IWTORN TO ENGLAND. 279 



working, though not a single adventurer had been 

 found. 



The two lads Montelegre, coming to England to be 

 educated, were sons of a gentleman of influence and 

 authority in Costa Rica. On their perilous journey an 

 attack of measles increased their discomforts. Probably 

 one of those gentlemen has since filled the honourable 

 position in this country of minister representing the 

 Republic of Costa Rica. 



" MY DEAR SIR, " LONDON, November 17th, 1827. 



"I arrived here from Liverpool last night, and this 

 morning had the pleasure of receiving your kind letter of the 

 loth. The brig ' Bunker's Hill,' in which we came from Car- 

 thagena to New York, was wrecked within a few hours' sail of 

 the port. We were in rather a disagreeable situation for some 

 time, but more afraid than hurt. The cargo was nearly all lost. 

 The ship was got off, but a complete wreck. The cause, how- 

 ever, of my delay in arriving arose from the want of the needful. 

 You recollect Mr. Stephenson and Mr. Empson, agents for the 

 Colombian Mining Association, whom we met at Carthagena. 

 They kindly offered to supply me, but having determined to 

 visit the celebrated Falls of Niagara, they insisted on my 

 accompanying them, which I did. 



" I am truly rejoiced to learn that your countrymen retain so 

 lively a sense of the importance of your services. I think with 

 you that before sounding the public or proceeding further, it 

 might be well we should meet quietly to talk over everything 

 and arrange our ideas, and that Cornwall, for the reasons you 

 mention and others, would be the better place. 



" The boys are well, and desire their respects to you. 



" Your sincere friend, 



" J. M. GERARD. 



" CAPT. TREVITHICK." 



Trevithick was friendly with George Stephenson 

 when, in 1805, he nursed little Bobby. Twenty years 



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