[Bow Street Runner Stephen Lavender.] Autograph Letter Signed from Sir John Dugdale Astley to ‘My Lord’ (Prime Minister Lord Liverpool?), recommending Charles Humphreys, ‘at present belonging to the Office at Bow Street’ for Lavender’s position.

See Astley's entry in the History of Parliament (he was created a baronet at the end of the year in which this letter was written). The ‘Lavender’ mentioned in the letter is Bow Street Runner Stephen Lavender (fictionalized in a series of books by Karen Charlton), who was leaving to take up the position of Deputy Chief Constable at Manchester.1p, 4to. On recto of first leaf of bifolium. Verso of second docketed: ‘Chas. Humphreys / recomn to be an Officer’ and in another hand ‘Dugdale Asteley [sic]’. In good condition, lightly aged, with reverse of second leaf slightly grubby. Written in a confident hand, and reading: ‘My Lord. / The Bearer, Chas. Humphreys, at present belonging to the Office at Bow Street, is anxious to succeed to the situation Lavender is about to vacate. / I can safely recommend him, as a perfect Knowledge of his Character, & [?] enable me to speak of him with the utmost Confidence - / I have the honor to be / Yr Lordships Obt Sert. / J Dugdale Astley’. It has not been ascertained whether Humphreys' application was successful.