Collections - Letters
Letters of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Bevan, 1804-1811.
Letter Number 1
Dated 28 April 1804, Fermoy. Addressed to Miss Dacres –
no address
If experience, my ever dearest Mary, had not already perfectly convinced
me how unavailing and fruitless is complaint, I should here certainly
entertain you with a violent philippick against this South West Wind the
prevalence of which so disappointingly retards the arrival not only of
the dear dear picture but also of some letters equally dear and as
anxiously looked for – I am quite lost in conjecturing where you now
are; and as if to relieve the uncertainty of my imagination on this
point, a very few minutes ago your friend Major Groves, with a
countenance most profoundly sagacious, informed me that you were all at
Bath; he concluded with an account of poor Jemima’s health which, thank
God! I know to be equally true with many communications he obtains from
the same authentic source.
This house is at present in a state very similar to that to describe on
the eve of your departure from Bath – The entire establishment of the
Erskine party arrived here yesterday on their way to England – The size
of the mansion is not quite adapted to a party so considerable; and to
improve all this, the Genl had rather unfortunately engaged the officers
belonging to a division of the 17th Regt to dinner this day, not
expecting his sister so soon – Col Thomas however is to be of the party
and as he possesses most admirable talents for keeping up a
conversation, I hope we shall get through it tolerably – for it is
certainly a prodigious bore. This Regt is on its march to Cork to embark
for Plymouth, how I envy them!!! and from thence for the East Indies, at
which period I would be very happy to leave them to proceed on their
voyage, and to find an asylum at Wearde – would you not take compassion
on so forlorn a person? Oh! my beloved Mary, I do indeed entertain a
hope that it may soon be in my power to put you to the trial – I can at
present only say it is a hope, how fervent you well know! And perhaps
feel. You must forgive me Mary, I am fully convinced you do feel equally
with myself all these hopes and fears. When, when will they have an end?
I have as usual not one word of news to send, except indeed that Mrs
Geddes (?illeg) is to be here in July, she ventures under convoy of her
husband’s brother who is a Major in one of the Regts in this country –
as I hope never again to see this woman, I shall no longer dignify her
with the appellation of your friend – unless you positively insist on a
continuance of this affectionate remembrance – I have not very lately
heard from either my Mother or Sisters – but as I know they are well and
have no cause to be otherwise then happy, do not feel any uneasiness at
any moderate chasm in our correspondence, which however in general is
pretty regular and the contrary sometimes my fault. Paterson begs to be
remembered – his family with the exception of his youngest sister who
has been left at a boarding school at Wanstead, have returned to
Scotland. I cannot help imagining from your description that she will
not sink under the terrors of such a novel mode of life, his brother
writes him word that some change in regard to the destination of his
ship has taken place; he sails directly for Madras. The Johnsons are all
well, I say all for he has obtained commissions in the 28th for two
brothers, both very young men – Poor Mrs J. is sufficiently tired of
this country, from which however (word illeg) not much probability of an
escape for the Regt but to some foreign station. Mrs Dewes and her
children are well – the boy is reported to be a fine child – I am sure
it ought to be a large one if it bears any resemblance to either of its
parents.
I hope to hear from you to morrow and very good accounts of our Jemima –
to her and all your family I beg my most affectionate remembrances – and
to Barrington when you write – tell him that if ever fortune should
place me in a more active situation he shall receive details of all that
may occur, - God bless dear, dear Mary, I write in a hurry but am for
ever and forever your’s
Cha Bevan
NOTES BY TRANSCRIBER
i) Fermoy – at the house of Edward Paget Brigade Commander to whom CB
was Brigade Major
ii) Genl – presumable Paget
iii) 17th – Leicestershire Regt
iv) Col Thomas – 28th Regt
v) Wearde – the Dacres House near Plymouth
vi) Major Groves – 28th Regt from whom CB eventually bought his Majority
vii) Jemima – Mary’s sister
viii) Erskine: presumably Paget’s sister Louisa married (1st) Fir. J.
Erskine d 1825 – not id with CB’s later Divisional Commander William
Erskine
ix) Johnsons – Lieut Col Johnson was later CO 28th Ft
x) Mrs Geddes ?
xi) Mrs Dewes – wife of Paymaster 28th Foot
xii) Paterson Charles alias Jim then Capt 28th Ft – later married Mary’s
sister Eleanor, and as Brevet Lieut Col commanded 28th in action in
Pyrenees before being killed in 1812. References in Keep and in Blakeney.
Cleared up CB’s effects after his death
xiii) Barrington – Mary’s brother Lieut R.N. died of fever early
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