King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

Letters of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Bevan, 1804-1811.

Letter Number 35

Dated: 26th April 1810 from CB Ceuta
Addressed to Mrs C Bevan, Money Hill, Rickmansworth, Herts

My dearest Mary, Your letters always afford me very great pleasure, but most truly so when they are (4 words illeg) that gives me reason to hope you are as well in health as I am and – to be and as comfortable as some – distinctly will show. I am very much pleased to have so good an account of your Mother. I hope she will not be driven from Money Hill by the cold weather, I thank my friend Eleanor for her love, and what so poor a man as Hamlet is “may do to express his love & friendship to her, Heaven willing, shall not lack, so with all my love I do commend me to her.” I am very glad she is with you, as your confinement is approaching, God Bless and protect you my beloved Mary! – in the midst of so many good nurses and good friends I have every reason to hope for good accounts. I will not more than I can help, think of the reverse – My letters from my sisters and Mother are totally intent on wheat has taken place in the vicinity of Rickmansworth. They talk of moving to Rottingdean – I am glad to learn that Mrs Bevan is likely to be so well off. She can have no reason to complain if the accounts of Mr Trail are true and she has the happiness of knowing that her little girl will be handsomely provided for –

How does James and his wife? I expected to have heard that they were settled in their new house – Lucky people to have one. I am still expecting to hear of the promotion of Col Wynch. Our men that were left in England have certainly sailed for this place and we daily look for them. The Regt here is getting quite well – To me all the Officers who have not been out of England, are rather sickly – but disorders of no great importance – Is it not odd that I should continue in luck – God knows your old saying that a creaking door hanging long on its hinges – so with me –

Former times show myself to hope that an evening of happiness may succeed to the troubled days of one’s life – But so many things must take place to a ---illeg word --- of this that I am not too sanguine – God knows what is best and our part is obedience --- From you my excellent Mary, I have derived many lessons and hope that I shall one day be enabled at least to place you above want – Our Children must better their Father’s thoughts with a difficult world

I will not give you any more Blue Devils. But when I think of home I cannot help being somewhat melancholy. I pray you give my best love to all your family. I hope soon to embrace you & our Boys. Until then God protect you & them

Farewell! Ever yours Charles B

Ceuta 26 April


NOTES BY TRANSCRIBER

i) Eleanor – Mary’s sister who had recently married CB’s close friend Capt Charles Paterson, 28th Foot
ii) Hamlet – the quotation is from Act 1, Scene V, lines 185-187 freely adapted:
Hamlet to Horatio et al as Ghost disappears
“(Rest, rest perturbed Spirit. So Gentlemen …)
With all my love I do commend me to you
And what so poor a man as Hamlet is
May do to express his love and friending to you,
God willing shall not lack. (Let’s go in together)
iii) Rickmansworth – where Mrs Dacres lived. Mrs Bevan’s connection there not known. Rottingdean – Mrs Bevan visited there – or perhaps took a house there
iv) Trail Mr or it could be Mrs, not identified
v) Wynch – C.O. 1st Bn Kings Own 4th Foot, who was to be promoted and CB had been told he would replace him in 1st Bn in Portugal