| Description | The contents of the letter are as follows (original spelling retained):
"Balaklava 1st Aug[u]st 1855
My Dear Sir
You will I have no doubt be suprised at Reciving this from me but the truth is I do not recolect of aney of my old aquantances to whom I could write in the Old Town. I. A. Mathews am Quite well and hops this will Fund you the saime I hav heard from Alex[and]er Smith Captain of the Hope that you hav now seet up in Busnes on your own account and doing well which I am happy to here. Captain Smith I. Lighton Young Maka and one of the young Thompsons were all well when I saw them in Kamisch Bay [Kamiesch, Crimea - main port and supply base for the French] they are in the French Service Fetching cattle from Varnah [Varna, Bulgaria, then part of the Ottoman Empire and the British and French headquarters during the war] to Kamisch Bay in the Schooner Hope[.] they told me you were married but I forget to whom. I hope you are happy.
their are no newse here of aney moment wee had a grait thunder storm here last night with rain in torrents and Lightning you neve saw aneything half to be compaired with it in Scotland[.] It is one continued Blase without any intermition betwen the Flashes as you hav in scotland and the thunder one continued Roar during the time it lasts which is commonly from 4 to 6 hours[.] this is the second storm of this sort that wee hav had this season their were some mene killed and some men drowned to the number of 10 of the english during the first storm[.] sebastopol I am very sorry to say is still in the possession of the Russians but wee are pressing them verrey hard now & in some places wee are within 50 yards of their main Battries with our advanced works. Formerly their own advanced works that wee have taken From them. evrey one expects that the next attack will be the Grand Fanalley [Finale] of the seige and I trust in God it may for I can tell you I do not want to put in another Winter in this place. Young Roger A Farnside and some others belonging to stonehaven are out here in some highland regement[.] I saw Roger once here but none of the others[.] I shall say nomore at present but hope you will excuse me for the liberty I hav taken in writting to you but the Fitt was on me and I must hav written to some one and as you were the onley one that I recolect of of my old aquantances that is stationarey in stonehaven I wrote to you[.]
when I commenced this I was picturing to myself your shop with all its old occupients Namley Macka with his Iron pipe in his cheek puffing a fine cloud young W[illia]m Perrie D Will Andrew Addam and some others all Bussey Discussing the Topic of the War No More[.] Remember me to all old aquantnces and accipt of my Respects for yourself and Partner of your joys and sorrows may the former be manney and the latter few are the wishes of your wellwisher Bombardier Archibald Mathews No. 7 Co[mpan]y 12th Battalion Royal Artillery Ordnance Department Balaklava Crimea".
With original envelope, addressed to Mr John Morgan, Blacksmith, Old Town Stonehaven, Scotland, with three postage stamps and marked "Via Marseilles" and with a British Army Post Office Stamp.
Also transcript of the original made during Len's custody of the letter. |
| Administrative History | Archibald Kennedy Mathews (b. 1828 in Stonehaven) was part of the 7th Company of the 12th Battalion of the Royal Artillery during the Crimean War, having enlisted in the Artillery in 1848 aged 20.
He does not appear on the Crimean War Casualties index on Find My Past [checked 25th September 2023].
He appears in the Statements of Service for the Royal Artillery at the UK National Archives: Soldier's Number 606 (reference WO 69/170/113 an d73). |