Purchase, September 2011.
No accruals expected.
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This collection features materials relating to a group of French prisoners' who put on theatrical performances at Portchester Castle, Hampshire, during the Napoleonic wars 1810-1811. Portchester Castle is Britain's only example of a Roman fort, which is now owned and run by English Heritage. Portchester Castle has been renovated and rebuilt over the years, and became a palace in the time of Richard II. It was used as a prison for about 7,000 prisoners of war during the Napoleonic wars.
The main author of the playbills, some letters, abstracts and possibly scripts is the prisoner Pierre Charles Limozin. At 40 years old, he was sergeant major of the first regiment of the Paris guard. Limozin writes in excellent English, and it can be reasonably assumed that he provided the translations. It is not clear whether most the plays relate to plays that Limozin would have known, or whether they were all original. Certainly,
The collection is organised into the following series:
This collection contains manuscript documents relating a group of French prisoners' theatre performances at Portchester Castle. It contains scripts, abstracts and letters from French prisoners and Pierre Charles Limozin to Captain Charles William Paterson in French and English. It also includes playbills in English.The material dates between 1810 and 1812, most of it on paper water marked
This series contains three full scripts,
These scripts are original pieces created by the French prisoners. The seven remaining documents provide detailed abstracts or plot summaries of the theatricals performed by a group of French Prisoners at Portchester Castle. These abstracts of plot presumably were to inform Captain Charles William Paterson that the men were not performing anything subversive. The plot summaries refer to original works created by the French prisoners as well as well-known pieces from the time such as René Charles Guilbert de Pixerécourt's play
This series has been arranged into scripts and abstracts and then alphabetically by title of the play.
This item is a ten page script for
This item is an eight page script for
This item is a forty-two page script for
This item contains a summary of each play in English performed by French prisoners at Portchester Castle. The plays summarized include
The item contains a summary of the play
This item contains a summary of each play in English performed by French prisoners at Portchester Castle. The plays summarized include
This item is a six page summary of each act and translation of the play
This item contains a summary of each play in English performed by French prisoners at Portchester Castle. The plays summarized include
This item is a four page summary of each act of
This item contains a summary of each play in English performed by French prisoners at Portchester Castle. The plays summarized include
This series has been arranged chronologically.
This series contains invitations to performances by French prisoners at Portchester Castle. The invitations are in the format of a playbill and take the form of a handwritten letter. They provide a list of the theatricals performed by the prisoners each day. His docketing uses the phrase "French Prisoners Play Bill", also giving the date of the performance. They conclude with the time of the performance. The invitations are written in the hand of Pierre Charles Limozin to Captain Paterson. These invitations illustrate how the group of French prisoners at Portchester Castle promoted their performances.
This is an invitation from Pierre Charles Limozin on behalf of the French prisoners to Captain Charles William Paterson. The listing of peformances for 21 September 1810 include
This is an invitation from Pierre Charles Limozin on behalf of the French prisoners to Captain Charles William Paterson. The listing of peformances for 24 September 1810 include
This is an invitation from Pierre Charles Limozin on behalf of the French prisoners to Captain Charles William Paterson. The listing of peformances for 1 October 1810 include
This is an invitation from Pierre Charles Limozin on behalf of the French prisoners to Captain Charles William Paterson. The listing of peformances for 8 October 1810 include
This is an invitation from Pierre Charles Limozin on behalf of the French prisoners to Captain Charles William Paterson. The listing of peformances for 12 October 1810 include
This is an invitation from Pierre Charles Limozin on behalf of the French prisoners to Captain Charles William Paterson. The listing of peformances for 19 October 1810 include
This is an invitation from Pierre Charles Limozin on behalf of the French prisoners to Captain Charles William Paterson. The listing of performances for 20 October 1810 include
This is an invitation from Pierre Charles Limozin on behalf of the French prisoners to Captain Charles William Paterson. The listing of performances for 22 October 1810 include
This is an invitation from Pierre Charles Limozin on behalf of the French prisoners to Captain Charles William Paterson. The listing of performances for 29 October 1810 include for
This is an invitation from Pierre Charles Limozin on behalf of the French prisoners to Captain Charles William Paterson. The listing of performances for 2 November 1810 include
This is an invitation from Pierre Charles Limozin on behalf of the French prisoners to Captain Charles William Paterson. The listing of performances for 7 November 1810 include
This is an invitation from Pierre Charles Limozin on behalf of the French prisoners to Captain Charles William Paterson. The listing of performances for 9 November 1810 include
This is an invitation from Pierre Charles Limozin on behalf of the French prisoners to Captain Charles William Paterson.The listing of performances for 16 November 1810 include
This is an invitation from Pierre Charles Limozin on behalf of the French prisoners to Captain Charles William Paterson. The listing of performances for 3 December 1810 include
This is an invitation from Pierre Charles Limozin on behalf of the French prisoners to Captain Charles William Paterson. The listing of performances for 10 December 1810 include
This is an invitation from Pierre Charles Limozin on behalf of the French prisoners to Captain Charles William Paterson.The listing of performances for 14 December 1810 include
This is an invitation from Pierre Charles Limozin on behalf of the French prisoners to Captain Charles William Paterson.The listing of performances for 27 December 1810 include
This is an invitation from Pierre Charles Limozin on behalf of the French Prisoners to Captain Charles William Paterson.The listing of performances for 1 January 1811 include
This series has been arranged alphabetically by author of the letter and then chronologically where possible.
