June 7th 1870

Dear Aunt,

I now take the pleasure of writing these few lines to you hoping it will find you in good health as it leaves me at present, thank God for it.

Aunt, I write to you to know how my sister is getting on as I have not seen her for so long. I was up to see you at Christmas, but I was going away to sea in a day or two, butI will come and see you when we come home.

Aunt, we were going to America the other day only we fell in with the Channel Fleet just off Lisbon and then we went off six weeks cruise with them and now we are in Plymouth harbour to get repaired for we were caught in a gale and carried away our mast.

It is the new ship that I am in, by the name of the Captain Turret ship, the wonder of the world, or at least you would think so by the look of her.

I should like for her to come into Southampton so as you could come into Southampton and see her. Aunt we were at Jersey and France a year ago and the fruit is very cheap in France. The apples are laying about there all the winter and you can go along the road and pick the fruit.

Aunt, I should like to have Mary Jane's likeness. I have got the others but hers.

Give my kind love to Uncle John and to Mary Jane.

I have no time to write more but I will write again and send my likeness to Mary Jane and tell her I should like to see her again.

Aunt, I must conclude with my kind love to you all. No more from your affectionate nephew, Walter William Hedger.

This is my direction -

Walter Hedger,

Boy of the fo'c'sle, on board of HMS Captain