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18 Oct 55 Peter on board 'Alipore' Mother 1, Hyde Park Place ______________________________________________________________________________________________
On Board the Alipore
Baltchik – 18th Octr 1855
My dear Mother
Hearing that a steamer will leave here tomorrow for Balaclava, I write this letter and entrust it to them. They will post it for me at the latter place for me and you will get it in due time.
We arrived here after a three days run – two of which we had a fair wind and a queer hole it is. Varna is about twelve miles to the south.
Yesterday I was on shore and walked with the Captain all over the place which is just like a farm – a horridly dirty hole.
It very much resembles Balaclava in many points, for the houses are in the same style and the Turks are just as numerous in the latter as at this place.
There is no harbour, so we are lying in the open Bay trusting to Providence that there will be no bad weather during our stay here, which I hope may be short.
This place is one of the reserves for the Winter of which there are three and will supply the army with barley and Hay. There are one or two Commissariat Officers here but I do not suppose there are half a dozen Englishmen in the place so that you can imagine what a dreadfully slow place they find it.
We expect to be a good month here and by the time I get to Balaclava I shall expect the see my winter clothes in.
Write a letter addressed to the ship at Balaclava and I shall get it when I arrive saying in what ship they are coming out. They had better be addressed to John as then Hayter & Howell* will send them in the first steamer.
I hope however they will have been sent before you get this as there is no time to spare. I of course have no news, for what could I have to tell you in such a place as this.
Give my love to all and believe me ever
Yr affect son
Peter Laurie
You must not expect to hear from me till I get to Balaclava, tho’ perhaps I may have a chance of sending a letter by some ship to that place.
Peter Laurie
* Hayter & Howell – Army Packers and Merchants, 52 Mark Lane, London