| Description | (Misdated 18 Nov.)
Calais Sunday ye 18th. Novr—1765
In my last Letter to my dearest Love I mentiond that Oppenheim would break alass ’tis too true. however I have got into my possession—200£ worth of paper Boxes & I hope I have secured the last parcel of Chains amounting to 115£ & that is all that I could possably secure of his effects at London—but I had a mind to try if I could not secure some of his goods at Paris. it is a precarious experiment but unless I had done all that could be done I should have reproached my self wth. want of duty to you & to Boulton & Fothergill & therefore by ye advice of my good Friend Mr Motteux I set out for dover last wednesday & by travilling all night we got to dover early on Thursday morng yet not so soon as we expected by 4 or 5 Hours through Various misfortunes & unforeseen retardations by wch. means we lost ye packett & therefore hired a Vessell on purpose but to compleat our disapointment the wind set in directly against us blowing a Hurrican so that it was impossable to get out of ye harbour & thus we were confind at dover untill Saterday morng & though ye wind was but very little better & the Sea very rough yet my patience was so much exhausted that I orderd the Captn. to Sail wth. us at all events. & on Board we went, twixt 10 & 11 Yesterday morng. accompined by 4 or 5 Shabby French Gentlemen who could not raise Mony to pay their passage in ye Cabin, an Old Duch Womn., her Son, her niece & her neices little Girl abt. 4 Yrs. old, with Mr Bureau & Self were al ye Cabin Guest. in a about half an Hour after we were got out to Sea we all began to be very sick. I opend ye Ball wth. throwing up my Breakfast & all ye rest soon followd my example, I continued upon deck till I was so ill that I was obliged to go to bed in ye Cabin my Friend Bureau soon followd, & presently after the Old Womn wth. her Friends all packed to Bed: (for there are Ten Beds in ye same Cabin.) the Captn. finding me so very ill (haveing almost straind my Stomach up) offerd to return to dover but I was resolvd to weather it through although both Wind & Tyde were against us, about 7 oClock at night we cast anchor & there we lay tossing & Rocking untill 11 & then weighd Anchor & proceeded. dureing all this time we continued employing . . . of the Sailors to wait upon us, the Old womns. fountain below playing very often ye young one cascadeing above. the Child Crying, the Sailour tramping over our heads Cursing Swareing & manageing their Sails added to my own extream Sickness produced a species of pleasure I wish you never to partake of, after fasting & pukeing near 24 Hours we arivd at Calis betwixt 7 & 8 this Morng. I have gote my pattns. safe on Shore by the help of wide Breeches & Pocketts & I have just hired a Chaise to go to paris wth. a new invented secretor by wch. means I hope to get my Self & pattns. to paris on Tuesday morng. I have found here a very usefull Friend that hath furnished us wth. Mony & Good advice his Name is Monsr. Le Sage I have had Two Breakfasts & am go Shaved washed & Shifted so that I am now not a tittle ye worse for my Voyage I expect to stay abt. 8 Days at Paris & then shall return & finish my business in London I beg it may not be talked on where I am as it will be prejudical to me & my Scheme my Compliments to Mr Gilbert & thank him for his Letter & I further beg he will be so kind as to write to his Father & inform him that I have not yet done any thing about ye black Lead as his Uncle was not in Town & that I am now in France & so soon as I return to London I will finish that matter if it can be then done but should be glad to know what portion or Share Mr Gilbert would like to take of it
I hope my dear you will not put any unkind interpritation upon my long abscence wch. nothing but matters of Consequence should have caused
Pray remember me affectionately to my Mother my Brother John, & Sister Molly & Kitty.—little Neice I’ll not forgett. the Chaise is at ye door & therefore must Conclude
God bless You & preserve your health & Spirits & be assured that I am & ever shall be
Your sincere & most Affectionat Husband
Mattw. Boulton
my Compliments to all Friends at Soho
every thing appears very droll & Strange to me here. there are many parties a playing at Shuttle-cock in ye Streets, the Womn. are all dressd wth. Square old fashiond pinners Great Hoods, & little Slippers &c:
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