I Think You're My Boss

[J. Alfred Darrow]

1 October 1887

Mr. Podmore,

I confess to being rather at a loss as to how to begin this letter. I presume that you will recognize my name from the paper, but in case you do not, I am the recently returned and sole surviving member of the crew of the HMS Sycorax, which was launched under orders of Captain J. Peppersmith in 1881 with the intention of conduction an exploration and survey of the islands of the Great South Sea.

I attempting to visit the London office of the fleet and was met only with cobwebs, which lead me to an inquiry as to the current ownership and management of the Navy, at which point I was given your name. Unless I am mistaken, I believe this makes you my employer.

I await your instruction as to how I ought to proceed.

J. Alfred Darrow

Addressed to Sylvester Podmore but FYI @'Sydney Podmore' @'Clinton Podmore' @'Vera Podmore' (@'Elsie Beauregard' @'Emmeline Woodcroft' @'Helena Macmillan')