In mid-1813, a young German is living in London, working in one of its trading-houses. With the continuing Napoleonic Wars and their impact on the trade between Britain and Europe, he sees his hopes for the future undermined. He writes to an English friend, telling of his decision to enlist as a junior officer in the army.
His letter is, in its way, a tour de force, with highly expressive (if sometimes eccentric) use of his adopted language – making points though imaginary situations, reflecting on its own style and content, flipping between political concerns and his social life in London. The energy and eccentricity of the writing make it feel as if Sterne’s Tristram Shandy has been transported to the age of Jane Austen.
Youthful enthusiasm for a military role, and a delight in uniform, are tempered, in places, by the sense of what he must give up, and of potential dangers. Yet Mohr is clearly the hero of his own letter. How much is intended humorously (humour obviously plays a part in his connection to the friend to whom he writes), how much is bravado, and how fully he understands the realities of warfare are questions open to our judgement
In the full text below all spellings are as in the original
To Samuel Lungley from Frederick Augustus Mohr
London June 1813
Dear Sam
l .
I received your kind & friendly favour of the 18 th. Inst. in due course, knowing that Isaac’s 1 box was to arrive last Saturday, I went to him, & received such a share of its Epistolary parts, that I was satisfied, & you know that that is saying a great deal – We, Isaac & I, then to our study to peruse our dispatches, I sat down with such a consequential mien, Like the Lord Castlereagh 2 when he laid the treatise of Sweden 3 before the House of Commons — I read Miss Lungleys letter & yours too Sir half a dozen times, & be assure I derived the same pleasure and if possible, more in reading them the last time the friendship with which you remember me gives me much delight & which would be a particular pleasure to me to cultivate & foster, but the participation you take in my welfare gives you a claim to my most sincere gratitude, & which I beg leave to say, I take the same in yours, & may soon your fondest wish fulfilled –
My fate dear Sammy is decided -, after having seen that dispenser of the human miseries triumph over his brave, but unfortunate enemies, after having been convinced of the meanness & supineness of the paltry governments of Europe, after seeing this immense empire of this Sycophant, inhabited by slaves, by mere tools of his will / not exempting the southern Germans/ after seeing an armistice concluded 4, leaving Bonaparte in possession of what he conquered, forming a line of demarkation from Bohemia to Hambro’, & after seeing Austria, infamous Austria 5, a silent spectator to all this, — must not this lead to a shameful peace, what Bonaparte has not done yet by arms, he’ll do by diplomacy, & which in my humble opinion will extinguish his prussian majesty, & entwine the gallic yoke still firmer round the continental nations, & exclude England from the continent for a short time longer, I hope only for a short time —
After having now deliberately and maturely considered & viewed political affairs in this light, & as far as they relate to maritime commerce, & after having consulted my friends who are merchants themselves, not thinking myself competent to guide myself at this critical moment, I was soon convinced that to gain a place at this moment, would be impossible, at least precarious since the traffic with the continent is this moment more stagnated than last year. Thought I to myself these times are extraordinary, consequently we must resort to extraordinary measures to meet them, I therefore repaired to the House of Senate, took my seat, & moved the order of the day — this my Lord was an important question, where I found opportunity to give full scope to my rhetorical & oratorical powers, I don’t mean to flatter myself, but I like to do justice to every one -, in which I evinced and convinced myself, oh I mean, -the House- that as long as Bonaparte and his continental system 6 existed, the situation of a merchant & his adjutants, would be unpleasant, precarious, vexatious, nay even mortifying; I therefore assured the Hon ble members of the House of commons, – that in order & out of pure benevolence for the world, to bring this war, this damnable war, between merchants & Nap to a speedy conclusion, to establish order, & set bounds to the insatiable ambition of france – I myself would take the Sword. – loud cheering from all sides – what do you think of that eh – Pause.
A long and awful silence followed: – so my dear Sam l , I have then renounced all the comforts of civilised society, to share the danger of so many contending for the long wished for liberty of Europe, believe me I look upon this step as a sacrifice, not that I am apprehensive of danger, no by heavens, I do not harbour fear; Providence can as well protect me in the field of Battle as at my desk; I have done my duty in my civil station, I will do it in a military one.
