Beginning, Section II, Section III
Jump to new as of March 12, 2002
Part 13 Posted on Thursday, 2 May 2002
Pemberley, Derbyshire
13 February, 1813
To Lady Catherine De Bourgh, Rosings Park, Kent
Dear Lady Catherine,
I assume you have seen the article in yesterday morning's newspaper regarding the recent naval battle involving Lt. Price. I have unfortunately heard nothing from him since his ship embarked last week; no letters which may have proved his well-being have arrived at Pemberley.
Your daughter is, quite understandably, extremely upset, and Miss Price is in much the same state. Anne cries often, and is unwilling to mix with company. Additionally, she is not eating much at all, and Georgiana has indicated to me that she is also unable to sleep. My wife, Mrs. Bingley, and Georgiana are all trying to console both women as best as they can, and I daresay they are having some success, but of course it is impossible for anyone to bring peace to anyone who is suffering from circumstances such as these. I can only hope that Anne's health does not suffer permanently from this recent blow, as she appears quite as unwell as I have ever seen her.
Allow me to be frank. I have not forgotten the correspondence of last week, and maintain the same objections I described in my last missive to you. However, I feel that in a time of true family crisis, it is more important to work with each other than to quibble about points of honor and etiquette. That said, I still shall not tolerate any ill-treatment of myself or my family.
I have determined to leave for Portsmouth immediately with Col. Fitzwilliam, so that we may be able to receive the first possible intelligence from the naval command regarding the fate of these ships. Col. Fitzwilliam's assistance shall be invaluable in this task, due to his intimate acquaintance with many high-ranking military figures, both in the Navy and the Army. Hopefully, this sad event shall turn out to have a happy ending after all. Please address any correspondence to me at the Anchor and Sword Inn, Portsmouth. I shall contact you again when I receive any new information.
MR. FITZWILLIAM DARCY
Rosings Park, Kent
13 February, 1813
To Mrs. Anne De Bourgh Price, Pemberley, Derbyshire
Dear Anne,
It is unusual for me to find myself at a loss for words. I know not what to write to you. We have not corresponded since your unfortunate elopement, and I am still extremely displeased with the whole situation into which you have thrust yourself. However, I also know what it is to lose a husband.
My dear, no matter what your grievous errors may have been, you remain my daughter, and I continue to be very much concerned about your well-being. If you had not married Lt. Price, you would not be grieving now; but what has happened has happened, and nothing can change the current situation. I send you this missive to let you know that although I was and remain angry about the marriage you contracted, I am concerned about you in this time of trial. I am thinking of you often, dear daughter, and am praying for your happiness and peace of mind.
Remember that you are always in the mind and heart of your mother
LADY CATHERINE DE BOURGH
Enscombe, Yorkshire
13 February, 1813
To Lady Catherine De Bourgh, Rosings Park, Kent
Dearest Catherine,
I have seen the papers. What a shocking event this is! A naval battle, involving the very ship on which that sailor is posted! I must say that I rather expected something of this nature to happen, although I could not have dreamt of its happening so soon. Poor Anne, she must be quite distressed. Perhaps, however, this is the best way for such a sordid marriage to end. Since the news of the marriage was never published in the papers, I daresay that no one beyond her own immediate family has heard about it. Well, I imagine that the sailor's family has heard of the matter, but as they do not move in good society, their word on the matter will never reach the ears of anyone with whom Anne would mix in the future. As a result, this can all be hushed up very effectively now. There is no husband to complicate matters, no in-laws who can give voice to her disgrace, and I certainly do not believe that her family would ever refer to this little episode again. All this can now be quite forgotten, and Anne is now free, fortune and reputation intact, to marry someone worthy of her name and inheritance. If Mr. Balfour-Boswell will not do, I am certain, dear friend, that you and I together will be able to find someone who will be perfect.