This series contains letters sent to Captain Charles William Paterson who was the officer in charge of the prisoners of war at Portchester Castle. The letters are from these French prisoners. The letters span a range of topics, from thank you letters to letters requesting the whereabouts of a man. In the series, there is also a letter to Captain Charles William Paterson's wife from one of the prisoners who made tables for her.
This item is a letter from Andrea de Nenier to Captain Charles William Paterson expressing his desire to return to France and to his family. This letter is written in English.
This item is a letter from the French prisoners expressing gratitude and praising Captain Charles William Paterson's kindness. The letter is written in French and translated alongside in English.
This item is a letter of farewell in French from the French prisoners to Captain Charles William Paterson.
This item is a letter from Forqueray to Captain Charles William Paterson. The letter is dated 3 December 1810. The letter details in English his history in the French army and his father's loss of fortune. In addition, the letter reveals that he has spent five years in England as a prisoner.
This item is a letter from Forqueray to Captain Charles William Paterson who is no longer at Portchester Castle and is now on the HMS Puissant Spithead. The letter is dated from the 3 February 1811. This letter expresses Forqueray's disappointment in not being informed of Captain Paterson's departure and thanks him for his kindness. This letter is written in English.
This item is a letter from Forqueray to Captain Charles William Paterson (now on the HMS Puissant Spithead) dated 2 March 1811. This letter expresses Forqueray's gratitude and his wish to stay in touch with Captain Paterson. This letter is written in English.
This item is a letter from Limozin who is writing on behalf of "The French Performers" or French prisoners ["Les Comediens francais societaires, Prisonniers à Portchester"] to Captain Charles William Paterson . This letters thanks Captain Paterson for his kindnesses to them and the note he had just sent. This letter is written in French and translated alongside in English.
This item is a letter from Limozin, a French prisoner held at Portchester Castle, to Captain Charles William Paterson. Limozin informs Captain Paterson that he is one of the wounded who hopes to be returned to France, he has an injured left hand. In addition, his wife, who was pregnant, died in childbirth leaving his three children motherless and looked after by a struggling sister-in-law. Limozin has heard no word from them since being wounded and captured by the Spanish. He asks Captain Paterson to facilitate his return to France. His letter provides biographical details about Limozin - his full name is "Pierre Charles Limozin", he is 40 years old ["âgé de 40 ans"], and he was a sergeant major of the first regiment of the Paris guard ["sergent [sic] major au 1er Regt. De La Garde de Paris"].
This item is a letter in French to Captain Charles William Paterson from Limozin. It expresses his gratitude for his imminent return to his children.
This item is a letter from Limozin inviting Captain Charles William Paterson and his wife, and their family to a performance in the new year. Limozin also requests a guest list. This letter is written in French and translated alongside in English.
This item is a letter from Morice to Captain Charles William Paterson's wife, "Madam Paterson", which informs her that her "two tables are finished". These tables were presumably made by Morice. This letter is written in English.
This item is a letter from Palliser to the Comanding officer at Portchester Castle, Captain Charles William Paterson. Palliser is looking for the wherabouts of Monsieur Lecoq and asks if he is in Portchester Castle as his family are worried. The letter is written in English.