Delighted to hear from you, Maureen, and to hear there is a S*rm*n FHS.
Admiral John Surman Carden's memoirs are absolutely fascinating. Get hold of
the copy on sale in California, and if you don't want it I'll buy it from
you. My copy is a photocopy kindly made for me in the Trinity College Dublin
library, but I would love to have an original. The only other copy of which
I am aware is in the British Library. It reads just like Patrick O'Brien's
bestsellers about life in the Royal Navy in the late 18th century, and I'm
sure that author must have used it for source and style.
I expect the extract you have seen tells how the Admiral's father
romantically eloped with Sarah Surman, driving direct from a Ball given in
Gloucester by her father in a four-horse post chaise to Gretna Green. If you
will send me your postal address, I will send you a copy of an article I
wrote on the rascal.
The district called Carden in Ontario can be found in any good Canadian
gazeteer. The librarian in the local town explained to me that it got its
name because Admiral Carden had rescued from the siege of Corunna the fellow
who later became governor of Upper Canada. I can tell you more, if you wish,
when I am back in England this summer and have access to my records.
I expect you know a Surman was involved with the South Sea Bubble in 1720. I
have written a book about that, and again can tell you more when I am in
England.
The GOONS address for me is no longer valid.
Arthur Carden (currently in Spain, then in France and Austria till end-June)