John Bellew, Part II

The army also participated in peacetime Imperial domestic affairs. From the early to mid-1780s, Bellew was in various camps in northern Hungary, the usual station for cavalry units, because of the inexpensive provisions. In 1785-87, he was with the troops in the Trans-Danubian county of Gyor who assisted in conducting Imperial land surveys and kept… Continue reading John Bellew, Part II

The Wild Geese in Austria

While “The Wild Geese” usually refers to Irish Catholics serving in the French service in the 18th century some served in the Austrian service. Captain John Bellew was one and Karen Harvey writes interestingly, I think, about him and other Irishmen serving the Habsburgs in The Journal of The Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland… Continue reading The Wild Geese in Austria

John Bellew, Part I

John Bellew was a captain in the Imperial cavalry and served with several cuirassier regiments. His letters to his relatives in Ireland, written from 1778 to 1792, span the reigns of three Austrian monarchs, Maria Theresa, Joseph II, and Leopold II, and his billetings and activities reflect Imperial foreign and domestic policy in this time… Continue reading John Bellew, Part I

Side by Side

I wonder what the voters in Clacton-on-Sea make of Nigel Farage in his pink shirt, silk tie, velvet collared covert coat and immaculate hair?

Classic French Cuisine

Like The Guardian I have poor circulation and get cold feet. Wool slippers with rubber soles are the answer.

Sailing

The original ferry to the Isle of Wight is Red Funnel which has been in business since 1861. I can attest that there is nothing more gratifying than alighting in Cowes and stepping aboard the Royal Yacht Squadron tender to cross the short distance to Cowes Castle, the clubhouse of The Squadron.

Concordia, Integritas, Industria

RIT Capital Partners (RCP) listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1988. If you had invested £10,000 and reinvested the dividends, today it would be worth £393,000. That’s an annual return in excess of 10%.

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Sissi

I bought this because I hold Richard Bassett in high esteem as an historian and travel writer; a biography of Wilhelm Canaris, and a memoir, Last Days in Old Europe. And for another reason; I thought it was a biography of the 19th century Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Sissi).