My dear Husband,
I have this afternoon received your letter and am glad to hear from you. I heard yesterday that there was a letter from you at Park-Gate and wrote off immediately to the Governor of the Portsmouth prison asking him kindly send me word, if he could, what was the latest day I could see you, as I do not see how I could possibly undertake the journey this week, being without money.
If I had received your letter on Saturday, it was the reckoning (rent day) and I would have done my best to contrive it. But if you do not leave before the next reckoning I will come, if I come alone, for none of themselves are assisting me to do so either, so far. I feel it as much as you do to be very hard for you to be where you are and Woodhouse at liberty, but rest assured whether I get to see you or not I hope that when you arrive at your journey's end you will not forget us, for we are always thinking about you.
I hope the Governor will either send me a reply or allow you to do so, for I will leave no means untried to get to see you if there is time. But if I was at the expense, only to be too late when I got there, it will be a serious loss to me, situated as I am. I feel greatly hurt that you should send your letters to your brothers and sisters before me, for although we are separated there is no one I value and regard equal to you and I should like you to still have the same feeling toward me.
If there is ever a chance of us being permitted to join you again even though it be a far-off land, both the children and myself will most gladly do so. Mr Bone [another of the transported poachers] has written to his wife to get the children's likeness taken for him to take away with him. I should like you to have ours if you are allowed the same privilige. Will you let me know? I cannot give you up. I live in the hope of our being together again somewhere before we end our days. My best love to you, the children also send their love to you, and remembrance from all friends.
Your affectionate wife -Myra Sykes
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