Extract from a letter from Raffles to his sister Maryanne Flint

and every convenience we could wish –
She was laden and we embarked
on her and sailed for England
with a fair breeze and every thing
prosperous at day light on the
morning of the 2nd instant.

We had stood out to sea
and lost sight of the land as the
Evening came on – at eight o’clock
Sophia retired to rest – and in about
10 minutes I followed her and had
just thrown off my outer garments,
when a horrible yell – of Fire!
Fire! resounded through the ship –
there was no time to do more
than to ascertain that it originated
immediately under our Cabins
and could not be extinguished
for in five minutes the whole
Poop was in a Blaze and in