BIB_ID
395941
Accession number
MA 13315.20
Creator
Hughes-Hallett, Harry F.
Display Date
[1882] August 3.
Credit line
Bequest of Gordon N. Ray, 1987.
Description
1 item (10 pages) ; 18 x 11.4 cm
Notes
Date inferred from internal evidence.
Harry F. Hughes-Hallett was the commander of the H.M.S. Superb during the vessel's participation in the bombardment of Alexandria on July 11-July 13, 1882 and the ensuing struggle on the part of the British to take control of the city.
Part of a collection of 22 letters to Lord Charles and Lady Beresford from various friends and associates; the letters are described individually (MA 13315.1-22).
Written on stationery printed "Superb".
Harry F. Hughes-Hallett was the commander of the H.M.S. Superb during the vessel's participation in the bombardment of Alexandria on July 11-July 13, 1882 and the ensuing struggle on the part of the British to take control of the city.
Part of a collection of 22 letters to Lord Charles and Lady Beresford from various friends and associates; the letters are described individually (MA 13315.1-22).
Written on stationery printed "Superb".
Provenance
Bequest of Gordon N. Ray, 1987.
Summary
Recounting his recent experiences fighting onshore in Alexandria as part of the struggle to take control of the city following the bombardment, "I came back to the old ship on Sunday having been ashore in command of field guns for 15 days - & got up to the front but had to come back again ... I don't want to enter into details but I killed 70 one afternoon - the other chaps jumped too fast"; hoping that Lord Beresford will be promoted for his role in the bombardment and relating news and gossip concerning naval personnel and their families, including his lieutenant Charles Graves-Sawle, i.e. "Sawle has had a turn on shore, but the new party took Fortescue & Sally has nothing to do now but play picquet with me, and pine for the lost fair ones such a thing as a petticoat not existing in Alexandria, the ladies here all wear ... 'divided skirts' - & don't drink tea - but somehow he managed to get put on guard over the Harem at Ras-el-tin - I suppose I am saying awful things again!"; Punch's cartoon depicting Sir Beauchamp Seymour as "Sir Breach-'Em Seymour" ("it is so like him & the gun makes a tall hat for him"); the damage sustained by his ship, and life on board with so many of his men ashore; with a 2 page post script dated "Aug. 4th", relating gossip he has just heard concerning a midshipman of the H.M.S. Alexandra being held prisoner by Urabi and rumored to be a grandson of the Queen or eldest son of Sir Beauchamp ("What a grand old man Sir B.S. must have been.").
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