Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick English
Biography and letters of Lt Col Frederick English, Royal Engineers
No date at beginning of letter, probably begun on Sunday 24 May 1835
It seems that Kate has expressed concern about the irregularity of English’s letters, so he refers back to his journal of February to show that he was not at fault.
The mention of purchase money for Fred junior is a reminder that, having already bought his commission, it would be necessary to lay down more money for his ...
‘Maroon’ here means a picnic or camping trip into the country, but originally the maroons were escaped slaves who lived in uninhabited parts of the islands to evade the law.
My dear Kate
Your most agreeable letter of the 30th April I have read over and over again, in fact the whole dispatch was written in such superior spirits to what have reached me of late that I was quite enchanted. ...
Ange René Armand, baron de Mackau, a year older than English, was a veteran of numerous colonial battles. At this time, he was commander-in-chief of the naval forces of the Antilles and governor of Martinique. France had recognised the independent republic of Haiti, but the slaves in the remaining colonies had not been freed. It is not surprising, therefore, that Mackau wanted to see for himself ...
This letter is addressed to Mrs English at Catisfield rather than Wickham; it was sent by the packet from Dominica.
You will be astonished my dear Kate to observe my letter dated at sea, however so it is. Dominica is in sight and we expect to land there this afternoon. The history of this move will appear before you read to the third page. I have frequently surmised in my letters to you of late that ...
Diamond Rock is an outcrop at the southern extremity of the French island of Martinique. It was captured by the Royal Navy in 1804, enabling them to control the channel between Martinique and St Lucia, and to render the base at Port Royal unusable. The garrison was finally overcome by superior French forces in June 1805.
There is another reference here to young Fred’s promotion hopes, with ...
This letter is written from St Ann’s, headquarters of the garrison, now part of the UNESCO World Heritage site Historic Bridgetown.
Guayra is a mystery. There are places of that name, but none where Sir Charles would visit.
If this sultry weather will admit of it I will write you in lively mood, but in truth it nearly overwhelms ever sense of spirit. A lassitude perfectly disgusting and not to ...
The first European colonies on the banks of the rivers Demerara and Essequibo were Dutch. In 1796, when the Netherlands were under French occupation, a British force seized the colony and founded British Guiana, naming the principal town Georgetown in honour of George III.
‘Captain O’Brien’ may be a reference to the late husband of Aunt O’Brien and father of Mary, but he had died in 1808.
My ...
No address or date at head: begun on 2 September 1835 at Demerara
The Ann Mondel I understand my dear Kate is to sail tomorrow, but these merchant vessels appear very uncertain as to the time of departure, and I fear you will be disappointed in not receiving letters regularly as heretofore by the Packets. However, all the correspondence with England is by the sugar ships, some of which generally ...
The Survey was a branch of the Royal Engineers in which English had been employed in Ireland. Colonel (later Major-General) Thomas Frederick Colby was its Superintendent from 1820 to 1847. English’s low opinion of him is unexplained; historians have hailed him as the architect of the modern Ordnance Survey. Mapping had begun in Scotland soon after the battle of Culloden. Priority was given ...
John Oldfield was English’s contemporary at Woolwich. He had been present at Waterloo, and was now Commanding Royal Engineer in Newfoundland with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. The two were exchanging letters; meanwhile their sons were fellow cadets.
With the Great Reform Act safely on the statute book, the Whig administration turned its attention to the cities and towns of England and Wales, ...