The letters were on their way to French sailors on the warship Galatee. At the time, the Seven Years’ War was underway, a battle between Great Britain and France. The ship was captured by the British in 1758 while en route from Bordeaux to Quebec.
Not significant
The French postal service took the letters to several ports, hoping that they would reach the right people. When it turned out that the ship had fallen into British hands, the letters were sent to England. But the British did not consider the letters that important and so they ended up unopened in storage, writes, among others the BBC.
They remained unopened until Morieux turned up the letters in the archives of Cambridge University. So he opened them for the first time since the letters were sent in 1757. The letters wrote about the loss and the longings to see each other again. Morieux’s findings were published in a French historical journal.
For example, the wife of the ship’s first lieutenant wrote: “I could write to you all night. I am your faithful wife forever.”
According to Morieux, the letters are ‘about universal human experiences’. “They are not unique to France or to the 18th century. They show how we all deal with major life challenges.”
2023-11-07 21:07:29
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