[Trinidad in 1842.] Autograph Letter Signed from 'G. E.' to the banker William Wilson of Messrs. Hankey, Plummer & Wilson, London, describing his activities on the island, including a visit to the Pitch Lake and capture of an alligator.

4pp., 4to. 112 lines of text. Bifolium. In fair condition, on aged paper, with closed tears along fold lines. Addressed, with two postmarks (one of Trinidad) to 'W. Wilson Esqr. | 7. Mincing Lane | London | Packet'. A closely-written letter, well-written and filled with content, and with a few clues about the identity of the writer. It begins: 'A merry Xmas to you & all my friends in England. I remembered you in my cups, but the liquor was only water for I have become almost a teetotaller of late, having had a little about me when I left St Kitts. [...] Thomas Hankey [Wilson's partner], you know, gave me a letter to Mr Warner, but he anticipatedd the delivery of it, for, hearing of my arrival, he came to visit me, "to see, as he said, if I was his old school fellow of the same form at Eton." I told him it must be Charles. He was librarian at Eton with John Hankey whom he made many enquiries about.' Other topics include the 'Governor pro tem, Sir Charles Chichester', 'Mr. Woolley', Port of Spain, which 'does not you from the sun, tho' I shld think it has not its equal as a Town in the W. Indies. Even the Havannah I understand is inferior in beauty. All the streets are wide, & at right angles, & the principal one has a fine avenue of trees down the middle of it - many of the houses too are detached with gardens around them - so, wherever you go, you see orange trees, mangoes, & other beautiful trees & gigantic cactus among the houses.' A reference to 'people playing at cricket' follows. He recounts a story about Sir Ralph Woodford and his French cook. He does a crude drawing showing the 'singular' position of Trinidad. There follow references to 'Mr. Kernahan' and Harmony Hall and 'Mr. Macquary'. He describes the Pitch Lake - 'the greatest curiosity' the writer has ever seen - which is not 'one unvaried expanse of blackness'. 'When I was at Harmony Hall I assisted in the catching of an alligator - it was a very young one however', adding 'What say you for this lecture on natural philosophy! But the world is very ungrateful.' He concludes: 'I hope you won't detain me here - but if you think it advisable, I answer I sh't grumble. Adieu, my old friend. Pray write to me to tell me all the gossip, for chit chat about ones friends extremely pleasant when you are away.' From the Hankey banking archive.