Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick English
Biography and letters of Lt Col Frederick English, Royal Engineers
This letter is dated at the end; it was written on 22 November 1837 from Barbados.
‘Young Naghten’ is Midshipman Henry Naghten, Tom’s younger brother. Reefer is a colloquial term for a midshipman.
Well my dear Kate, don’t you begin to feel weary of such a frequent repetition of the same accounts from Barbados and conveyed in such numerous letters. My last was dated the 14th and ...
Not dated at head, but begun at Barbados on 8 December 1837
New books arrived in Barbados in good time. Jack Brag was a novel by Theodore Edward Hook, famous as a practical joker, published in 1837.
Rebels seeking to overthrow British rule in Upper Canada (now Ontario) took up arms in November, but they were defeated at the Battle of Montgomery’s Tavern on 7 December. However, armed protests ...
‘The Steam Bridge going to Southton’ was the new Woolston floating bridge carrying the road from Portsmouth to Southampton over the estuary of the river Itchen. Opened in 1836, a steam powered chain ferry was built in preference to a swing bridge to minimise interference with river navigation. Steam was used until 1967; it was replaced by a concrete bridge in 1977. English’s request for ...
Such a favorable opportunity offers my dear Kate that I must not allow it to pass without sending you a short letter, notwithstanding the packet sails a few days afterwards. The Gannet Capt Wick leaves us tomorrow for England direct and will touch at Portsmouth for a time. Yesterday Capt Wick called and offered to take any package I could prepare for you. Consequently on my return from the General’s ...
You will be fatigued with deciphering two of my letters in a week dear Kit but the Packet sails tomorrow and write I must or be liable to a Wickham wigging. The victims have landed from Freight ship Halifax packet Capt Cromarty and blooming youths they look for this sun to feast upon. The three dined with me on friday. After reporting their arrival they looked so new that the black ...
My good dear Wife
The long expected William Miles came to anchor yesterday morning early and the 70 & 64 detachments landed in the afternoon. Capt O’Brien is of the party, I hear, but have not yet seen him. No doubt ere this is put into the letter bag, he or the articles, valued they will be as coming from dear home, may be forthcoming. What a pleasure it is, first the anticipation, ...
Fortunately the packet for England is late in making this Island my dear Kate, for every possible contretemps has occurred to conspire against my writing. Your last letter of the 16th or 17th of Jany reached me at St Lucia, thus you will observe that the long anticipated tour of Inspection with the Genl & Staff has commenced. We embarked on thursday the 8th of ...
This letter appears incomplete – probably a sheet has been lost.
Various events have transpired since I wrote to you my dear Kate from Dominica, and of moment in our small society in so far as they afford new matter to talk over. The surmises these changes cause are numerous and very amusing to such a poor wither’d burnt up set of mortals doomed to drag on their existence under this scorching ...
Written from Barbados; not dated at head, 1 April 1838 on cover
The use of the word ‘Johny’ to mean a Liberal relates to Lord John Russell, party leader from 1834, and Home Secretary at this time.
Stalleen is a village in County Meath, north of Dublin, Ireland. English must have been there when he was working on the Survey.
Are you my dear Kate still a great Tory or gradually a good Johny, ...
Written from Barbados, not dated at head, dated 16 April 1838 on cover, begun on 15 April. A piece has been cut out, so there are many gaps. This may be explained by the fact that FE wrote an authority to transfer some money to Cox & Co on this letter.
Never read your letters, my dear Kate? Why, I read them over and over, but it so frequently occurs that in the course of the two months or thereabouts ...