[Harold Tomlins, Master, the Apolline.] Autograph Letter Signed ('H. J. G. Tomlins') to the ship's owners Messrs. Hankeys, explaining why he has had to put into port at Queenstown, Ireland, while transporting troops to Bermuda. With copy letter.

Author: 
H. J. G. Tomlins, Master of the Apolline brig, the property of Messrs. Thomson Hankey & Co., London merchants and banker; Captain W. Mosse; Edward Walker [Admiral Sir Henry Ducie Chads (1788-1868)]
Publication details: 
Tomlins to Hankeys: 'Ship "Apolline" | Queenstown Ireland'. 13 December 1856. Copy letter from the 'Hired Freight Ship | Apolline'. 10 December 1856.
£130.00
SKU: 14762

On 29 November 1856 The Times had reported that 'The 26th company of the Royal Engineers, under the command of Captain G. E. L. Walker, R.E., will leave the head-quarters of that establishment at Brompton Barracks, Chatham, this morning for Gravesend, where they will embark on board the Appoline, [sic] for Bermuda.' Both items in good condition, on lighty aged and worn paper. Both docketed by the recipients. ONE: Tomlins to Hankeys, 13 December 1856. 3pp., 4to. Bifolium. Tomlins begins: 'This morning I received your Telegraphic message and had already put the Sails on shore to repair as also my boats & Quarter Davits but did not note a Protest, as nothing of great importance has happened, and the ship & all Mast & Yards &c are as good as when I left. The reason of my putting into this Port was upon the Commanding Officer & the Captain of the Troop writing to me to do so - and it blowing a severe Gale - & having met with the damage I mentioned in my last, and a clause to that effect being in the Charter Party - I considered I was obliged to do so, altho the Admiral (Sir Henry Chads) whom I have been in communication with several times upon the subject, seems to think the commanding officers ought not to have order'd me into Port.' He is replenishing his stores, and awaiting the orders of the transport agent (although 'the Admiral thinks I need not'). He has been obliged to take 'John Parks (Cook) [...] out of the Galley'. The ship 'has been in much greater safety' since his arrival in port. He concludes by reporting that 'The convict ship Norman Monson is still here'. TWO: 'true Copy' of letter in Tomlins autograph, and signed by him. Adressed by 'W. Mosse, Captn 26th Regt | Commanding | Edward Walker | Captn R.E.' to 'Harold Tolmlins Esqre | Master | "Apolline"', and dated from the Apolline on 10 December 1856. 1p., foolscap 8vo. 'We have the honor to request that as we have now been eleven days at Sea without getting out of the Irish Channel and the wind being still Contrary, and as we have moreover lost a considerable portion of our live stock in yesterdays Gale that in compliance, with a clause to that effect in your Charter Party you will proceed without delay to the most convenient port - in order to complete your supplies of water & provisions, and make good the damages sustained to your Boats & Sails in the late Storms'. On 20 July 1854 The Times had reported, under the heading 'Emigration from Plymouth', that 'the Appoline [sic], of 500 tons', had embarked its complement of emigrants from the Government depot in Plymouth, and had set sail for Melbourne. The newspaper noted: 'The Appoline is the property of Messrs. Thomson [sic] Hankey and Co., and is commanded by Captain Tomlins, who has made some very successful passages.' The ship was named after the wife of Thomson Hankey the younger (1805-1893), daughter of William Alexander. From the papers of the Hankey banking family.