Collections - Letters
Letters of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Bevan, 1804-1811.
Letter Number 26
Dated: 8 Feb 1810 from CB Portsmouth
Addressed to Mrs C Bevan, Mrs Dacres, Money Hill, Rickmansworth, Herts
My dearest Mary
Contrary to my expectation this day past has brought no intelligence to
the Admiral respecting the destination of the two Regiments now
embarked; many think we are to land, many think otherwise and for my
part I hardly know what to think.
Tomorrow ---------(4 illeg words) ---
I am glad to hear Mrs Dacres is so much better – Should we go to
Portugal. Paterson will of course hear from his friend Torrens. This
however is not the prevalent opinion here, though I am much inclined to
think that unless a change takes place in the government we shall go
there then – In that case the second Batalion of the 28th will certainly
return to England immediately, as the two would do no more than make one
efficient Battalion, of course this would be the First. I will however
write to him the moment I hear anything certain – He will probably hear
it first from the Horse Gds.
I shall be very sorry if our convoy is changed as I like Capt. Lysaght
very much – and indeed I may not succeed in getting a passage with
another man. Captain Cadogan is now here and made many enquiries after
your family – I hear he is immediately to be married but this is a
secret so keep it to yourself to oblige Lady Errol I think, a Miss
Blake.
I am going to dinner with General Whitham – much to my satisfaction as
it will cost me nothing –
I have no more today – but love to my young men – God Bless you
Your C.B.
Portsmouth
February 7 1810
I quite forgot to tell you I saw Genl Paget here yesterday – I had a
moving enquiry about you – he will go to Town this morning
NOTES BY TRANSCRIBER
i) Patterson (or Paterson_ sometimes spoken of in these letters as ‘Jim’
– but seems likely to have been Capt Charles Paterson who married
Eleanor Dacres and appears in 28th Regt Lists – is mentioned by Blakeney
for his gallantry in the Pyranees battles when he was a Brevet Lieut Col
ii) Cadogan – not id – perhaps con with the family of the Earl Cadogan
(created 1800)
iii) Lady Errol & Miss Blake not identified
iv) Genl Paget – Must have been Major Gen Hon Sir Edward Paget whose
first Brigade Major CB was 1800-1804
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.