But the sacrifice lays in leaving society, connections, & getting still farther from the object every thinking young man of my age should never lose sight of, a safe Harbour in which he may conduct his vessel, with which he is drifting on the foaming ocean without a compass surrounded by cliffs which threaten every moment destruction – this repose only a few gain now, by far the greater number are wrecked upon those cliffs, which are a bar to felicity, but I will assist to remove them, never fear, never fear, & thousands may get happy again – What a proud Idea, oh it is heavenly, what is a merchant in comparison with the defender, the protector of nations, the deliverer of the oppressed; What! Do I ask, & the world says , Nothing.
Allow me my dear friend to add a few lines more, & then I will lead you to the point – But where are now our hopes of seeing Europe liberated from Gallic thraldom? Where are those myriads to announce liberty? What use has been made of the glowing spirit in Germany? What use of the opportunity to shake that elusive fabric of Bonaparte’s to its very rudiments? Alas imbecility in the cabinets of the continent has prevented it, treason on the parts of the princes of Germany 7 has prevented it – It is a sad thing, I have been sanguine in my expectations, I have been confounded, disappointed, mortified, deeply, I saw Germany rising like a Phoenix hand in hand with Engl & drive france into her ancient bounds, she then might hold her head high, & be a might barrier between Russia & France, then Sir in close alliance with Engl we should dictate, yes Sir, dictate a peace for a century, & send Nap to the Antipodes then my friend Britania and Germania should prosper, & become wealthy powerful; neighbours – but alas it is not so, Germans are slaves again, that sounds very dissonant to me, I am not a Slave, I am free, I am an english officer, I have been expatriated in Germany, & found an other country in England, I shall stand & fall with England, period again!
Now my dear Sammy, you’ll say what a tedious fellow, how circumstantial, what an exordium, but mind Sir what expressions you make use of. I hold his Majesty’s commission, we take it at the point of the sword, however I acknowledge, I have taken a long circuit, to tell you that I – there again I must animadverte upon it, it won’t do otherwise, pray ask Isaac, he’ll tell you that Classics always write in this stile, he is a judge of those affairs, in short you seldom find such – oh I don’t mean to flatter ourselves, our modesty – the world is convinced of it –
Now for it, after having, duly, maturely and deliberately taken everything into my animadversion, I was palpably convinced, that I could not go to my native home, without surrendering my liberty, perhaps be made a soldier for B, damnation who dares to treat a british subject with disrespect, and – oh your pardon Sam l, I shall go on now to make an end of it – I cannot go home without surrendering the free Idea I have imbibed here, & sooner than do that, I should prefer to go to the unfriendly, inhospitable, barren, sterile, uncultivated, uncivilised, barberous, frozen shores of Kamshatka 8, upon which the sun never sets /Sam I like to express myself copiously, what do you think of that now eh! / I have therefore applied for a Commission in the German Legion 9, I mean his Majesty’s most honourable G.L., I soon after had an audience of some honourable Gent’s, I say, I almost forgot to tell you that my deportment was dignified – in consequence of this I had the pleasure to see my request granted by his royal Highness the Commander in Chief, as well as by the Regent – Zounds, how grand you’ll say – splendid misery says I though after all, I am in good spirits, I have secured myself an honourable post, the world calls it so, be it so – I shall see a great deal of the world, get experience, & return safe to England, covered with /there again/ glory, alas perhaps wounds – I have appointed Ensign 10 in the 4 th Batallion serving under Sir John Murray now in Spain, our station is Sicily, but I must stay in England 3 or 4 months, my depot is in Bexhill, Sussex, whither I shall next week; I shall lose Isaac too, it is a loss, perhaps only a transient one we will correspond – What an acquisition England has made, when I lift my sword Bonaparte will tremble, great, active, clever as the scoundrel is –
