Is human emotion unchanging? Over 100 letters which were sent to French prisoners during the Seven Years War, but which never reached them, have been opened for the first time.
18th Century letters reveal agonies of love
Is human emotion unchanging? Over 100 letters which were sent to French prisoners during the Seven Years War, but which never reached them, have been opened for the first time.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">What's happening? </h2>
Historian Renaud Morieux did not know what to expect when he opened the box. Inside were three piles of letters, held together by ribbon. "I realised I was the first person to read these very personal messages since they were written."
The letters were sent during the Seven Years WarA global conflict that began in 1756. to the sailors onboard a warship called the Galatee. When it was captured, the letters were sent to London - but it does not seem like they ever reached the sailors.
Renaud Morieux believes officialsPeople who are in charge of important things. opened and read two of the letters, hoping for secret information. But there was none, so they were put into a box and forgotten.
One letter was to the ship's first lieutenantAn army officer of middle rink. , Louis Chambrelan, from his wife Marie Dubosc.
"I could spend the night writing to you," she wrote. "I am your forever faithfulLoyal. wife. Good night, my dear friend. It is midnight. I think it is time for me to rest."
<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">Find out more </h2>
Several letters were written to Nicolas Quesnel, a young sailor from NormandyA region of northern France..
His mother tells him off for writing more to his fiancee than to her. She adds: "In your letters you never mention your father. This hurts me greatly."
"These letters are about universal human experiences," Morieux says. "They're not unique to France or the 18th Century. They reveal how we all cope with major life challenges.
"When we are separated from loved ones by events beyond our control, like the pandemicAn outbreak of disease which occurs across a wide geographic area, as opposed to an epidemic, which is confined to a particular region. or wars, we have to work out how to stay in touch - how to reassure, care for people and keep the passion alive."
<h5 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper" id="question"><strong>Is human emotion unchanging?</strong></h5>
Yes! The letters show that love and sadness were felt just as strongly hundreds of years ago as they are today.
No! How we feel depends largely on the culture we live in. What some people find scary, others find exciting, for example.
Seven Years War - A global conflict that began in 1756.
Officials - People who are in charge of important things.
Lieutenant - An army officer of middle rink.
Faithful - Loyal.
Normandy - A region of northern France.
Pandemic - An outbreak of disease which occurs across a wide geographic area, as opposed to an epidemic, which is confined to a particular region.
18th Century letters reveal agonies of love

Glossary
Seven Years War - A global conflict that began in 1756.
Officials - People who are in charge of important things.
Lieutenant - An army officer of middle rink.
Faithful - Loyal.
Normandy - A region of northern France.
Pandemic - An outbreak of disease which occurs across a wide geographic area, as opposed to an epidemic, which is confined to a particular region.