Notes and Queries, Vol. V, Number 126, March 27, 1852: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.Various
History
Notes and Queries, Vol. V, Number 126, March 27, 1852: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.
Various
Questions and answers -- Periodicals
Here, unfortunately, the remainder of the sheet has been torn off, and
the continuation of the excellent precepts it no doubt contained, is
irretrievably lost. Enough has luckily been preserved to show what an
admirably disciplined soldier mind Wolfe possessed, taken in conjunction
with the outline of military reading, pointed out in the letter
contributed by Mr. Cole, already alluded to, and written with the same
kindly object (the instruction of youthful officers), probably only a
few months prior to the date of the mutilated one.
As it may be thought desirable to say something more than I have done,
regarding the packet of Wolfe's letters in my custody, I beg to state
that the officer to whom they are all addressed, was William Rickson, a
native of Pembroke. He was eight years older than Wolfe. They appear to
have served together in Flanders. Both were at the battle of Dettigen,
and their names appear in the list of promotions consequent on that
victory. Rickson and young Wolfe were also in the same regiment,
commanded by Wolfe's father, in Flanders. I think it was then known as
"Onslows." Both father and son appear to have felt a strong attachment
to Rickson: this appears from the letters. On the part of James Wolfe in
particular, this attachment was of the most ardent description. In one
letter, dated Banff (Scotland), 9th June, 1751, he thus writes to
Rickson:
"I believe that no man can have a sincerer regard for you than
myself, nor can any man wish to serve and assist you with more
ardour;" and "Attachments between men of certain characters do
generally arise from something alike in their natures, and should
never fall from a certain degree of firmness, that makes them the
same all the world over, and incapable of any diminution. I have
(as you justly acknowledge) a perseverance in friendship, that
time, nor distance, nor circumstance, can defeat,--nay, even
neglect can hardly conquer it; and you are just as warm and as
near me in North America as you would be upon the spot."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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