Guernsey Affairs: Extract from a Private Letter

More moaning about Governor Napier, following on from The Affairs of Guernsey, June 1884. The Morning Post, July 22, 1844.

Guernsey, July 19

On yesterday Sir Thomas Saumarez, accompanied by Mr Saumarez Dobrée, his nephew, left, per private steamer, with an address to her Majesty, printed on white satin, and on the reverse side all the speeches at full length which were delivered at the late meeting on the New Ground, with a raised gold border, in order to present it in person to the Queen. He wrote to her begging permission to present it in person, and she graciously favoured him with an autograph reply to the effect that she would herself receive from him the address. This old man was equerry to the Duke of Kent many years, and is, it appears, a favourite of her Majesty. He would have departed a day earlier, but waited the arrival of his sister, Lady de Saumarez and family, from England. The address lay at the Star office for the inspection of the public for two days, which every body, high and low, in the island went to see. It is signed by 7,000 natives and 750 English residents; in fact, by almost every man in the island. This will show you the feeling of this disloyal community towards her Majesty, and the sense of injury inflicted upon them by the Governor.

On Monday one of the Misses Napier was married to a son of Sir Charles McDougal. She is a beautiful and amiable young woman. The whole of the Governor's family are amiable and affable. It is a pity that the father should have rendered himself so obnoxious to the people; but his children are not to be blamed for that. The interesting young couple were married at the town church before twelve o'clock, by the aged and venerable Dean Carey, a man remarkable (being now in his 80th year) for the vigour of his constitution and fine person, unimpaired by age or infirmity. He is perhaps one of the most accomplished clergymen in her Majesty's dominions. A large party was invited to the wedding feast, but they were chiefly strangers, with the officers of the garrison and their ladies. The new-married couple left for England by the afternoon steamer. The duke of Rutland's yacht was in the roads, and decked out with flags, and, as the steamer passed, those on board cheered the new-married couple. The Governor went on board the yacht to thank the party in her for their distinguished notice of his daughter. The inhabitants of the island took no notice whatever of the young couple, but this was altogether owing to the feeling towards the father, who, it is now fully expected, will be recalled. Our case before the Privy Council cannot come before the middle of next month from what cause I do not know. The Rev. Daniel Dobrée, it is said, will be deprived of his living by the Bishop of Winchester.