Contemporary manuscript copy of a letter from Captain John Bower, 84th Regiment, to his father Alexander Bower of Kincaldrum House, Kinnettles, describing how he saved the life of the future Sir James Carmichael-Smyth while shark fishing off the Cape

2pp., 4to. Good, on lightly-aged laid paper. Bower begins by stating that he is sending 'a Copy of a Letter which I have received from Dr Carm Smyth [James Carmichael Smyth (1742-1821) of the Middlesex Hospital]'. Smyth's son (the future Sir James Carmichael-Smyth) is 'a very fine handsome young man Lieut in the Engineers come out a Passanger [sic] in the same ship with us'. Bower and Smyth 'wisely went into the Boat which was lashed to the Stern Gallery to fish sharks which were following the ship - the Boat suddenly canted round in the slings, upon which poor Smyth went plump into the sea'. Bower 'happened to catch hold of the Boat & by the dictate of instinct & fear together, scrambled up again & got into the Stern Gallery'. The slings being 'foul', an attempt to lower the boat failed, and 'poor Smyth was nearly exhausted when I jumpt from the great Cabin window & kept him up till we were both Pickt up'. Bower continues: 'I will thank you to tell his Dad that I think myself well rewarded for my Ducking by the satisfaction I derive from his Letter'. Dr Smyth has sent Bower 'a very fine field Glass', and Bower asks his father to 'tell Sandy to call on Dr Smyth if he goes to London, he is a man of considerable eminence in his profession'. The doctor has 'exerted himself on my account for my promotion in the Army', and 'if he can serve either Graham or Sandy' Bower will think himself 'Greatly overpaid'. The Gentleman's Magazine of February 1800, pp.181-182, gives an unusually long entry on Captain Bower's death, at 'the isle of Perrim, on the Red Sea', praising his character and accomplishments.