after dinner my Father returns again to his work, but he generally gets tired about 4 p.m. he then desses and we go to the Commercial rooms to read the papers, these rooms are as dull and silent as Ereires or Noctibus, not a soul opens their mouth, they all appear like living statues, the rooms close at 5, when we walk on Pacifico's pier for fresh air, and I sometimes paddle in a canoe, at sun set we return home to bed, this has never or seldom varied since we have been doomed to exist on this dreary and miserable Island, Robinson Crusoe's was a paradise to this, besides if good fortune should have sent a ship to his island they would have taken him on board, which was ultimately the case; but here no ship dare take away my Father The Attorney general has promised my Father to do all he can for him, but I have no faith, now all ships gone !! Colonel Gulzmer has said nothing this fortnight. What we shall come to yet, I dread to contemplate.

Postscript

They did manage to return to England as Philemon appeared back on the stage in Exeter on Dec 23rd 1837 and he wrote a letter in March 1838 to Juan asking for funds:

Letter, presumably a draft, dated 31 March 1838 but with 19 April crossed out. Other crossings out as original.

My dear John

To tell you the variety of miserable scenes I have encountered once we parted at Salt Creek would only distress me, think it would you.
I am now of course returned to London much worse in every particular than I was before I left.
I saw your letter to Mr Lumley dated 1 Sept 1837 you say Mr Louis Jervis has £ 50 for me, could you make it payable to me here? it would be a godsend as I am without clothes & every thing etc.
You once wrote me in Jamaica the willingness of your government to compensate me for my trouble & expences to Bocatoro, do you think if they are in the same mind should be still willing to do so.
I would will cheerfully cross the Atlantic again but should prefer certainly of course a sum sent to me here. Were I to write volumes I can could say no more than what you can must know or imagine.

I am ever

Your affectionate father

It is highly likely they came home on the same ship as their outward journey as Lloyd' s Register shows the brig Sophia, under Captain Barclay, returning to London from Jamaica on Oct 8th 1837. With the voyage taking some six weeks they must have left shortly after August 1st, the date of the last diary entry.

Philemon died on 10th January 1840, described as ' Gentleman' at Whiskin Street Clerkenwell of ' Decay of Nature ' with Philip as the Informant. and Philip on 5th May 1842, described as ' Check taker to a Theatre ' in St Bartholemew's Hospital of Syphilis.