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From The Letters of Lieutenant John George, RM.
Excerpt from a letter to Mister Stephen George, Haverfordwest, dated February 9th 1799.
'I received an inclosure of £10 in yours which makes your goodness too much; I did not expect it and indeed I am not pleased for your sending it being willing to do the utmost in my power without distressing you, but to say the truth I was quite reduced in cash and you must pardon me in saying that sooner than troubling you I was necessitated to draw Bill on my Agent for about ten guineas before hand having a long Bill in Plymouth for my uniform, cot bed & bedding, my Breakfast Clothes and also for my hat and numerous articles too tedious to mention, but will send you every particular in a short time. However, you may rely upon my word that I shall not be in the lease extravagant in my way of living.
I wrote to you by the next post after I wrote to you, to Mary to consult between my Mother and poor Mr Cleaveland about shirts, being told that 2 dozen shirts was but an indifferent stock to take to sea, there being on board some ships no women allowed. I should be glad to know as early as possible your opinion whether you could get them for me for me to get them here, as for the carriage of a small box would be trifling from H'west to this first getting it sent to George in Bristol and for him to forward it here. There is necessity for anything but shirts as the General does not allow any colour clothes to be worn at any time but the uniform. I shall be obliged to get a larger trunk, or a sea chest, very soon not having room for my clothes, and also in the course of a fortnight, 2 silver table spoons and 2 tea spoons not being in immediate want of them on account of my Servant buying some metal spoons, without being ordered.
'I have got a room in the Barracks & hopes to make myself pretty comfortable in a short time, but have not got my cot bed or bedding yet, I don't know how I shall find it in sleeping on a mattress rather odd, I should think, being never used to lay on such a thing before, I but shall soon come to it.'
Excerpts from a letter to Miss Mary George, Haverfordwest, dated February 9th 1799.
'I received yours of the 1st inst. late yesterday evening and should have wrote by this evening's post, only being preparing for Drill where about 8 of us attends every day, but have wrote to my Father & Mother which is all the same: however I am now seated in my own room by a good fire embracing every opportunity in writing to you, hoping to find you all in good health as I am at present.
I have been here almost a fortnight already and spends my time pretty agreeable being got acquainted with some of the officers. I very seldom sits down to drink wine without it is a chance day, there being what is called two Grand Days in the week where wine is put on the table with the dinner and then it is impossible for any officer to avoid it. I expect to lay in my cot about Monday next for the first time and intends subscribing to a circulating library when I shall pass part of the evenings more comfortable. I have already had one lot of books in 3 vols. called The Castle of Burktholme: it is rather a foolish book. In looking over Steel's List I find there is a great many below me and most of them have joined the Division. There is one Mr Perkins, a very agreeable young man just joined, plays on the flute exceedingly well: he is one from Leicestershire and the distance from this to his home is upwards of 300 miles.'
'I was obliged to lay my pen down last night, being interrupted by some of the Officers calling on me. I suppose you would scarcely know me in my uniform with a great 3-cocked hat. I very seldom dress before 4 in the afternoon on account of my going to drill with several others in the morning from 11 to near to one o'clock, and we don't dine till 5; there is no lace on our dress, only the two epaulets. I have had one pair of kerseymere breeches & waistcoasts and have spoke for another, and I shall be obliged to get a pair of doe skin breeches, being very lasting and serviceable. When I come down to H'west I will bring my whole dress with me when I shall have the pleasure of your opinion on them.'
'You must think I find it very odd in dining at 5 where formerly I used to dine at 1, but I very seldom eat any supper afterwards, without it is of a chance I shall fall in company with some of the Officers, then it is impossible for me to avoid it. I have breakfast for nearly a week in my own room on tea have bought 1/3 of Ca Tea and 1/2 lb White and 1/2 Brown Sugar and gets fresh rolls every morning and some cream so that in a short time [shall] make myself pretty comfortable.'
