Forgotten 18th Century Letters Finally Opened, Providing Rare Glimpse into History
More than 100 letters sealed with red wax and written to the men serving aboard the French warship Galatée have been opened and read for the first time, shedding light on a cross-section of society during the 18th century. The letters, which were confiscated and held by the British Royal Navy after the ship was captured by the British in 1758, had languished in piles for 265 years. Lead study author Renaud Morieux, a professor of European history, came across the letters at the UK’s National Archives and was granted permission to unseal and explore them.
The contents of the letters offer a glimpse into universal human experiences during challenging times, according to Morieux. The correspondences, signed by wives of the sailors, included love letters, expressions of longing, and anxieties about the safety of their loved ones. The letters also revealed the important roles women played in running households and making crucial economic and political decisions while their husbands were away at war.
Morieux described the experience of reading the letters as “like finding a treasure box,” noting that they were almost waiting for him to uncover their stories. The letters provide insight into how people coped with distance and absence during a time when communication was limited to handwritten letters. They highlight the resilience of societies during times of distress and challenges, as well as the creativity of individuals in finding ways to stay connected.
The study also revealed complex family dynamics, with one example being a series of letters between a mother and her son’s fiancée. The mother used a scribe to send letters to her son, complaining that he wrote more to his fiancée than her. The fiancée, in turn, pleaded with the mother to avoid any further misunderstandings. These family tensions reflected the social norms and expectations of the time.
Morieux plans to continue his research and hopes to uncover more information about the crew of the Galatée and their experiences. He finds the letters particularly noteworthy as they provide a rare opportunity to hear the voices of people from lower social classes during the 18th century.
The opening of these long-forgotten letters serves as a reminder of the power and importance of preserving historical documents. They provide valuable insights into the lives and experiences of those who came before us, offering a window into the past that can help us better understand ourselves and the world we live in today.