Collections - Letters
Letters of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Bevan, 1804-1811.
Letter Number 64
Dated: 1st February 1811. C.B. Torres Vedras Addressed to Mrs C Bevan,
Money Hill, Rickmansworth, Herts
My dearest Mary, I have had the pleasure to receive from Ceuta all the
letters you directed thither. They of course gave me no recent
information as Paterson had written me very good accounts of all my
friends at Money Hill. I have at last got into a tolerable good quarter
which had been previously occupied by General Dunlop, but who quitted it
in consequence of it being flooded whenever the Rain sets in which is
just now the case – I have one half of the house and a Colonel McMahon
the other. We are not acquainted – The General had built a fire place
which I find a source of delectable hear in this very damp weather. We
are very well off for things to eat & for those who have plenty of
money. There is no scarcity of Port wine to drink but it is as dear as
it is in England; it will not therefore suit my finances at present;
When I was obliged to draw on Hoare for the 10£ I was quite ignorant
that the 400 had been removed from his hands. However I wrote to you on
the subject sometime previous to my leaving, I rely on your punctuality
that nothing unpleasant occurs. As I also took the presumption of
writing to them at the same time. The Bill is drawn at thirty days – I
do not know whether I informed you of usual good fortune the very first
day my mules came here, my horse thought it proper to kick one even to
death – and I am obliged to purchase another – I hope we shall stay here
long enough to bring me round for I am almost afraid to look towards
England. But seriously I do not imagine that this state of inaction can
continue many months – one or the other of the two armies must leave the
Country & it will be a great tragedy to its inhabitants. I am (hole near
seal) scenes that are described in Goldsmith’s Deserted Village are here
every December in reality under your eyes and one cannot behold entire
families of all ages and sexes unmoved helpless and almost naked to the
mercy of the winter wind, without almost becoming a philosopher and
shuddering at the horror of it all.
In addition to the many comforts of Torres Vedras we were last night
blessed with a slight touch of an Earthquake. I was awakened by the
shaking of our house but in half a minute or less every thing near me
was perfectly quiet. I concluded it was one of my dreams and I fell
asleep again – The inhabitants of the place were nicely alarmed. I have
not yet heard whether this was felt at Lisbon. The people here are much
afraid it has done mischief – it was only just before I went to bed that
I had been reading an account of Portugal in which there is an account
of the very famous Earthquake some years ago; and this it was perhaps
that induced me to imagine my dreams and so from the paper on my mind. I
only mention this for fear you should hear other accounts and be
unnecessarily alarmed. The Regt I am grieved to say has since the return
of the bad weather relapsed into sickness but I hope when the fine
weather does get in here we shall get rid of all complaints. I had much
pleasure in reading your account of my poor little Boys anxiety and
fears putting on the Manly habit – I have the most perfect remembrance
of my own feelings over that embarrassing occasion as with myself. The
telling of a most tremendous lie which delayed the accomplishment of my
wishes for three days. I hope one day or other I may be permitted to
share with you the happiness of these moments. But in the absence of all
such pleasure I must consider myself on the reflection that I am doing
my utmost to place myself in a situation hereafter to bring reason to my
children. And to you.
God Bless you, my best friend and kiss our dear little girl for me – I
believe the General goes in a hurry – Remember me to all your Family
Yours C.B. I hope your Mother well
February 1 1811
NOTES BY TRANSCRIBER
i) Ceuta – CB had arrived from Ceuta via Gibraltar
ii) Paterson – CB’s old friend in 28th Ft, recently married to Mary’s
sister Eleanor now also living at the Mother’s house Money Hill
iii) General Dunlop – First put in command of the Brigade in Nov 1810
(with 2/30th and 2/44th both arrived from Cadiz. The other English
Brigade was under Hay. The third Brigade was Spry’s Portugese plus 2
companies of Brunswick Oels)
iv) Col McMahon – not identified
v) Goldsmith – Oliver Goldsmith published his poem ‘The Deserted
Village’ in 1770 – a study of the village Auburn
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