Excerpts from a letter to Mister Stephen George, Haverfordwest, dated February 13th 1799.
'Your goodness is too much, my dear Mother, in getting me rigged out as you does. I shall want nothing but a few shirts which you are so good to you are getting ready for me, having got a mattress, 3 blankets, 2 pair sheets, pillow and 2 pillow cases and 6 towels from a shopkeeper in Plymouth by the recommendation of Capt. Weir. I am heartily obliged to you for your kind offer in sending me a bed but I really don't want anything at present. I have also got 2 Breakfast Clothes from the same man in Plymouth. I have given him an order on Coombe, my agent, for £20 (being about 6 weeks pay before hand, there being now due to me 11 guineas) not being willing to distress you but have not settled the bill on account of there being no answer from my agent & not having called at Plymouth these 3 days. I dare say his bill is near £20, he paying for my hat and the making of 1 suit of uniform and 2 waistcoats & breeches by desire of Capt. Weir's brother. As soon as I settle with him I'll send you the bill to look at under cover to Lord K. which I expect will be tomorrow. There is a great number of Officers in Barracks at present and mostly very agreeable. Most possibly I shall come down early in the summer for 2 or 3 months on leave of absence, if I don't embark before then, which I don't think I shall as there are so many Officers here and no great call for them.'
'I shall be obliged when I embark on board ship to get 2 large table cloths, 4 1/2 yards long, but there is no necessity for them at present as they might be easily got at a minute's warning. I have not bought a trunk not having time being obliged to attend the Drill-Serjeant daily with several other young officers who after drilling us is to receive half a guinea from each. I have got in my trunk £16 which will last me a long time and should esteem it a very happy thing if I could repay you for your very great kindness to me. I find my complaint as I had getting a great deal better, quite well, and makes myself comfortable in my room, breakfasting on tea and seldom eats supper after dinner on account of our dining so late, and indeed very seldom goes out of the Barracks after night without a great deal of persuasion from some of my fellow Officers and then only to Plymouth or to Dock and some times to the Play.'
Excerpt from a letter to Mister Stephen George, Haverfordwest, dated February 9th 1799.
'I received an inclosure of £10 in yours which makes your goodness too much; I did not expect it and indeed I am not pleased for your sending it being willing to do the utmost in my power without distressing you, but to say the truth I was quite reduced in cash and you must pardon me in saying that sooner than troubling you I was necessitated to draw Bill on my Agent for about ten guineas before hand having a long Bill in Plymouth for my uniform, cot bed & bedding, my Breakfast Clothes and also for my hat and numerous articles too tedious to mention, but will send you every particular in a short time. However, you may rely upon my word that I shall not be in the lease extravagant in my way of living.
I wrote to you by the next post after I wrote to you, to Mary to consult between my Mother and poor Mr Cleaveland about shirts, being told that 2 dozen shirts was but an indifferent stock to take to sea, there being on board some ships no women allowed. I should be glad to know as early as possible your opinion whether you could get them for me for me to get them here, as for the carriage of a small box would be trifling from H'west to this first getting it sent to George in Bristol and for him to forward it here. There is necessity for anything but shirts as the General does not allow any colour clothes to be worn at any time but the uniform. I shall be obliged to get a larger trunk, or a sea chest, very soon not having room for my clothes, and also in the course of a fortnight, 2 silver table spoons and 2 tea spoons not being in immediate want of them on account of my Servant buying some metal spoons, without being ordered.
'I have got a room in the Barracks & hopes to make myself pretty comfortable in a short time, but have not got my cot bed or bedding yet, I don't know how I shall find it in sleeping on a mattress rather odd, I should think, being never used to lay on such a thing before, I but shall soon come to it.'
Excerpts from a letter to Miss Mary George, Haverfordwest, dated February 9th 1799.
'I received yours of the 1st inst. late yesterday evening and should have wrote by this evening's post, only being preparing for Drill where about 8 of us attends every day, but have wrote to my Father & Mother which is all the same: however I am now seated in my own room by a good fire embracing every opportunity in writing to you, hoping to find you all in good health as I am at present.