I return to your pleasing epistle again, & apologise for having suffered my pen to go so far astray, How happy and how quiet do you live in your retirement nothing crosses your way, from the bustle of the world you know only its pleasures, would to God I had been born to such a life, sweet is repose – In Miss porters H. Brothers 11, I read upon the title page, – “What so sweet & so rare as family repose & kindred love”- I think your family possesses this repose, you are happy, may you continue so – I return to – to repose & industry, – Our friend the Commodore 12 must be a good assistance to you, he is a Cosmopolitan, fit for any station, those healthy occupations of yours will be beneficial to him, he wants such a recreation, after such a long voyage & such an unhealthy clime, then I suppose he’ll return to London, to study navigation &c he is young, he will make a good Captain, then India will be a wide field for him, Peace is the thing we want for him too –
You may well ask my friend, why has Fortune not thought of us in distributing her thousands? But let us solve this Enigma, she well knows that we can create a fortune, by our own ingenuity & exertions, & that Independence so acquired is far more valuable, than thrown into our hands by mere chance – let us apply our faculties assiduously & we must ultimately succeed, & leave the chance to vulgar souls, we are not every day’s work, by all that’s modest –
So you saw Miss Dawson, & moreover you will have the goodness to introduce me to her, thank thee friend, Miss D is rich, but does thou know, that if I should have the pleasure of seeing you again, I shall appear in military attire, in royal splendour, what do ye think of that eh! Will you still introduce me – I like to be upright – Miss D is rich – well Sir do you know that no female heart is proof against royal splendour – if she therefore sees me thus arrayed she falls, at first sight, you’ll be supplanted – not that I claim any superiority over your Lordship, you know we have settled that point – do you apprehend your danger now – but see what a friend you possess in me, in creating your happiness – I readily overlook my own, this is not common in our days, you’ll allow, don’t you Sammy eh! But after so much has been said about the Lady, I must speak a few words more on the subject, namely Hugh Green told me he had seen her at Mr Salters, he gave me the following prescription, d___d, description I mean, says he, she is a head shorter than I am, I don’t think she spoke five words, I think she is a flat 13 – consequently, if that is a truism, – if – I must ask your pardon, she of course will not do for you, we don’t want her money – flat, did not speak five words, damn me, that sounds very dissonant in my ear, Lord A.M s.F s. R.S. we don’t like flats, do we, No. A well may you remind me of dressing & putting up corn, that sounds more consonant in my ear than those flats, – I assume that you quote sometimes technical expressions to Isaac, about husbandry, horticulture & botany about which this old Esop 14 in the shades knows nothing, or about writing, upon my conscience he does not ride so well as I. what do ye think of that eh! Mr. Hardacre S r is here now, I met him the other day, was introduced to him, he seems a queer sort –
Mrs. Green when here was very compassionate to me, she offered me her assistance to secure a situation ———– she did not seem to enjoy herself and tryed my patience beyond endurance, a Lady of the name of Watson was with her, those two Ladies complained of tooth ache, heart ache, if there is such a complaint &c, London seemed to be more tiresome than amusing to them & poor Hugh complained that his mother tired him to death in the dress shops &c, he had his profile taken 15 here, which I am about to forward, & through that medium you’ll get my Epistle – How is Monsieur Ben Smyth, he is a good fellow, give my good wishes to him and inform him of my devotion.
I am much obliged to you for your kind enquiry after my friend Isaac Lungley, he is perfectly well & very pleasantly situated, since I have been in town again, I have often visited him in the evening, when he has finished his mercantile business – I am glad to say Sir I found him always exhilarated, he seems to be perfectly satisfied with his affairs, he has the management of regular business, attends to it, & still it leaves him time for recreation, moreover he has the society of two elegant accomplished young Ladies – what do ye think of that eh! The youngest of them is gone out of town, with her mother, a great loss for me – perchance she heard of my military capacity, so she said to me /but mind this, a truism/ Oh! Mr. Mohr how pretty you’ll look, if I see you in your uniform it will certainly break my heart. Mais comment! What do you think of that now eh! The oldest is a fine girl, very soft pleasing manners softness in her eye, but she takes every thing alike, she is too timid I talk sometimes to her, very good humourdly, & then she says Indeed: then I go on again, and she says yes – do you understand me – the other day I gave her a Kiss /but don’t you tell that to Isaac/ & she was not angry, what do ye think of that eh!, you must know Sir this is a favourite expression of ours – it is quite new.
