Alexander Campbell 2nd Bart Barcaldine 15 June 1819 - 11 December 1880
Letter 21 April, 1835 Petford Sussex Bonaw to London
https://victorianweb.org/history/letters/campbell.html
This letter from the past is addressed to Elizabeth Dreghorn, Lady Campbell, Barcaldine, Bonaw, Argyllshire, from her son Alexander (15 June 1819 - 11 December 1880), who became the second baronet.
He was 16 when this letter was written.
Later, he commanded the Lochaber Axe Men of the Royal Breadalbane Highlanders on the visit of Queen Victoria to Taymouth in 1842;
he was Sergeant at Arms in Queen Victoria's Household.
My dear Mama,
I received your kind letter a few days since, and was surprised to hear that you were still at Barcaldine. I directed a letter about three weeks ago to you at Edinbro', where I expected you were. Do you now intend to go to Edinbro'. I expect you are completely tired of Barcaldine now.
Another young man came here about a week since, an old Harrow companion. So Greene was one of four, three of them have been at Harrow. The newcomer is of the name of Sharpe and is an Irishman. The other who was educated at Harrow is called Bicknell. He comes from Jersey - the remaining one is the son of a physician who keeps a large private madhouse. I believe he is very rich. There are sixty madman inmates of his establishment, from some of whom he gets less than 300 pounds and from some six or seven hundred a year.
There are very few parties given at this time of the year here, however I have been at several and known a good number of people. They are dreadfully snobbish and inveterate card players. I have met several old Harrow fellows here.
Parson Shiffner1 is one of Canon Residentiaries at Chichester and resides here for three months at this time of the year. He invited me to dine last Monday but it was put off.
I believe Longley2 is at last to be the Bishop of Chichester. The people seem to wish him to be their diocesian.
Has Mary returned yet from Edinbro'. Do you know what has become of Andrew Buchanan. When I saw him he said he intended to go to Italy as soon as his health permitted. I get on very well with Greene as well certainly as3 I expected after I had known him for a week or so. He is dreadfully stingy and very captious. He always imagines we are laughing at him. Away from Hampnett he is quite a different man, very polite and obliging and very apt to be groggy after a dinner party.
I am going to a dinner party today at Mrs Greene's Father's. Has Jimmie commenced to flog the burns4 yet and has he had his usual success.
Give my love to Papa and all at home.
I remain yours truly,
A. Campbell"
He then turns this page as well and adds this postscript :
P.S. A little cash would not be unacceptable, as what with hiring horses a good deal of money runs away."
1. Canon Shiffner was Sir George Shiffner (1791-1863)
2. Alexander was educated at Harrow where Longley was headmaster 1829 to 1836. Longley became Bishop of Ripon (not Chichester) in 1836 and then, in 1862 Archbishop of Canterbury.
3. Here the letter has been turned back to the first page, and 'crossed' with this next paragraph.
4.“flog the burns” Is this a reference to fishing? [According to http://www. yourdictionary.com/burn, burn is a Scottish word for a small stream or brook. Other dictionaries provide the slang usage of flog “to sell” or “to work hard at” — GPL.
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