BBC History - UK (2022-01)

LETTERS

LETTER OF THE MONTH

A tragic end

Readers who wish to learn more about the
“calamitous labour” that resulted in the
death of both Princess Charlotte and her
son (The Original People’s Princess,
December) might consider visiting Croft
Castle, a National Trust property in
Herefordshire. Sir Richard Croft [pictured]
was the 6th Croft Baronet, a doctor and
“accoucheur” – what might be termed
a “man-midwife”. Despite both Princes
George and Leopold (Charlotte’s
father and husband, respective-
ly) telling Croft that he was
not to blame, he took the
tragedy to heart. After the
death of another of his
patients, in February
the following year he put
a pistol to his head and
shot himself. Next to
his body lay a copy of
Shakespeare’s Love’s
Labour’s Lost open at Act V,
Scene II: “Fair sir, God save you!
Where is the princess?”
At Croft Castle, above a memorial clock
and busts of Charlotte and Leopold, is
a post-mortem sketch of Sir Richard in his
coffin after one by Sir Thomas Lawrence,
with the head wound clearly visible. Croft’s
half-sister, who commissioned it, apparent-
ly considered the appearance too deathly,
so Sir Thomas added a hint of rouge in an
attempt to suggest sleep rather than death.
Visitors may judge for themselves whether
this was effective or not!
Dr Bernard Riley, National Trust volunteer,
Croft Castle, Herefordshire

We reward the Letter of the Month

writer with a copy of a new

history book. This issue, that

is The War of Nerves: Inside

the Cold War Mind by Martin

Sixsmith. You can read our review

of the book on page 78

a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people.”

Did the campaign for civil rights begin here?

Chris Hudson, Northumberland

History repeating

I was amazed by the letter from Bob Bass

commenting on the value of studying history

(December). I am sure many people know of

the aphorism by writer and philosopher

George Santayana: “Those who cannot

remember the past are condemned to repeat

it.” If we do not know where we came from,

or how our culture came into being, we

would indeed be wandering in an unenlight-

ened desert of the mind.

There are many warnings from history

that can provide a guide as to how to avoid

making the same mistakes over and over

again, and not to know of their existence

would be foolish indeed.

Colin Bullen, Kent

A deadly duel

Douglas Bell’s letter in the Christmas issue

reminded me of a tale I used to tell, when

I worked as a guide at Eyam Hall in Derby-

shire, of the death by sword in a duel of

a distant relation of the house’s owners.

In 1765, William Chaworth had an argument

with the “wicked” Lord Byron (great-uncle

to the famous poet) about the best way to

hang game – by the neck or by the feet. They

were both in the Star and Garter public

house in London, and probably somewhat

drunk, when they challenged each other

to a duel.

Byron ran the other through and he later

died of his wounds, complaining that the

room was small and dark. Duelling was

illegal, so Lord Byron was charged,

but tried in the House of Lords by his peers.

He was found guilty but only fined £5.

Proud of his feats, Byron hung the sword

over the mantelpiece at Newstead Abbey,

where it remains today. There is also a plaque

A nation in mourning

In Tracy Borman’s feature on Princess

Charlotte of Wales, she refers to the whole of

the kingdom going into deep mourning for

several weeks after the death of the princess.

Indeed, the impact was felt as far away as the

small parish of Llanfihangel Abercywyn,

near St Clears in Carmarthenshire.

Joseph Evans, curate of the parish,

recorded only four burials in 1817, two of

which were of my 4x great grandparents

Thomas and Margaret Griffith. Between

David Roger, who was buried in October,

and Ane Morgan, buried the following

February, the curate recorded the following

burial in the parish register: “Name – Princess

Charlotte of Wales; When buried – 1817;

Died the 7th, buried 19th Nov at St George

Chap; Age – 22.”

I find it very moving that not only was the

princess’s death felt in a location so remote

from the court, but also that it was thought

important to record her death among those

of the local parishioners.

Gail Thomas, Perth, Australia

Divine inspiration

David Olusoga’s excellent feature on

Olaudah Equiano (The Author of Abolition,

November) did not include one significant

detail that transformed the career of this

brave abolitionist. In chapter 10 of [his 1789

autobiography] The Interesting Narrative,

Olaudah details a succession of spiritual

encounters and conversations that led to

some kind of Christian conversion experi-

ence in London.

This empowered him to not only overcome

the terrors of his past life as an enslaved

African, but gave him the means to challenge

the Atlantic trade among his fellow believers,

through the use of personal testimony

interspersed with Bible texts. Towards the

end of his Narrative, he quotes the Book of

Proverbs: “It is righteousness that exalteth AL

AM

Y/G

ET

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IM

AG

ES

A contemporary portrait

of Olaudah Equiano,

whose faith is highlighted

by reader Chris Hudson

An 1818 depiction of Princess Charlotte’s funeral procession. As reader

Gail Thomas highlights, the impact of her death was felt across the country