Your Lordship’s order for a double barrelled gun, we have duly noted & rest assured it shall be executed punctualy, & I am very happy sir to serve you in this article, as well as any merchant in London & allow me to add, that we with pleasure will be satisfied with a small Commission of 2 ½ %, to secure us at least part of your orders – I know Mr. Mortimer 16, perhaps we procure a good one for you – you think already on the shooting season, that is a pleasant time for you, after having got over the toil & fatigue of the harvest & filled your barn with rich crops, about that time I may be in Spain, shooting — Sam you will understand me, it is a horrible sport! —
It is now about ten oClock, I am just returned from a walk with the Wine Merchant, coming from Highbury Park, one of our favourite promenades, we saw a vast number of pretty girls – received ever so many smiles – so said Isaac to me, what do ye think of that now, after one of the most handsome passed us – & of course her eyes beamed with delight, – & I answered very sagaciously, oh that is natural – true said he –
We saw to day a House to be disposed of, situated upon a hill, commanding a most noble prospect, towards Hornsey wood, Hampsted &c, surrounded by a pretty little garden, we admired it, presently Isaac said, Fred ck, I have the most sublime thought – suppose said he, when you return from Spain & find me in possession of this mansion – Lord, said I that is a most celestial Idea, I wished it might be the case, nay I wished him more, a pleasant consort, endowed with a good understanding & no flats, no, no, no; we then shook hands heartily upon the strength of it, & returned home.
To corresponde with you Sir will give me great pleasure, I will therefore sincerely request you, to fulfill your promise & write to me when you have time & humour will allow you to do so, it will be usefull on both sides, it teaches us to arrange our ideas well, particularly to me, since I write in a foreign Lingo & acquaints us thoroughly with our friends – when I am in Sussex buried in military study, such as reconnoitering, making plans, mining, charging, &c; what pleasure will it afford me after a day’s fatigue, to receive letters from friends I so much esteem, & then again it will give pleasure to answer them, this is what we call a multiplication of pleasure, write me by Isaac’s box at least, write, write, – Bexhill is in Sussex situated on the english channel a ¼ from the coast, there I will bath every evening –
One time more, I received a letter from Miss Lungley, may I answer the letter Sammy? you say yes, very well sir, I am obliged to you I will answer it Philosophicaly & logicaly, but if she should be displeased with it, speak for me, will you, I know it is encroaching a little, very little. I shall procure you a capital gun, in return for that, I only want you to be my Defensative, respecting that letter –
Farewell my friend & remember me respectfully to your family &c, &c, &c,
yours very truly
Fred k Aug st Mohr
Ensign &c, &c, &c,
Postscript
Dear Sammy,
The above sagacious personage carried me to a Manufacturer of Fusils 17 to day, and after mature deliberation we have ordered a Ten Guinea Mortimer, to be completed in a fortnight – the people will pack & dispatch it in apple-pye order, and to be sure you may expect a first chap affair, since it is first to be submitted to my luminous judgement –
Dear Sam l
In addition to what I have already said, I must add that my Ensigney has been gazetted 18 last Tuesday & the commission is to be dated the 15 th Inst. – I had this morning an audience of my General who is arrived from Spain, it is Major General Baron Low 19, he received me very friendly & wished me success, he informed me that the Duke of Brunswick had arrived in Town, which he did not think a good omen &c, I shall attend at the next levee of the Duke of York 20, – my Uniform is splendid, scarlet, turned up blue, & white small cloth &c,
We have ordered you a double barrelled Gun, twisted, gold band &c, & Mr. Mortimer promised it should be a good one, to do me & him credit, vide the few lines at the foot of my letter, written by that brilliant chap of No.2 Cross Street —
I do not know how it is, but certainly hold my head much higher now, & walk much more upright, it seems as if all the world is below me now, – I thought to go on but Isaac has finished his letter – good bye to you dear Sir
yours affectionately
Baron Mohr 21
Ensign!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!,
Pray hand the enclosed letter
to Miss Lungley
NOTES
1 Isaac – Samuel’s brother and Mohr’s friend.
2 Lord Castlereagh – Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh was, in 1813, Foreign Secretary in the government of Lord Liverpool, and Leader of the House of Commons.