I know the poor dear is probably rather upset at the moment, but I believe that in the future, this will have turned out to have been a very happy event for her. Not many people who commit such an enormity have the chance to have it completely forgotten; Anne should certainly consider herself to be in luck.
I have heard from Frank. He is currently not in my good graces, as he has applied for permission to extend his stay at Highbury. He must not be taken in by those people! I gave him permission, indeed it would have been strange to deny it, as I have given him permission to stay far longer at places such as Weymouth and Ramsgate, but I am very displeased with him. When he returns, I shall have to speak to him in the strongest possible terms about his place in the world and what his obligations are.
At any rate, I must close here. Again, I send my best wishes for a happy outcome to this current unpleasantness. I think the situation is looking better now than it has in weeks, and you may trust that you will always be able to share your future happiness with your devoted friend
MRS. FELICITY CHURCHILL
Hunsford Parsonage, across the lane from Rosings Park
15 February, 1813
To the Right Honorable and Most Gracious Lady Catherine De Bourgh, Patroness of Hunsford and Most Noble Mistress of Rosings Park, which is located very near the Humble Abode of the Author of this Note
Your Most Estimable Ladyship,
Please accept my humble condolences regarding the recent naval tragedy in which your daughter's consort seems to have been killed. I do not say "her husband," as I shall forever defer to Your Venerable Ladyship's judgment on such matters, and I am aware of Your Ladyship's continuing disapproval of the marriage. However, as I must grieve whenever any connection (either desired or unwanted) of my noble patroness becomes injured or deceased, I assure you, I feel the full weight of what has happened.
I humbly request to be able to offer Your Ladyship my condolences and assistance in person. As a clergyman, I am fortunately in a position to offer spiritual comfort in times of difficulty, and to offer condolence in times of familial loss. It has been some time since I have been requested to render any assistance whatsoever to Your Noble Ladyship, and I am anxious to resume my full duties as Rector of Hunsford and spiritual counselor to the inhabitants of Rosings Park.
I humbly beg Your Ladyship to notify me as to when I might be able to proffer my assistance. I shall arrive at Rosings Park as soon as I am summoned.
I shall forever remain your most humble and grateful servant
REV. WILLIAM COLLINS
Anchor and Sword Inn, Portsmouth
16 February, 1813
To Lady Catherine De Bourgh, Rosings Park, Kent
Dear Aunt Catherine,
I write you this brief missive to notify you that Darcy and I arrived safely in Portsmouth last night, and directly began inquiries about the recent naval engagement. We have found nothing further as of yet, and are currently trying to separate truth from the wild rumors which invariably circulate in a naval town after a major sea battle. One report says that they have all washed up alive somewhere in the Azores, another says that they have all been taken hostage by pirates, and a third says that the ships are not manned by naval officers at all, but are full of defectors who have stolen a small fortune from His Majesty and are going to set up a new colony somewhere in the South Seas. Suffice it to say we have heard little information that is of any use whatsoever.
Forgive the brevity of this note, but Darcy and I are leaving immediately to meet with Captain Alderwood of the H.M.S. Zephyr. His ship is the first to have arrived from the French coast since the incident, so it is believed that Capt. Alderwood would have the latest and most accurate information regarding the fate of the British fleet. We will of course notify you immediately of any further developments.
I remain, etc., your nephew
COL. RICHARD FITZWILLIAM
Rosings Park, Kent
17 February, 1813
To Mrs. Felicity Churchill, Enscombe, Yorkshire
Dear Felicity,
I appreciate the fact that you desire a better life for my daughter than she has built for herself in the past several weeks. However, please refrain from wishing my daughter a widow. It is exceedingly unseemly, not to mention morally questionable, for a woman in your position to be wishing for several hundred of His Majesty's finest young men to descend to a watery grave. Please reserve your condolences and officious matchmaking until my daughter has both received confirmation of her husband's death, and has mourned for the obligatory one-year period.
I am far too busy to debate either finer points of etiquette or Christian morality with you. I would have expected you, my friend of so many years, to act in a very different manner. However, I shall accept your apologies for what you have said at a later date. Right now, I need to see to the well-being of my daughter.
