The Drake Letters 045
YOU ARE HERE: Drake Letters ► 45. Drake to Louisa 8 January 1855
44. Drake to Louisa 4 January 1855 ◄ ● ► 46. Drake to Louisa 12 January 1855
William Henry Drake (Balaklava) № 36 – Louisa Drake (London), 8 January 1855
| № 36 | Balaklava 8 Jany. 1855 1 |
My dear Lu,
Thanks for yours of the 19/21 Decr. recd. here on Twelfthday 2 we are expecting another mail today – Since my last on the 5th Inst. nothing new has occurred, no news has been recd. of our Promotion but that of course you will have long before us – Mr. Filder has told me if not promoted he will give me the Acting rank a promise which leads me to hope he thinks I shall be promoted – I have found out one reason of his great civility towards me – I became well acquainted here with Sir Edwd. Colebrooke 3 a Bart with some £12,000 a year – we are often together I had once seen him in London when I don’t remember Seeing us together one day, Mr. F asked Sir E. C. if he had known me long & he replied oh yes we are very old Friends – F likes great people & had met him at Sir C Trevelyans & at some other big wigs in London & heard from Mr. Tremenheere 4 that Sir E. was great gun. – The other day he spoke to me about Sir E & said what I have told you as to what he said about our acquaintance Now of course next to great folks are those great folk are civil to & thus my standing with him is partially explained – Our work rather increases than otherwise in consequence of the humbug of potted game & plumb puddings sent out trash unfit for Soldiers in the field cannot be got up to them & the Ships crowd our harbor so that we cannot work the Vessels with the actual necessaries of life on board – I hope to hear of my Father’s gout having departed by next mail I see the French advertise the Marseilles Steamer to leave direct for Pera on each Monday at 3 P.M. & for Pera via Malta each Thursday 10 A.M. & to arrive there fr. Turkey on Tuesday at 5 A.M. & Saturdays 3 P.M. add two days to Marseilles & that will give you the day to close & to expect letters from me the latter will be Thursdays & Monday Nt. or Tuesday morning as I never fail to write if only just to say I am well – & that is nearly all I have to say twice a week – Lundy has not yet arrived I look for him daily – I hope the girls enjoyed their holidays & that the weather has been favorable I hope you have had a good Xmas pantomime for Loll 5 especially. There are many things to see in London & they may not have such a chance again – Mr. Read 6 is quite well I had a short note from him this morning asking me to take care of a portmanteau for him – Our weather has for four days been fine & frosty, but though fine Several men had died from Cold in the Trenches & 2 Officers whose names I did not hear – Capt. Swinton 7 Rl. Artillery was suffocated in his tent with charcoal a few days ago – The third who has died so you may depend upon it, my House & fire are not to be lightly thought of in these days – I am snug & warm & have a good bed very good things all. Lord Raglan has been to Balaklava today the 1st time for many weeks – he has also once, since Inkerman 8 visited some Divisions but only once they say – He remains snugly at home – has plenty of Coal, of Sheep [sp?] & good things He is no favorite with his Army who call him the Marshal of the Staff – not of the Army many got Brevet rank who did nothing it’s a regular Rotten Row Staff. Love & Kisses to all & believe me Your affectionate Hub
W. H. Drake
Footnotes
1. Private family manuscript (Judith Hall and Sally Mac, Auckland, New Zealand). ▲
2. The twelfth day of Christmas, 6 January. ▲
3. Sir Thomas Edward Colebrooke, Bart. ▲
4. Hugh Seymour Tremenheere. ▲
5. Henry’s youngest daughter, Laura Mary Drake. ▲
6. Surgeon Constantine Caridi Read. ▲
7. Captain William Swinton, Royal Artillery. ▲
8. The Battle of Inkerman took place on 5 November 1854. ▲
44. Drake to Louisa 4 January 1855 ◄ ● ► 46. Drake to Louisa 12 January 1855
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