I expect to be home in
twenty-two months or thereabouts. I have seen Samuel Laterett.
Beware! There has happened very bad news to tell you, that Peter
Jackson is dead. He died within two days' sail of Otaheite, one of the
Society Islands. The Peter Jackson that used to live at Laterett's; he
died on board the ship Done, of Nantucket, Captain Miller, in the
latitude 15 53, and longitude 148 30 W. I have no more to say at
present, but write as soon as possible.
'Your only son,
'PETER VAN WAGENER.'
Another, containing the last intelligence she has had from her son,
reads as follows, and was dated 'Sept. 19, 1841':-
'DEAR MOTHER:
'I take the opportunity to write to you and inform you that I am well
and in good health, and in hopes to find you in the same. This is the
fifth letter that I have wrote to you, and have received no answer, and
it makes me very uneasy. So pray write as quick as you can, and tell
me how all the people is about the neighborhood. We are out from home
twenty-three months, and in hope to be home in fifteen months. I have
not much to say; but tell me if you have been up home since I left or
not. I want to know what sort of a time is at home. We had very bad
luck when we first came out, but since we have had very good; so I am
in hopes to do well yet; but if I do n't do well, you need not expect
me home these five years.
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