LADY CATHERINE DE BOURGH
18 February, 1813
Card and note left by visitor to Rosings Park while Her Ladyship was not receiving callers:
____________
Rev. William Collins
Hunsford, nr. Rosings Park, Kent
I hope Your Noble Ladyship will forgive the presumption I show in visiting you without an express invitation. I was wondering if Your Ladyship would be in need of pastoral counseling from a humble minister such as myself, who has been placed by Your Ladyship and God in the position of caring for the spiritual health of all people in this parish.
If Your Ladyship would require my presence at any time, please send for me, and I shall attend You as quickly as is possible.
Your Humble Servant, Rev. Wm. Collins
Pemberley, Derbyshire
19 February, 1813
To Lady Catherine De Bourgh, Rosings Park, Kent
My dear Aunt Catherine,
Thank you for your letter inquiring about the health of your daughter. Dear Anne is still feeling far too upset to keep up with her correspondence herself, so she has asked me to respond on her behalf.
Aunt Catherine, please allow me to be frank. I am aware that you of all people would not appreciate any softening of the true state of affairs here at Pemberley. Anne is completely devastated at the possible loss of her husband. I fear greatly for her health if she continues to grieve as deeply as she has been. However, I can assure you that all of us at Pemberley have been supporting her spirits as much as possible, and I am happy to say that I hope she will be in tolerably better condition soon. Nothing could cure her, however, as quickly as good news from Portsmouth. We are all still praying for a happy ending to the current situation.
I am aware that your relationship with your daughter has been somewhat strained of late. Please know, however, that Anne was touched by the kindness in your last letter, and your expressions of support have helped her as much as anything we have been able to do. Please allow me to add my wishes that you and your daughter might be fully reconciled in the very near future. I would ask you, however, to remain in Kent and not attempt a journey to Derbyshire at this time, should you be considering one. I believe Anne would like to be in a stronger condition before she meets you again.
I shall notify you if anything further occurs. Please accept the continuing best wishes for the happiness of yourself and your daughter from your niece
MISS GEORGIANA DARCY
Rosings Park, Kent
20 February, 1813
To Rev. William Collins, Hunsford Parsonage
Dear Mr. Collins,
I have tried to be polite. However, your continuing and increasingly irritating calls for my attention need to be addressed.
Please do not come to Rosings until further notice. I do not wish to receive any visitors, particularly any visitors who would require a great deal of tolerance and patience, until my current difficulties are at least somewhat resolved. I shall be highly displeased if I receive another missive, card, or visit from you until I grant you permission to do so.
Please stay in Hunsford where you, I am certain, can find a way to keep busy and make yourself useful. I granted you the living of Hunsford in hopes that you would see to the spiritual needs of everyone in the parish, not so that you would continuously plague me with your attentions.
LADY CATHERINE DE BOURGH
22 February, 1813
Anchor and Sword Inn, Portsmouth
EXPRESS to Lady Catherine De Bourgh, Rosings Park, Kent
Aunt Catherine,
They have been found! The entire fleet is expected to arrive back in Portsmouth tomorrow. Lt. Price in particular is known to be alive, and apparently there have been very few casualties among the fleet in general. Apparently, Lt. Price and his captain have both been proclaimed to be heroes, although no details are known as of yet.
I have already sent an express to the ladies at Pemberley. I regret that I shall not be there to share their joy, but look forward to a happy family reunion in the very near future.
I shall write you when anything further is known.
MR. FITZWILLIAM DARCY
Excerpt from the London Times, 25 February, 1813
Mystery of Naval Battle Solved - Heroes Discovered
The editors of this newspaper have just learned of the true outcome of the recent naval battle which occurred off the coast of France. Far from being a tragic defeat and comprehending both the death of the Prince Regent and the loss of the finest men and ships of His Majesty's Navy, it was a truly glorious victory. Undoubtedly, the dramatic events surrounding this battle, and the heroes who secured victory and honor for our nation, shall be remembered as long as naval history continues to be recorded.
