CARMEL, _June 26, 1839_

"MY DEAR FATHER, MOTHER, etc.--It is a long time since I have
been able to write to you,--this being the first time since
leaving Egypt that any one has appeared to carry letters for us.
I must therefore begin by telling you that, by the good hand of
our God upon me, I am in excellent health, and have been ever
since I wrote you last. Fatigues we have had many, and much
greater than I anticipated; hardships and dangers we have also
encountered, but God has brought us all safely through, and in
fully better condition than when we began. You must not imagine
that I have altogether lost the palpitation of my heart, for it
often visits me to humble and prove me; still I believe it is a
good deal better than it was, and its visits are not nearly so
frequent. I hope very much, that in a cold bracing climate, and
with less fatigue, I may perhaps not feel it at all. I was very
thankful to receive your letter, dated 8th May,--the first since
leaving home. I was delighted to hear of your health and safety,
and of the peaceful communion at St. Peter's. The public news was
alarming and humbling.[15] I suppose I had better begin at the
beginning, and go over all our journeyings from the land of Egypt
through the howling wilderness to this sweet land of promise. I
would have written _journalwise_ (as my mother would say) from
time to time, so that I might have had an interesting budget of
news ready; but you must remember it is a more fatiguing thing to
ride twelve or fourteen hours on a camel's back, in a sandy
wilderness, than in our home excursions; and I could often do
nothing more than lie down on my rug and fall asleep.

[15] He alludes here to the decision of the House of Lords in the
Auchterarder case.

"We left Alexandria on 16th May 1839, parting from many kind
friends in that strange city. We and our baggage were mounted on
seventeen donkeys, like the sons of Jacob, when they carried corn
out of Egypt. Our saddle was our bedding, viz. a rug to lie on, a
pillow for the head, and a quilt to wrap ourselves in. We
afterwards added a straw mat to put below all. We had procured
two tents,--one large, and a smaller one which Andrew and I
occupy. The donkeys are nice nimble little animals, going about
five miles an hour; a wild Arab accompanies each donkey. We have
our tw