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Letters from 1809
Mar. 9th, 2014 07:43 pmI have been up and about finding a little time to read again. So this that I post here today will be from a collection that was made by the writer, who is said to have been in Spain in 1809, and had from there written letters home. The letters were afterwards altered so that the content not meant for the public eye was taken from the finished 'booklet' but that it was supposed to still allow enjoyment to whomever wished to read it.
Already in the first letter the author, who begins his journey on board Saragossa, tells of how bad the weather was once reaching the Bay of Biscay, how they attempted to pass the cape Finisterre and cape Ortegal and how later their ship suffered through the storm to the point that even the sailors would say that "they shipped a sea". It was then that their surgeon suffered a horrific accident as he was thrown against a quarter-deck gun. There he is said to have broken two bones, the injury being a little above ankle. Because of high winds and high seas they could not ask another of their ships to bring their surgeon on board. It was for that reason that the surgeon gave them instructions on what to do and since he could not set his bones at the dime due to swelling, chose to wait for the next day. They placed cold applications to the injury to lessen the inflamation.
The author continues:
Quote(Travels in the south of Spain, William Jacob, 1811, page 2):"The next morning he (the surgeon) prepared the proper bandages with his own hands, and gave directions respecting the mode of reducing the fracture.Under his instructions the operation was performed so accurately, even by persons previously ignorant of the business, that he is now as well, and as likely to recover, as if the best surgeon had been employed."
He continues to describe his journey as the weather and the mood of those on board improves. His following snippests are organised in a manner of reporting of the happenings and sights as they happen ie. at 7 o'clock, at 10 o'clock and similar. When speaking of the population seen at Lagos, he calls the area 'thickly peopled'. At Lagos, he notes, they seem to produce charcoal, with which they later supply St. Lucar and Cadiz.
He closes the letter, as he has promised, by passing it to the small fleet which they meet at around the time. Since it is bound to England, he does not wish to miss the opportunity. Just before he chooses to use 'the post' he begins to describe the calm weather which has its own drawbacks since it does not allow them to progress swiftly towards their destination. He hopes that the slight breeze might yet deliver them to Cadiz however.
This is where I will stop for now as well.
Already in the first letter the author, who begins his journey on board Saragossa, tells of how bad the weather was once reaching the Bay of Biscay, how they attempted to pass the cape Finisterre and cape Ortegal and how later their ship suffered through the storm to the point that even the sailors would say that "they shipped a sea". It was then that their surgeon suffered a horrific accident as he was thrown against a quarter-deck gun. There he is said to have broken two bones, the injury being a little above ankle. Because of high winds and high seas they could not ask another of their ships to bring their surgeon on board. It was for that reason that the surgeon gave them instructions on what to do and since he could not set his bones at the dime due to swelling, chose to wait for the next day. They placed cold applications to the injury to lessen the inflamation.
The author continues:
Quote(Travels in the south of Spain, William Jacob, 1811, page 2):"The next morning he (the surgeon) prepared the proper bandages with his own hands, and gave directions respecting the mode of reducing the fracture.Under his instructions the operation was performed so accurately, even by persons previously ignorant of the business, that he is now as well, and as likely to recover, as if the best surgeon had been employed."
He continues to describe his journey as the weather and the mood of those on board improves. His following snippests are organised in a manner of reporting of the happenings and sights as they happen ie. at 7 o'clock, at 10 o'clock and similar. When speaking of the population seen at Lagos, he calls the area 'thickly peopled'. At Lagos, he notes, they seem to produce charcoal, with which they later supply St. Lucar and Cadiz.
He closes the letter, as he has promised, by passing it to the small fleet which they meet at around the time. Since it is bound to England, he does not wish to miss the opportunity. Just before he chooses to use 'the post' he begins to describe the calm weather which has its own drawbacks since it does not allow them to progress swiftly towards their destination. He hopes that the slight breeze might yet deliver them to Cadiz however.
This is where I will stop for now as well.
