Wolwich 30th September l826
Dear Father,
I received your letter yesterday and is in a verry good state of health thank God for it and not myself for my setowation (situation ?) of life I never was happier in my days. I am verry content . I spend the evening in reading my books I ceep (keep) good ours (hours) and I ceep clean and atneds duty as well as I can . Everythin becomes easy to me then a great deal of these ..... for the part of the contery (country) it is verry pleasent it has been very dry since. Hear it is a greatdeal warmer hear (here) these .... As for my brother William I was verry sory (sorry) that I cannot get him to me but since it cannot bee no better we must bee content . Perhaps it may bee better for him to stay where he is if the krops stiddy. Perhaps he may get forward. Yo must send the derection and I will try to prevail on him to ... how to you So for the fetter that you sent to me. With the petition in it frazer I never got to yet but I think it is leedles work to stop trying more in it after Colinel meen could. Do nothing in it .But you want must writ to and I will write to them and I think I will get an anser (answer) and and I will find you a dubble (double ?) of it if he is not going. Write you when I think he will .. you must send the Derection (direction ?) to my uncles William Bell I have got a notion of going to London for it is but eight mils off from Wolwich. To .... get pase to go if I get the drection give my best respects to all enquring friends and ...... I mono your ( afffectionate) son Francis Scott post script - I have not gon (gone) to the school (school) as yet but I expect to go to one the beginning of the week for it is a privlage that any gunner in the Artillery . I remain your trioly, Francis Scott Note: Francis was a gunner in the 3rd battation of the Royal Artillery