King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

Lancaster

HOME
Museum & Collections
Sales
Donations
Events
Contact Us

REGIMENTAL HISTORY
17th Century
18th Century
19th Century
20th Century
First World War
Second World War
Actions & Movements
Battle Honours

FAMILY HISTORY
Resources
Further Reading

PHOTO GALLERY
ENQUIRIES
FURTHER READING
LINKS


Collections - Letters

Letters of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Bevan, 1804-1811.

Letter Number 12

Dated 26 June 1807 from CB at Dambury Addressed to Mrs Charles Bevan, Vice Admiral Dacres, Bursledon, Nr Southampton, Hants

I yesterday, my ever dearest Mary, received your two letters. They had been unaccountably delayed at the Maldon Post Office, and although this delay annoyed me, still I did not impute the length of time I was without hearing from you to any other cause than the one it has turned out was the case – as I knew that had illness unfortunately prevented you from writing I should have had a line from some one of your family, & rely much too sincerely on your punctuality in writing to imagine for a moment that my (illeg) could arise from that cause – But now I have received your letters I am comfortable, at least as much as I can be without the beloved society to whom I now naturally look for all comfort and happiness. – Poor little Charles cannot wish half as much as I do that I was your’s and his playfellow – I most earnestly wish we were embarked & on our passage to our destination, wherever that may be. We now go out every morning about eleven o’clock for two or three hours which in this extremely hot weather quite knocks one up for the remainder of the day; we are just now returned from one of these expeditions, & the weather as hot as the West Indies. And I feel as lazy as a Creole – I see by the papers that Lord Cathcart has taken leave of the King previous to his going to the Continent, so I suppose we shall very soon be off – as the sooner we go the sooner we shall return at least one soon begins to look forward to a return after a very short stay from all our best friends; & all that we best love. I delivered your message to Paterson who begs I will offer his best remembrances – Major Ibbetson who has just joined the Regt always enquires very particularly after you, he’s just as much of an old woman as ever – but very good natured & gentlemanlike therefore pleasant. The history of my life at present is easily told – Get up about Eight, Breakfast dressing hair fills up the time like Pomade; then an excursion takes about two or three hours, then rest till dinner – after dinner parade; & after that go to bed as soon as I can. Generally about half past nine or ten. Sometimes play a game of cricket but these morning d(illeg) have put a stop to that, which I am not sorry for as it is almost too hot for such violent exercise. The Mess now consists of nearly 30. You may suppose not the pleasanter for being so numerous.

I intend to write to our Cousin Shaw before we sail – I hope she will write to you. My Mother I conclude or Julia have written to you before this time – I do not know what their intentions are for the summer, Julia talks but my Mother is not determined I think it will be a pity if they lost the chance of (illeg) themselves with a house in Town during the empty months. But that is you will say no business of mine. So God Bless you & our dear Boys Give my best love at home – God be with you dear, dear Mary I am always your affectionate and faithful
Charles


NOTES BY TRANSCRIBER

i) Regt preparing for expedition – and went to Copenhagen 2 Sept to seize fleet before Napoleon could do so
ii) Cathcart – General and 1st Earl son of 9th Baron Cathcart, began at the Bar but joined Army, 1803-05 C in C Ireland, 1807 commanded Copenhagen force
iii) Ibbetson – Does not appear in Regimental lists in Cadell or Branigan or in Blakeney


 

Only a proportion of our collections are on display at anyone time.  Certain items are on loan for display in other institutions.  An appointment is required to consult any of our collections which are held in store.

© 2012 Trustees of the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum