King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

Letters of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Bevan, 1804-1811.

Letter Number 44

Dated: 20th July 1810 from CB Ceuta
Addressed to Mrs C Bevan, Money Hill, Rickmansworth, Herts


My dearest Mary,

I have been here for two days and up to my Eyes in business you must not therefore expect a long epistle from here. I return to Ceuta as soon as possible. There is no news of any kind or sort; hurry, bustle & confusion and heat enough. The Packet is daily expected from England and will I therefore assume before my departure from Gib. I came here principally to get things for the Regt and to enquire into the probable destiny of the Ceuta garrison, that is of this 4th Regt. I am afraid will not be as quick; however if all my hopes fail in this way, still I shall be able to get leave of absence, I found all my friends from 28th tolerably well. Mrs Mullins looking very thin & her poor little boy you would not know. I mentioned to you in a former letter that she had lost one child, since then several. – Some people talk of Belson’s marriage but I should imagine it only a Gibraltar report which are very numerous but not always very true – The Commissioner is very civil and has offered his big Yacht to return to Ceuta, of which offer I shall certainly avail myself – and I shall be glad to be back. Poor Browne has been dangerously ill at Tarifa --- the Walcheren fever – But 4th is now recovering. Our men here begin to get a little better but we have still a long list of sick – I hope they will soon send the Regiment home. That will be the best way to come cure them all. – I think that if they can do so they will, but at present I imagine Lord Wellington’s Army must occupy a great place of the mind of government.

I have not heard from Paterson I talked to Fraser (?or Isaac) who has had a letter from him – But containing no particular news – I hope that will feed you and all little sisters quite well

Please make my best love to all at ------ Both yours and Bevans God Bless you my dear Mary

Ever your Own C.B.
Gibraltar July 20th 1810


NOTES BY TRANSCRIBER

i) CB was expecting to return to England where 1st Bn 4 Ft was, to take over as C.O. when Lynch received his expected promotion to Brigadier
ii) 28th – His former 28th Foot was at Gibraltar, part at Tarifa
iii) Mrs Mullins – wife of Hon Capt E Mullins 28th Ft
iv) Belson – Lieut Col C.O. 28th Foot
v) Commissioner - there has been mention before of this official – presumably equivalent of Governor
vi) Browne – Major F Browne 2 i/c 28th Foot – the Senior when CB was Major in 28th
vii) Paterson – CB’s old friend in 28th who had recently married Mary’s sister
viii) Fraser? This scrawled name pres a 28th Officer – not identified