – Sophia
myself & both Nelson and John are
alive and well and at this
moment safe and sound at Bencoolen.

The long looked for Fame
came at last – a beautiful little
Ship with excellent accommodation