French letters seized during 18th century Britain-France war finally opened

Models of French ships from the 18th century, shown in the Aquitaine museum's permanent collection (illustration). Christina Okello for RFI

A French researcher from the University of Cambridge in the UK has begun opening undelivered letters written to French sailors during an 18th century war between Britain and France.

British Admiralty officials at the time deemed the letters of no military significance and the vast majority languished in the archives, unopened, until they attracted the attention of Cambridge history professor Renaud Morieux.