These are just a couple of of the letters of criticism sent to The news and the now defunct Hampshire instances by residents of Portsmouth all over the reign of Queen Victoria.
The letters were compiled into a new e-book, dear Sir: Letters from Victorian Portsmouth, which has been produced via Portsmouth writer and historian, Paul Newell, from Cosham.
whereas letters headed 'The Publican and the Policeman', 'The State of Male Lunatic Wards', 'combined Bathing' and 'A Noxious smell', provide a tantalising glimpse into Victorian existence, the gripes continue to be timeless.
It's this distinction of ancient insight and contemporary complaint which captured the creativeness of 47-yr-old Paul.
'while the content of the letters offers a revealing perception into the hardships of Victorian existence the sentiment of public subject has many similarities to these days.
'One letter raised subject with the amount of mud on the roads and what the council may still do about it. This dispute may without problems translate to these days's pothole circumstance. whereas the specifics may additionally have modified many of the areas of dispute are usual,' explains Paul.
one of the crucial key points for Paul is the primary-hand standpoint of just what lifestyles turned into like on the streets and in the dockyards of the city.
'The letters supply a window into the social historical past of Portsmouth which is written by way of the americans of the time,' says Paul.
'The correspondence depicts a extremely tough lifestyles which become class divided. For those with cash existence became often respectable however for the poor it was extraordinarily hard. lots of the letters were written by means of the gentry of Southsea, complaining concerning the vices of public concern within the Portsea area of the metropolis. besides the fact that children, something a person's social standing one element which in reality came via was how defensive residents were of their metropolis in the face of outdoor criticism. this is whatever which I suppose remains very apparent nowadays,' he provides.
The letters chronicle the length between 1840 to 1901, the 12 months of Victoria's loss of life, and canopy one of the vital key figures of Victorian historical past and traits which took area.
'One letter despatched via a Mr G Smith in 1872, two years after the demise of Charles Dickens, puzzled the thought of a monument to be erected in honour of the "high-quality man" because it was towards his own needs. it's a debate which rumbled on for over a century unless a statue become ultimately unveiled in Guildhall square in 2014,' explains Paul.
other popular facets of Victorian background consist of letters related to existence in the workhouse, existence for the city's little ones in ragged schools, the industrial Revolution and construction of the railways.
one of the vital letters which basically stood out for Paul turned into submitted to The news in 1901 by using a Mr A.G Curtis, entitled mobilephone Agitation.
'The letter questions the council's proposal to set up telephones, describing the scheme as "a scandalous scan with public cash",'says Paul
within the letter, Mr Curtis ironically questions the value of the phone. 'we are requested to photograph a dockyard man, craving for the sound of his spouse's voice, rushing off to a kiosk to ask if his dinner is equipped or to order a joint from his butcher'.
in addition to providing a revealing perception into the gender-specific roles of the period it highlights how the passage of time can cloud the belief of how new tendencies would were in the beginning welcomed.
'It's ironic what number of americans were scared of the introduction of recent technology as without doubt well-nigh all and sundry these days will lift a cellular telephone. in the sequel i'm at the moment putting collectively about Edwardian letters many people query the introduction of the vehicle, the dangers it poses and demand a pace restriction of 10 miles per hour,' smiles Paul.
in addition to featuring a list of key routine, Paul feels the letters also deliver a revealing insight into individuals's attitudes on the time.
'The insurance policy of toddlers was very distinct to how it is these days with babies as young as 10 being despatched to jail,' says Paul.
'there have been a lot of road slaughter properties the place animals would be killed in-front of watching children. It was fairly ugly because the blood would be left to run into the streets'.
one of the crucial typical social attitudes popular in the letters became the clear distinction of gender.
'there have been a few letters about people swimming in public locations, notably girls. Two letters despatched to The news in 1900 examined the subject of mixed bathing and enabling guys and women to 'bathe on the identical seashore,' says Paul.
A Mr C Sinden expressed considerations of 'immorality and indecent behaviour' which is to be 'guarded towards in a city like Portsmouth'. In a subsequent letter a Mr W Stevens ironically retorted: 'Let the prudish majority of the city council go to Sea View or Hayling Island and after witnessing the 'disgraceful and dangerous scenes of aquatic debauchery' return and insult the respectable bathers of this town'.
it is the tit-for-tat correspondence in questioning governing our bodies which saturates today's social media. whereas the medium may additionally have changed the want for the general public to vent their frustrations is still timeless.
Letters from Victorian Portsmouth retails at £15.ninety nine and is purchasable in most local bookshops and online through Amazon.
Compiling the book
The idea for Paul's new ebook originated whereas producing his previous book, surprising testimonies from Victorian Portsmouth.
'while looking through the British Newspaper Archive for my first ebook I begun to notice a number of letters which caught my eye. I put them to 1 aspect but they were really exciting and it turned into at all times my intention to return returned to them,' says Paul.
Paul then confronted the complicated method of picking out which letters to use.
'truly if the letter became of interest to me then i'd include it. I additionally chosen examples of letters where individuals had replied with observe-up correspondence,' he provides.
Paul restricted the temptation to offer his own interpretation of the letters.
'i thought about passing remark but i wanted the focus to be on Victorian Portsmouth, written by using the people of the time and conveying their views. I consciously didn't wish to affect the reader with my opinion but to allow individuals to make their own judgements,' he explains.
regardless of compiling greater than 200 letters there have been a number which grabbed Paul's consideration.
A letter from 1858, entitled 'a delicate trace to Cab owners', specifically caught his eye.
'The letter became about speeding horse drawn cabs and the hazards posed to pedestrians. similarly there turned into a letter of complaint despatched in 1874 about an exploding paraffin lamp. They were each very tons Victorian issues which represented existence at the time,' he explains.
Paul has already begun work on the sequel – Letters from Edwardian Portsmouth.
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