Collections - Letters
Letters of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Bevan, 1804-1811.
Letter Number 68
Dated: 28th February 1811. C.B. Torres Vedras Addressed to Mrs C
Bevan, Money Hill, Rickmansworth, Herts
Stamped on address fold ‘Mr 12 1811 & Lisbon’
I have at length, my dearest Mary, the pleasure of receiving letters
from you those of the 16, 21 & 28 January all containing good news of
our dear little people, of their dear Mother and of all their and my
friends, except poor Mrs Bevan for whom I am most truly sorry – The
course that you say her disorder has taken will I hope for one
favourable and that she will recover her health and good looks. With
regard to my Mother changing her plans of abode I am a good deal
astonished; not hearing from any one of my own family concerned the more
distressed I was of such proceedings: however I am to suppose they no
longer consider me as belonging to them, and certainly not over the case
---; rather the lot of poverty. Had I a fortune of Five Thousand a year
I dare --- in the eyes of all my friends. I might become a clever parson
(person?). But I must have the last spoon of patience, if I can it is
difficult in acquiring but I have been now some time at school and
perhaps shall, before I die, take my degree. I humbly confess I should
have thought the neighbourhood of Chenies the last place on earth except
Bedington that would have been selected! But I suspect there is more in
this than meets the eye – I am perfectly acquainted with the movements
of that corps & I will know who takes a leading part in preparing the
measures. Poor Julia I am sure, would rather stay where she is; & as to
the means of keeping a second servant I could suggest other ways than
that of changing houses – I dare wager that in three years more they
will be in London. This is so very disagreeable to me because I know how
folks make these things a matter of conversation and ridicule. But I
know not what end my writing on this subject will achieve except indeed
that of filling my letter and in the present dearth of any thing to say
perhaps that is something, as I flatter myself there is one person on
earth who has some regard for me and that person would rather read stuff
written by me than nothing. I am glad your Mother is making a trip to
Town – The change for a short time will be of benefit to her. With
regard to some other parts of yours, I have no right to say one word ---
--- Mrs P. I insufficiently know (hole near seal) the parting to give
any opinion, but from what I have heard from many people of Mrs ?Meades,
I should apprehend much cloudy weeks in that part of the region. I heard
a good deal of that family from Colonel Trench ? of the 89th who was
Adjutant General to the Newcastle station when Sir Tr --- commanded the
district.
I conclude Paterson has received letters as well as myself. I have just
been wishing to know. I hope your next letter will give me an account of
the perfect restoration of poor little Edward & also pray be so good as
to tell me how Mrs T.C. Bevan does because in your three letters there
is not one word of her and as she is a tolerably good sort of person I
wish particularly the state of her health. I conclude that the London
Party consists of your Mother & the younger sisters – leaving the Two
Matrons in the country.
I am going to write to Mrs Williams but I shall not mention a word about
the act--- operations.
I perhaps by the next packet may hear from them. These same packets are
sadly uncertain in their coming. Our latest paper date is the 4th of
this month and we ought to have those up to the 16th or 17th.
Make my best love to all our friends
God Bless you & yours – I am always Yrs
C.B.
Torres Vedras
28th February 1811
NOTES BY TRANSCRIBER
i) Mrs Bevan & later Mrs T.C. Bevan: although it seems strange that he
does not speak of his grandmother this lady is possibly CB’s paternal
grandmother – his grandfather was certainly Thomas Bevan
ii) Chenies is a small town/village between Latimer and Chorley Wood
iii) Bedington as spelled not identified – Beddington is part of Croydon
from W Croydon between W Croydon and Wallington (near the latter South
Beddington) Elsewhere there is some indication that CB’s mother’s house
was near Croydon
iv) Mrs P – only suggestion is Mrs Paterson i.e. Mary’s sister who CB
has elsewhere jocularly written of in this way
v) Mrs Meades – fairly clear - not identified
vi) Col Trench – fairly clear but not identified. 89th became Royal
Irish Fusiliers (a list of 1794 shows a Maj Gen Trench. Newcastle –
presumably on-Tyne
vii) General Tr---? Cannot guess
viii) Edward – CB’s second son
ix) Mrs Williams – CB elsewhere referred to a Col Williams recently
promoted
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.