I have been here almost a fortnight already and spends my time pretty agreeable being got acquainted with some of the officers. I very seldom sits down to drink wine without it is a chance day, there being what is called two Grand Days in the week where wine is put on the table with the dinner and then it is impossible for any officer to avoid it. I expect to lay in my cot about Monday next for the first time and intends subscribing to a circulating library when I shall pass part of the evenings more comfortable. I have already had one lot of books in 3 vols. called The Castle of Burktholme: it is rather a foolish book. In looking over Steel's List I find there is a great many below me and most of them have joined the Division. There is one Mr Perkins, a very agreeable young man just joined, plays on the flute exceedingly well: he is one from Leicestershire and the distance from this to his home is upwards of 300 miles.'
'I was obliged to lay my pen down last night, being interrupted by some of the Officers calling on me. I suppose you would scarcely know me in my uniform with a great 3-cocked hat. I very seldom dress before 4 in the afternoon on account of my going to drill with several others in the morning from 11 to near to one o'clock, and we don't dine till 5; there is no lace on our dress, only the two epaulets. I have had one pair of kerseymere breeches & waistcoasts and have spoke for another, and I shall be obliged to get a pair of doe skin breeches, being very lasting and serviceable. When I come down to H'west I will bring my whole dress with me when I shall have the pleasure of your opinion on them.'
'You must think I find it very odd in dining at 5 where formerly I used to dine at 1, but I very seldom eat any supper afterwards, without it is of a chance I shall fall in company with some of the Officers, then it is impossible for me to avoid it. I have breakfast for nearly a week in my own room on tea have bought 1/3 of Ca Tea and 1/2 lb White and 1/2 Brown Sugar and gets fresh rolls every morning and some cream so that in a short time [shall] make myself pretty comfortable.'
Excerpts from a letter to Mister Stephen George, Haverfordwest, dated February 13th 1799.
'Your goodness is too much, my dear Mother, in getting me rigged out as you does. I shall want nothing but a few shirts which you are so good to you are getting ready for me, having got a mattress, 3 blankets, 2 pair sheets, pillow and 2 pillow cases and 6 towels from a shopkeeper in Plymouth by the recommendation of Capt. Weir. I am heartily obliged to you for your kind offer in sending me a bed but I really don't want anything at present. I have also got 2 Breakfast Clothes from the same man in Plymouth. I have given him an order on Coombe, my agent, for £20 (being about 6 weeks pay before hand, there being now due to me 11 guineas) not being willing to distress you but have not settled the bill on account of there being no answer from my agent & not having called at Plymouth these 3 days. I dare say his bill is near £20, he paying for my hat and the making of 1 suit of uniform and 2 waistcoats & breeches by desire of Capt. Weir's brother. As soon as I settle with him I'll send you the bill to look at under cover to Lord K. which I expect will be tomorrow. There is a great number of Officers in Barracks at present and mostly very agreeable. Most possibly I shall come down early in the summer for 2 or 3 months on leave of absence, if I don't embark before then, which I don't think I shall as there are so many Officers here and no great call for them.'
'I shall be obliged when I embark on board ship to get 2 large table cloths, 4 1/2 yards long, but there is no necessity for them at present as they might be easily got at a minute's warning. I have not bought a trunk not having time being obliged to attend the Drill-Serjeant daily with several other young officers who after drilling us is to receive half a guinea from each. I have got in my trunk £16 which will last me a long time and should esteem it a very happy thing if I could repay you for your very great kindness to me. I find my complaint as I had getting a great deal better, quite well, and makes myself comfortable in my room, breakfasting on tea and seldom eats supper after dinner on account of our dining so late, and indeed very seldom goes out of the Barracks after night without a great deal of persuasion from some of my fellow Officers and then only to Plymouth or to Dock and some times to the Play.'