The new information comes from the crewmen themselves, who have arrived safely back in Portsmouth. The rejoicing which occurred when the news of this victory spread through that naval town cannot here be fully described, but will certainly be felt throughout the country as the veterans of this battle return to their homes and families.
The French attack came with little warning, on a cold, rainy evening, with gales blowing across the English Channel. When the eight French ships attacked our vessels at the last light of dusk, the captain of the H.M.S. Laconia, a Captain Frederick Wentworth, realized the import of the situation and immediately took command. Realizing the danger to the Prince Regent, who had only just boarded his ship, he ordered the other ships in the fleet to circle around the Laconia while her position could be secured, and the armaments made ready. Meanwhile, the French had begun to fire their cannons at the British fleet, and through the darkness and the weather, French sailors were seen boarding small boats and forming a number of raiding parties in order to infiltrate and seize the British ships.
Captain Wentworth, relying on his years of experience, displayed a brilliant command of naval strategy. The battle ensued, growing in severity. It was at this time when the bravery and heroism of one Lt. William Price came to the forefront. Lt. Price, serving on the Laconia under Capt. Wentworth, was on the main deck, helping Capt. Wentworth to establish the positions of the various French vessels, and helping to guard His Royal Highness from the heat of the battle. A cannonball struck the side of the Laconia at the same time as the ship was unsettled by a gust of wind and a large wave from the raging storm. The ship dipped alarmingly and rose over the crest of the wave, knocking more than a few sailors overboard. To the horror of everyone aboard, one of those who fell overboard was the Prince Regent himself. Completely disregarding his own safety, Lt. Price dove off the main deck into the wintry, storm-tossed sea to save the Prince Regent. His Royal Highness, it became clear, had been knocked unconscious by the falling mast of a French ship, which had been heavily damaged in the battle. But for Lt. Price, the Prince Regent would most certainly have drowned. Lt. Price swam with great alacrity to His Royal Highness, and with the assistance of Capt. Wentworth (who dove into the water to assist Lt. Price), the two men carried his inert form up a rope ladder back to the main deck of the Laconia. Just as he gained the deck of the ship, Lt. Price was shot in the leg with a musket ball, which had clearly been aimed at His Royal Highness. The Prince soon regained consciousness, and suffered no severe injuries to his person, although he did sustain a number of cuts and bruises.
Unfortunately for His Majesty's Navy, one of the Prince's escorts on this cruise, Admiral Nathan Crawford of London, had also fallen off the ship at that time. The Admiral did not survive, as he was thrown some distance from the Laconia, and was gone beneath the roiling sea before anyone could reach him. He was unable to save himself, as he was widely reported to have been extremely intoxicated at the time. The condolences of the nation go to the family and friends of Adm. Crawford, who had been in His Majesty's service for thirty-five years.
The battle raged on for several hours, until it became clear that the French ships had begun retreating to the shores of their own country. Capt. Wentworth led the fleet in pursuing these ships, but a small raiding party had already gained access to the Laconia. Vicious hand-to-hand fighting then ensued. Just when it was thought that all members of the raiding party had been subdued, Capt. Wentworth saw one French sailor stealthily making his way for the Prince. Capt. Wentworth dove after him, and after a great struggle, wrested the pistol out of the Frenchman's hand. The Frenchman had another trick up his sleeve, however, and pulled out a small dagger. Capt. Wentworth narrowly avoided being stabbed in the heart, and again was able to disarm the French sailor, although not before the Captain had sustained several minor knife wounds to his arms and legs. The French sailor was taken into custody.
