Notes and Queries, Vol. IV, Number 110, December 6, 1851: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.Various
History
Notes and Queries, Vol. IV, Number 110, December 6, 1851: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.
Various
Questions and answers -- Periodicals
You farther state, that Wolfe was ardently attached to Colonel Barré. It
is curious enough that their introduction to each other was chiefly in
consequence of a letter which Barré carried to Wolfe, from the officer
to whom Wolfe's letters in my possession are addressed. In one of these,
dated "Portsmouth, 7th Feb. 1758," Wolfe, after speaking favourably of
Barré, states--
"I did not know that Barré was your friend, nor even your
acquaintance. Now that I do know it, I shall value him the
more.... I trust I shall have good reason to thank the man that
mentioned him. Nay, I am already overpaid, by the little that I
did, by drawing out of his obscurity so worthy a gentleman. I
never saw his face till very lately, nor ever spoke ten words to
him before I ventured to propose him as a Major of Brigade."
And he adds:
"Barré and I have the great apartment of a three-decked ship to
revel in, but, with all this space, and fresh air, I am sick to
death. Time, I suppose, will deliver me from these sufferings
[sea-sickness], though in former trials I never could overcome
it", &c.
I cordially assent to your encomium on England's young general.
II.--To YUNAFF.
The lady to whom the affectionate and touching lines you have quoted
were addressed was Miss Louther, a sister of Sir James Louther; rich,
highly accomplished, and most amiable. Wolfe was to have been married to
her, had he returned from Quebec. She was very averse to his accepting
the command. But nothing could stay his military ardour, even though in
indifferent health. Well might the epithet be applied to him--"favourite
son of Minerva."
Miss Louther was an object of general sympathy, after her brave lover's
fall; and some of the periodicals of the day contain beautiful verses,
addressed to her, appropriate to the occasion. This lady's _name_ is not
mentioned in any of Wolfe's letters in my possession; but an _allusion_
is made to her incidentally. She was a favourite with the old general
and Mrs. Wolfe. In one of the early letters a graphic description is
given by young Wolfe of another lady of rank, with whom he was much
smitten. That was before he paid his addresses, however, to Miss
Louther. But I do not feel at liberty to break the seal of confidence
under which this information was communicated in Wolfe's letter, though
at the distance of one hundred years, by mentioning farther particulars.
May I ask if the verses in your possession are signed by Wolfe; or in
his autograph; and dated? It would be very interesting to have precise
information, tending to identity Wolfe as the author of these lines.
III.--To W. A.
I shall be glad to know the contents of the petition, dated February,
1746, and of the six letters mentioned by you. They may throw some light
on Wolfe's history. Will you allow me to communicate with you on this
subject, by letter, through the Editor, as I reside at a distance from
London?
IV.--To J. H. M.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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