104
NOTES AND QUERIES. UO-S.III.FEJ, 11,1905.
Ornaments," were originally bequeathed by
him to Trinity College, Cambridge ; but,
shortly before his death, increases in his
family obliged him to revoke this bequest
(by codicil, signed 4 August, 1726), and order
the collections to be sold. His will was
proved on 9 February, 1726/7, by his widow
Frances (P.C.C. 53, Farrant).
Clutterbuck (iii. 529-30) and Cussans ('Odsey Hundred,' p. 12) give the inscrip- tions to John and Frances Talman, on slabs on the floor of the chancel of Hinxworth Church, as follows :
" Here lyes the Body of John Talman, a person of excellent learning and strict religion and honesty, who spent near twenty years in Travels through France, Germany, and Italy, in which time he made a fine collection of the most curious paintings and drawings of the noblest buildings and curiosities in those Countrys : upon his return into England he married Frances, the daughter of John Cockayn, of this parish, Gent, and had by her six children, four [.sic] of which survived him, viz., Frances, Anne, Mary, John, and Elizabeth. He departed this life the 3rd of November, 1726, much lamented by all gentlemen of his acquaint- ance, aged 40 years."
"Frances, relict of John Talman, Esq rc , died March 22nd, 1732, aged 46 years. Her body lyeth buried by her said husband."
GORDON GOODWIN.
SUFFERINGS OF TROOPS IN WINTER.
(See ante, p. 21.)
THE following are some further extracts from General Maxwell's letters from the Crimea. They give interesting particulars as to the much improved conditions under which the army had to face the second .winter of the siege :
Camp [before Sebastopol],
1 July, 1S55.
Long before this you will have heard of our lass in poor old Raglan's death. A better loved man never was whether or not he was a great General I know not ; but his death is a most undoubted loss to this army. I have no doubt that our failure of the 18th June* had a good deal to say to his death, as any depression of spirits is much against a man attacked with the prevailing complaint here. Who will succeed him no one can tell. In the meantime Simpson commands. We are working away, both the French and ourselves, making fresh batteries to try and catch the ships in the harbour. It is not a harbour, but more like our Scotch lochs, about a mile wide. If we could destroy the shipping it would be a great point gained. What our future plans are to be I cannot tell I suppose another bombardment and then an assault. Our Brigade will have its turn next time: we were most fortunate last time in haying had splendid cover, and not a man hit. I begin to look forward to another winter here with dread : it is indeed a dismal look out.
- The assault on the Redan, IS June, 1855.
We shall be well found in everything, which will
make it more bearable than last winter ; but those
trenches in winter nothing can make bearable.
Something favourable may turn up for us in the
meantime. We are all heartily tired of the siege,
as you may well fancy. The Russians must be more
tired of it than we are, that 's one comfort. The
Mail arrived to-day ; no letter from home. No
news is good news. Poor old Lord Raglan's body
is to be put on board ship to-morrow. A funeral
procession of French and English is to do the
honours to the poor old man. Report says that we
niay expect a fight soon in the country. Our cavalry,
it is said, are to move out on Wednesday. This is
Monday, high time for the plungers to do some-
thing, for the working parts of the army hold them
very cheap indeed, altnough I suppose they will do
their work when called on, and the sooner that is
the better.
Coddrington* will do, I think. I would rather have had Sir Colinf if the war goes on. Next spring will see some work done. Don't believe the news- paper accounts of drunkenness. There is too much, but it is not nearly so bad as they make out. I have had for the last three months on an average 450 men in camp. In that time 115 cases of drunken- ness have been brought before me rather more than 1 a day out of 450 men. There is no passing cases over ; every man who comes home drunk is punished.
Camp, 24 December, 1855.
I suppose you see by my letters that we are all getting on famously now, the men well fed, clothed, easily worked, and very well. Long may it last ! About a third of the army is still under canvas, and must remain so for the rest of the winter ; but the men in tents have double tents and wooden floors to keep them off the damp ground, so they are not to be pitied. Most of the officers have built tolerably comfortable huts for themselves. Govern- ment have given us none, as we were led to expect. Guessing as much, I encouraged the officers to build for themselves, giving them every assistance. The consequence is that they are mostly housed, and very comfortable the houses are. VVe get supplies enough now, paying enormous prices for everything, especially at this time ; but they must be had. Our weather hitherto on the state of which so much of our comfort depends has been very fine. Of late we have had the thermometer as low as 6 below zero, but it is healthy weather ; although too cold for pleasure, it is better than wet. We are looking out for some more promotions coming out. The last Brevet did nothing for not the least deserving men in the army the command- ing officers of regiments and we all confidently expect something to be done for us.
Camp, 4 February. 1856.
What do you all think about this peace ? The first accounts we received took us all by surprise, and gave universal satisfaction here with a few exceptions every one was pleased, all being tired of the war. I must confess that my first feeling was of sorrow when I heard that peace was to be. "Our occu- pation's gone," was my thought. I thought of self first, but I soon changed my mind, and if peace is
- Sir Wm. Codrington, K.C.B., who succeeded
i James Simpson as Commander-in-Chief. t Sir Colin Campbell, afterwards Lord Clyde.