By this time, the ships were rapidly nearing the French coast. Seeing the rocky shore in the distance approaching rapidly, Capt. Wentworth (who refused to relinquish command, though injured) realized that the tide was quickly moving in. Combined with a strong wind from the north, this meant that it was absolutely necessary that they be extremely careful, lest the fleet be dashed into the rocks. Capt. Wentworth took the extraordinary step of ordering the fleet to continue pursuing the French ships until the last minute, firing heavily, and then quickly retreat at the last moment. The ruse worked; the French ships were wrecked on the rocks of the coastline, and the French soldiers scattered into the surrounding hills. The British fleet, though three of the ships were damaged, necessitating immediate repairs, was sound, and had won the day because of the brilliant leadership and strategy of Captain Frederick Wentworth of the H.M.S. Laconia.
By this time, it was well into the following morning, and the fleet was far from its original position. This is the origin of the report of the demise of the fleet; the sailors who initially reported the battle were unable to find the ships in their previous location, and had no idea that the pursuit took the fleet all the way to the French coastline. The ships dropped anchor in that location, and prepared to remain there until essential repairs were made to the H.M.S. Laconia, the H.M.S. Farningham, and the H.M.S. Nightingale.
It also appears that Captain Wentworth is not the only hero in his immediate family. His wife of less than two months, Mrs. Anne Wentworth (daughter of Sir Walter Elliot of Bath, formerly of Kellynch Hall, Somerset), was residing on the Laconia with her husband. Due to the Prince's head injury, it was determined that he should not be moved for at least two days. Mrs. Wentworth immediately made over her own chamber to His Royal Highness for his use as a sickbed (as the Prince was to have resided on the Indubitable during his voyage, no rooms had been set aside for him on the Laconia). The physician who was sailing with the fleet, a Dr. Peter Marshfield, had been injured during the battle, and was therefore unable to carry out his duties. Apparently, Mrs. Wentworth has a good deal of nursing experience within her family circle, and so was more than equal to the task of filling in for Dr. Marshfield and seeing to the recovery of His Royal Highness. She kindly looked after His Royal Highness, bound his wounds and his head injury, helped him eat and drink, and ensured his warmth, comfort, and well-being until he was well enough to be moved and brought back to the Indubitable for transport back to England, via the Channel Islands. Mrs. Wentworth also treated her husband and Lt. Price for the wounds they sustained during the battle. All are expected to make a full recovery, to a great degree due to Mrs. Wentworth's nursing skills and patient bravery.
Meanwhile, a group of sailors from the H.M.S. Laconia were sent to explore the wrecks of the French ships, which were located on the rocky coast about one half mile from where the British ships were moored. As the wrecks of the French ships were being thoroughly explored, the sailors found a great deal of treasure within their stores. Apparently, prior to their attack on the British fleet, the French ships had been on a mission to eliminate some particularly troublesome pirates from the Breton coast. This band of privateers was led by the infamous Gerard d'Auvergne, a French aristocrat who was deposed and exiled during the Revolution, and who is nicknamed "Le Canard d'Or" (The Golden Duck) both for his great wealth and his reputed ability to disappear into the water like a duck hunting for food. Although Le Canard himself was not captured, he lost one of his vessels to the French fleet, and a great deal of treasure was seized. Over £200,000 worth of gold and priceless jewels (which had themselves been stolen from French aristocrats during the Revolution), were recovered by Capt. Wentworth and his crew. This extraordinary amount of prize money shall be distributed among the sailors according to naval protocol, enriching them all to an unprecedented degree.
As soon as His Royal Highness was well enough to travel, three ships, the H.M.S. Indubitable, the H.M.S. Helmsley, and the H.M.S. Providential, were immediately sent back to the port of Saint Helier, on the island of Jersey. The Prince Regent and the other illustrious guests were placed on these ships order to most effectively insure their safety. After essential repairs were carried out to the other three ships, the vessels were all to rendezvous at Saint Helier before proceeding home to Portsmouth. The entire fleet finally arrived back at Portsmouth two days ago, and the brave sailors were greeted with universal jubilation. The editors of this newspaper would like to add their acclamations to the rest.