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Post by Sharpiefan on Feb 17, 2014 17:34:29 GMT
For those who are interested, HMS Acasta are looking for people to send period-correct letters that can be 'delivered' via mail packet at the Jane Austen festival this year. See here for more information: www.hmsacasta.com/2014/02/mail-packet-14.htmlSF
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HMSCody
Lieutenant
Happy to be of service, as ever.
Posts: 427
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Post by HMSCody on Feb 20, 2014 17:22:04 GMT
I wrote a letter last year, and it was a hoot! The hardest part was thinking of something to write about. It was a chance for me to get out the calligraphy pen and practice my period hand. Plus, there was the research angle of figuring out what a proper letter for 1813 would have looked like. It was so much fun!
We have a whole boatload of clever, creative people here, and I'm sure we could help each other think of stuff to send the crew. I second Sharpie's call-out and hope my shipmates might pitch in.
If you want to write the text but aren't interested in putting actual pen to page, I would be happy to do the calligraphy part for you.
HMSCody
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Post by Sharpiefan on Feb 20, 2014 17:51:09 GMT
I have no notion of a period hand, but I do own several proper dip pens (steel nibs existed at that point thankfully!) and am determined to try. Also to try using sealing wax - my friend has a very good method for that that I am hoping to try for myself. It's the content I don't know about - though another friend (also a reenactor) suggests taking events from a reenactment and writing about those as if they were period news. My main issue is that my unit focuses on 1808-09 so any 'current' events for us are going to be about three years out of date for the Acastas...
SF
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Post by Dolphin on Feb 20, 2014 20:50:35 GMT
SF, didn't you do research for a letter by a son to his father or the other way around? I seem to remember that you mentioned it here - maybe you can draw some Inspiration from there? This sounds like a lot of fun but I have no idea what to write about either. what did people actually put into their letters in those days? Would they write about "current" events or about the everyday stuff that had an effect on their lives? Gossip, unimportant Information about the weather and so on?
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HMSCody
Lieutenant
Happy to be of service, as ever.
Posts: 427
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Post by HMSCody on Feb 21, 2014 16:03:29 GMT
If you follow the Acasta link, he's posted a book of letter examples. If nothing else, some of them are very entertaining if not downright hilarious. He also posted suggestions for topics.
There were newspapers in 1813/14, so that could be one source of writing fodder. We could figure out what might have been showing in museums of the time, or what new books might have been published. What were the popular entertainments in cities?
For me, the hardest thing was figuring out who I'd be when I wrote. I defaulted to being a distant cousin talking about what my son was doing, and what the weather had been like that spring, but I'd love to be much more exciting than that, or at least more amusing.
If you're inclined, let's post some resources on this thread and see what we come up with!
HMSCody
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Post by Sharpiefan on Feb 22, 2014 14:31:07 GMT
(For those of you on Dreamwidth, there's an RSS feed set up that you can subscribe to at hmsacasta_feed.) I'm on a couple of play-by-post roleplay games, and one of them's set during the London Season of 1811. There were loads of things going on - theatre shows (I don't know if there were any premières of famous plays or operas in 1813, but I'm sure there's ways to find out.) There was the British Museum, various other social occasions; Almack's was a regular Wednesday night fixture for those with enough cachet to merit vouchers, but there were also private balls and parties. The first picture gallery, at Dulwich, didn't open until 1815 that I can find, but the Royal Academy's summer show has been held annually since the 1750s. The Peninsular War was proceeding apace in 1813, with some major battles (although I will have to double check what year the Acastas are in this year. And we can make allowances for period post taking a while to reach its destination). I might look into some local history, too - I am SO lucky to be living in Chatham (or near it!) and have access to the Dockyard and its defences, so I can ruminate on that stuff. (Actually... that's not a bad idea, all things considered. Hmmmmm. The Dockyard church was built in 1812, though I don't know if that's the start date, finish date, or what.) SF
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HMSCody
Lieutenant
Happy to be of service, as ever.
Posts: 427
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Post by HMSCody on Mar 2, 2014 18:08:03 GMT
You know... I could offer extra credit to students who would like to take a crack at creating a letter. Or I could make it an assignment, and then have fifty letters to scratch up and send to the Acastas.
Huh. Gotta think about this.
HMSCody
eta: I have two classes that will be covering this period. Ooh. I'd love to give them something fun to do for credit.
eta again: According to The Good Doctor, we should date our letters prior to July 1813.
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Post by Phizz on Mar 3, 2014 5:33:49 GMT
Boy I wish I'd had history profs who gave such imaginative assignments!
~Phizz
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HMSCody
Lieutenant
Happy to be of service, as ever.
Posts: 427
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Post by HMSCody on Mar 4, 2014 16:50:49 GMT
I mentioned it in class this morning and got ten takers. Whoo hoo!
HMSCody
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AnneElliot
Midshipman
Waving, not drowning.
Posts: 75
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Post by AnneElliot on Mar 4, 2014 21:26:02 GMT
I wish I'd had you for a history teacher. i was thinking of joining this, just because I like writing with ink.
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HMSCody
Lieutenant
Happy to be of service, as ever.
Posts: 427
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Post by HMSCody on Mar 5, 2014 17:09:49 GMT
It's a hoot, AE, it really is. The best part of it (for me) was assembling the stuff to try to do it right. I ended up compromising on the paper, but this time I plan to order the "correct" stuff from Jas. Townshend. I'll probably need to dig up some more red sealing wax, too.
HMSCody
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Post by Otter on Mar 5, 2014 19:22:36 GMT
How about a letter from Styles to the ship's steward, after his ship was boarded by the crew of the Constitution:
"So here I was, pressed into service as a cook. Told them I was really good with chickens, so they shipped me off to a posh white mansion. Hadn't seen a woman in six months. I was making eyes at Dolly while adding a packet of pepper to the soup. Was really gunpowder. Burned the whole house down. Oops.
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Post by Sharpiefan on Mar 5, 2014 21:50:17 GMT
I think I might do a letter to... someone and mention the new church at Chatham Dockyard. If I truly can't think of anything else to say, that is. Um. HMSCody, how do you do your sealing wax? That stuff has the melting-point of rock; my friend lights hers and pours it into the bowl of a teaspoon held over a tea-light so that she can get enough to make a decent seal. And oils her seal before actually pressing it into the wax so that it doesn't stick. SF
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HMSCody
Lieutenant
Happy to be of service, as ever.
Posts: 427
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Post by HMSCody on Mar 6, 2014 16:28:46 GMT
Sharpie, that's a good idea. I wonder if I can find a small metal container (a big spoon, maybe) to melt the wax in, and then pour it. I simply lit my wax and dripped it, but it was not well done and I used almost a whole stick to get one seal. My seal didn't stick to the wax, but perhaps I was lucky. I'm planning to make a more authentic seal out of polymer clay (my current seal is a modern-ish initial) and oiling it first could be helpful in keeping it from sticking! Great suggestions! HMSCody
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Post by Sharpiefan on Mar 6, 2014 17:21:51 GMT
I think you just need a teaspoon - you ought to be able to get several seal from one stick, and certainly my friend doesn't use anything bigger than a teaspoon. (Just make sure it's either an old one or a fairly cheap one - and remember, the handle's going to get rather warm if you heat the bowl! ) SF
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