3 The Treatise of Sweden – presumably refers to the Treaty of Peace, Union, and Friendship, Between His Britannic Majesty and The King of Sweden, which was signed on the 18 th of July 1812.
4 An armistice concluded – an armistice between Napoleon’s forces and those of the Prussians and Russians had been agreed in the first week of June 1813. The truce would be extended until August 10 th. While, in the long run, the armistice has been seen as more advantageous to the Allies than to Napoleon, the agreement left France maintaining influence over its German client states, including Saxony. Mohr sees the line of control as extending from Bohemia (in modern Czechia) to Hamburg.
5 Infamous Austria – After its defeat at the Battle of Wagram in 1809, Austrian policy had been guided by Prince Metternich in the direction of accommodation with Napoleon – to the extent of encouraging his marriage to the Austrian Arch-Duchess Marie Louise, and the giving the support of Austrian troops in his unsuccessful invasion of Russia in 1812. Austria was, in June 1813, technically in a state of neutrality, treading a delicate diplomatic line between Napoleon and Russia. It would re-join the Allied military opposition to Napoleon after the armistice of summer 1813 ended.
6 Continental system – Napoleon’s attempt to impose an embargo on British trade with continental Europe, a blockade intended to disrupt British commerce.
7 Treason on the part of the princes of Germany – Germany at this period was a patchwork of states of varying size and influence, Mohr probably has in mind the many German rulers who took their states into the Confederation of the Rhine, formed in 1806, following Napoleon’s defeat of Austria and Russia at Austerlitz at the end of 1805. While some of these rulers may have persuaded themselves that they were breaking away from the dominant presences of Austria and Prussia amongst the German states, the members of the Confederation, effectively, became client states of France.
8 Kamshatka – the Kamchatka Peninsula in the far east of Russia, with a sub-arctic climate
9 The German Legion – The King’s German Legion was a unit within the British army initially formed in 1803 following the French occupation of the Electorate of Hanover. The Electorate was dissolved and its army disbanded. However, numbers of the military made their way to Britain, ruled by King George III, who had also been Elector of Hanover. They provided the base for the Legion, a predominantly German force, which existed until 1816.
10 Ensign – the lowest rank of commissioned officer in an infantry regiment.
11 Miss porters H. Brothers – The Hungarian Brothers, a novel by Anna Maria Porter, was published in 1807.
12 Our friend the Commodore – A joking reference to Samuel’s younger brother George, at this time a junior officer on a ship involved in the Far-Eastern trade.
13 A flat – a dull person.
14 This old Esop in the shades – in the actor-dramatist David Garrick’s first play Lethe,or Aesop in the Shades; a dramatic satire, Aesop has the task of distributing water from the underworld river of Lethe – the water of forgetfulness.
15 Silhouette profile portraits were very popular at this period.
16 Mr Mortimer – the Mortimers were a celebrated family of gunsmiths.
17 Manufacturer of fusils – a gunsmith.
18 My Ensigney has been gazetted – the appointment of Mohr as Ensign is officially recorded as of the 15 th June 1813.
19 Baron Low – Sigusmund, Baron Löw, was one of the Hanoverian officers who came to Britain and joined the King’s German Legion in 1803. In 1813 Major-General Löw was the Colonel-Commandant of the 4 th line battalion of the KGL.
20 Levee of the Duke of York – one of the receptions held by Frederick Augustus, Duke of York and Albany, second son of George III, who was, in 1813, commander in chief of the British Army.
21 Baron Mohr – Possibly a joking reference to the fact that Mohr shares a surname with the Austrian General, Baron Johann Friedrich von Mohr, who became a Field marshal in 1813.