The First Letter
The first letter is from Myra and the family to William, lying in Portsmouth Prison awaiting transportation. It begins with a complaint that will be often echoed in Myra's letters -William Sykes was not a conscientious correspondent, it seems. In this, and the following selections, much of the spelling and punctuation have been 'corrected' and modernised, though some aspects of the writer's style have been retained to give a feel of authenticity:
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Dear Husband,
I write these few lines to you hoping to find you better than it leaves us at present. I have been very uneasy since you did not rite, my children cried when we got no letter. Will you please to rite to me and send me word how you are getting on. I have bilt myself up thinking I shal get to you sometime or another. My mother sends her best love to you. She has been very ill but she is better at present. We all send our kind love to you. We all regret very much for you, I hope there will be a righting for you yet. ..We have wished scores of times that you were coming in to the house, we should squeeze you to death for we would like to see that ... You must not delay riting if you can, it will ease my mind if you can.
If ever it lays in your power to send for us when you get abroad I would freely sell all up to come to you if I possibly could.
Dear father do please writ to us. I sends one 100 kiss for you.
Thirza Sykes.
Ann Sykes sends Dear kisses. Father, I send a 100 kiss for you. Alfred sends kiss kinds.
Love to you. Masbro'
Midland Road 33
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