Letter written from William Morris to his mother describing his imminent journey to Iceland in 1871. In the top right corner Edinburgh is spelt ‘Edinborough’.
Granton
by Edinborough.
July 8th [1871]
Dearest Mother
We went down here on Thursday evening and took up our quarters at an inn overlooking the pier, and with a beautiful view down the firth: we sighted the boat at about ½ past 11 this morning, and after watching her for some time we made out that it must be ours, as indeed it turned out. Magnússon & I have just been on board and taken our berths – queer little dens enough, but the boat is trim and clean, & the cabins comfortable for so small a vessel. She has been a gunboat and carries the Danish mail -flag and looks a good sea-boat; we sail about 8 oclock tonight and are like to have a quiet time of it as long as we are under the lee of the land; but we shall be tossed about a bit afterwards I fancy. I will write from Reykjavik where I shall be about next Friday: the boat has 5 passengers from Copenhagen and about 14 get on board here: the Captain looks a civil quiet man, and the steward also they don’t seem to talk much except Danish. The weather is somewhat showery here but is better today: all seems like to go well with us. We shall be off the Orkneys tomorrow morning. So goodbye for the present: I hope you will get into the new house comfortably: will you be living there when I come back? Let us know when you write; my address is simply Poste Restante Reykyavik Iceland with a 4d stamp, and you must post it on the 12 August.
My best love to yourself and Henrietta & Emma if she is with you: my haste must excuse a longer letter.
I am
Your most affectionate son
William Morris
