Vox Meditantis

19th September 1807

The sparrows gathered this morning beneath the kitchen window in such numbers as to give me considerable unease. They chattered with an urgency I have not observed before, and when I scattered the crumbs from yesterday’s loaf, they pecked at them with a voracity that put me in mind of the hungry multitudes our Lord fed upon the hillside. Yet there was something amiss in their manner – a restlessness that spoke of coming tempests.

I have been much occupied these past days with my spinning wheel, which has developed a most peculiar rhythm. The wheel turns smooth enough, yet there comes a catching in the mechanism that creates a pattern of sounds – three smooth turns, then a hesitation, then two more, as regular as a heartbeat. I have examined every part with care, oiled each joint, yet the pattern persists. It puts me in mind of the morse code the sailors speak of, though I cannot fathom what message it might convey.

The war news from the Continent grows ever more troubling. Mrs Frost brought word yesterday that corn prices have risen again, and there is talk that Bonaparte’s blockade shall pinch us sorely before winter’s end. I observe how the very creatures seem to sense this disruption in the natural order – the tabby cat prowls the pantry with unusual vigilance, as if she too fears scarcity, whilst the barn owl calls at hours when decent folk should hear naught but silence.

In my evening meditations, I find myself pondering what knowledge I most lack, what understanding might serve to illuminate these dark times in which we find ourselves. I confess I should welcome greater comprehension of the workings of machinery and natural philosophy – not from mere curiosity, but that I might better discern the patterns that govern both the temporal and spiritual realms. The movements of the stars, the properties of herbs for healing, the proper interpretation of signs and portents – such learning might serve to distinguish betwixt the whisperings of the Adversary and the gentle guidance of the Almighty.

The hens have ceased their laying these three days past, though I can discern no cause. I have searched for signs of the fox, examined their feed with utmost care, yet they merely huddle together, regarding me with eyes that seem to hold some terrible knowledge. Even faithful Bess, my brown mare, shies at shadows where none should fall.

I shall retire early tonight, commending myself to Him who neither slumbers nor sleeps, though I fear my dreams shall be troubled by the image of those sparrows, and the persistent catching of my wheel.

The early Regency period saw Britain embattled in the Napoleonic Wars, with 1807 marked by maritime blockade, rising prices, and shock over Copenhagen’s bombardment. Napoleon’s Continental System sought to cripple Britain’s trade, prompting British countermeasures at sea and pre-emptive action against neutral Denmark to prevent its fleet aiding France. Domestic households felt the strain through dear corn, disrupted shipping, and anxiety over war news. Soon after, France invaded Portugal, triggering British intervention and the Peninsular War, which, alongside campaigns in Russia, led to Napoleon’s downfall. The conflict concluded with his defeats in 1814 and 1815 and the Congress of Vienna’s European settlement.

Bob Lynn | © 2025 Vox Meditantis. All rights reserved. | 🌐 Translate