Love letters to French sailors confiscated by British 265 years ago finally opened for first time
Personal letters confiscated by Britain’s Royal Navy 265 years ago before they could reach French sailors during the Seven Years’ War have been read for the first time.
Written between 1757 and 1758, the billet-doux (love letters) were meant for the crew onboard the Galatee, a French warship captured by the British.
The wives, fiances, siblings and parents who wrote the letters did not know the ship was taken when they sent them to the French postal administration for delivery.
When the couriers learned the ship had been captured, they forwarded the letters to England, where they were given to the admiralty in London and left in storage.
The academic who discovered the 104 letters from the National Archives in Kew said it was “agonising” how close the letters got to reaching the right people.
Professor Renaud Morieux, from Cambridge University, believes the British opened two letters to see if they gave away any military plans.
Seeing they contained only “family stuff”, they gave up and tucked them away in storage and they would remain unread for more than two centuries.
“There were three piles of letters held together by ribbon,” he said, adding he only asked to look at the box in the archives “out of curiosity”.
“The letters were very small and were sealed so I asked the archivist if they could be opened and he did.
“I realised I was the first person to read these very personal messages since they were written. Their intended recipients didn’t get that chance.
“It was very emotional.”
‘I cannot wait to possess you’
One of the letters was addressed to the ship’s first lieutenant, Louis Chambrelan, and was written by his wife Marie Dubosc.
“I could spend the night writing to you… I am your forever faithful wife,” she wrote. “Good night, my dear friend. It is midnight. I think it is time for me to rest.”
The pair never saw each other again after Dubosc died the following year in Le Havre, while Chambrelan remarried in France in 1761.
In another letter, Anne Le Cerf told her husband Jean Topsent, a non-commissioned officer: “I cannot wait to possess you.”
A love letter from Anne Le Cerf to her husband Jean Topsent. Pic: Cambridge University
Prof Morieux said the letters are about “universal human experiences” and aren’t “unique to France or the 18th century”.
“They reveal how we all cope with major life challenges,” he said.
“When we are separated from loved ones by events beyond our control, like the pandemic or wars, we have to work out how to stay in touch, how to reassure, care for people and keep the passion alive.
“Today we have Zoom and WhatsApp. In the 18th century, people only had letters, but what they wrote about feels very familiar.”
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Prof Morieux identified every member of the Galatee’s 181-strong crew after months decoding the letters, which were written with wild spelling and no punctuation.
The letters were addressed to a quarter of the crew and he carried out genealogical research into the men and their correspondents to learn more about their lives.
His research is published in the journal Annales. Histoire, Sciences Sociales.
An outbreak of a waterborne disease in Devon has prompted urgent warnings for residents to boil their tap water.
At least 22 cases of cryptosporidiosis disease have been confirmed in and around the town of Brixham in South West England.
But what is the parasite that is making people sick, what are the symptoms of being infected with it and how serious can it be?
What is cryptosporidiosis disease?
Cryptosporidiosis is the disease caused by the parasite cryptosporidium.
Often shortened to crypto, infections can be caused by drinking contaminated water or swallowing contaminated water in swimming pools or streams.
It can also be acquired through contact with the faeces of infected animals or humans.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of cryptosporidiosis include:
• profuse watery diarrhoea
• stomach pains
• nausea or vomiting
• low-grade fever
• loss of appetite
How long does it last?
Most people develop symptoms within one to 12 days of picking up the parasite.
Symptoms usually last for about two weeks, but can last up to six weeks or longer when the immune system is not working properly.
During the illness, you might think you are getting better but the illness returns a couple of days later before you fully recover.
How serious is it?
Most people recover, but in people with severely weakened immune systems it can cause severe disease and can be fatal.
Serious cases and death used to be more common, according to Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia (UEA).
This is because before effective antiretroviral treatments were introduced for HIV/AIDS, people living with these illnesses would not recover if they picked up cryptosporidiosis.
Who is most at risk of serious illness?
People with weak immune systems are at greater risk of serious illness. This includes:
• people on some immunosuppressive drugs, for example cancer or transplant patients
• people with untreated HIV/AIDS
• malnourished children
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Residents ‘worried’ over water parasite
Does it need treatment?
There is no specific treatment for cryptosporidiosis.
It important to drink plenty of fluids as diarrhoea or vomiting can lead to dehydration, according to advice from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
You might also want to talk to a pharmacist about oral rehydration sachets to help replace the sugar, salts and minerals the body has lost.
Dr Lincoln Sargeant, Torbay’s Director of Public Health, said anyone with “severe symptoms like bloody diarrhoea” should contact NHS 111 or their GP.
Severe cases may require hospital treatment.
How do you know if you have crypto?
The symptoms of crypto are similar to other stomach bugs, so the only way to know for sure if you have it is for your doctor to send a sample of your faeces to be tested in a laboratory.
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How can you stop the illness spreading?
If you are ill, stay away from nursery, school or work while you have symptoms, and for at least 48 hours after they stop.
You should also avoid swimming for two weeks after being unwell.
You should not prepare food for anyone else until 48 hours after diarrhoea has stopped.
Make sure you’re using good handwashing practices too, washing your hands thoroughly when handling food and after using the toilet.
The UKHSA also advises washing bedding and towels on the hottest possible cycle.
A one-year-old girl has died after being struck by a Land Rover in the car park of a church in Aberdeenshire.
The incident occurred at Plymouth Brethren Christian Church on Eigie Road in Balmedie at around 7.45pm on Wednesday.
Police Scotland said the girl was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, where she was pronounced dead a short time later.
The 40-year-old man driving the car was uninjured.
Inspector Scott Deans said: “At this time our thoughts are with the family of the deceased, along with everyone else affected by this tragic incident.
“Our investigation into the circumstances remains ongoing and we’d like to thank the wider Balmedie community for their patience and understanding as officers carry out their enquiries in the area.”
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
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