Collections - Letters
Letters of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Bevan, 1804-1811.
Letter Number 50
Dated: 3rd Sept 1810 from CB Ceuta
Addressed to Mrs C Bevan, Money Hill, Rickmansworth, Herts
I have just, my dearest Mary, heard some of the best news that has
reached my ears for some time namely that a very large promotion has
taken place of Colonels to be Major Generals, in which case Lieut Col
Wynch will be appointed as Brigadier and your most obedient humble
Servant will come to England. This item is at hand from Henry Parker has
not yet made its appearance, posts are one more than ever waited. We
have been so constantly expecting it that I have delayed a day or two
waiting in hopes that I would have heard from you. This is the second of
---- the last letter I received was dated on the 1st July - & we have
had no later paper than the 21st of the same month. At Gibraltar however
they must have had later as I understand that this Brevet is on the
30th. Our Communication is so very uncertain with this place that
sometimes a fortnight passes without any English Boat either going or
coming ... If this news be quite correct which I have reason to believe
it is, it is an almighty large Promotion – so much the better for Wynch
et par Consequence for me – I am most heartily sick of this place but I
have kept up my health better than most people have. I take a great deal
of medicine (or elderzine?). My mind is a little employed about my
profession, which does not allow me to entertain my friends the Blue
Devils – Not indeed that we have had quite cut all connection and
acquaintance , but I am certainly not the miserable dog I sometimes used
to be. --- Oh! My good friend – you know an other very good reason,
indeed the chief cause that my mind is not so constantly oppressed with
the cheerless prospect of the Future – May God Bless the person who has
contributed to ease my mind of such a load! I now really long to be
therewith I shall long to see you and our little men – God send that I
may see you all well.
I hope you are not quite so much roasted as we are here – For i take
most of my exercise with the hottest part of the day – In defence of the
sun (?) I have not say (sic) one word in this letter on a certain
subject which would only dampen the letters raise of spirits the news of
the Brevet has given to my imagination – I will if possible for the next
four hours only think of things agreeable - It is not often that my mind
is so long thus pleasantly employed – But this has been my fate all my
life, and I suppose my destiny is unchangeable.
I was in hope to have had a letter from Paterson – Now I have heard from
other quarters, quite well. But we very rarely hear of Lord Wellington’s
Army but through England – I hope my good friend Eleanor is quite well –
Your Mother and sisters also and enjoying the delightful entertainment
of Money Hill – Pray remember me with most affectionate manner to them
all with our little men and yourself I am always your C.B.
NOTES BY TRANSCRIBER
i) Promotions – Wynch: Since he obtained his Lt Colonelcy in Nov 1809
and took 2nd Bn 4th Ft, CB had been waiting for this, having been told
from the start that Wynch, C.O. 1st Bn, was to be promoted to Brigadier
when CB would replace him in 1st Bn which was then in England (he
assumes it will remain there and that he will be with his family)
ii) Brevet – evidently ‘Brevet’ known to us only in the context of the
Honorary, temporary rank, was used generally about the Report of
Promotion, and of course it properly signifies the docket connected with
promotion
iii) Medicine – is oddly spelled but is probably what is meant
iv) Blue Devils CB and Mary’s term for his bouts of melancholia – his
introspection gets worse. It is as well that CB did not have to complete
an Income Tax Return
v) Paterson – Eleanor: CB’s old friend in 28th Ft had married Mary’s
sister Eleanor
vi) News of Lord Wellington’s army: it is tempting to wonder whether the
dearth of direct news from Portugal might have been because the
construction of the Lines or Torres Vedras was under way and the
considerable secrecy with which the project was successfully cloaked ,
led to a clampdown on news to Gibraltar
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