[ John Cust, 1st Earl Brownlow. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Brownlow') to C. B. Massingberd, regarding Royal Humane Society medallions to be presented to Richard Hoodlass and Joseph Dobson.

2pp., 4to. Bifolium, with the lower part of the second leaf lacking, and only part of Brownlow's franking of the address present, together with his broken seal in red wax. Frank reads: '<...> Febry eighth 1834 | <...> Massingberd Esqre | Ormsby | Spilsby | <?> | Brownlow'. In fair condition, on lightly aged and ruckled paper, with folds strengthened with archival tape. He writes regarding the award of the Honorary Medallion of the Royal Humane Society to 'Rd. Hoodless & Joseph Dobson' for 'meritorious services': 'I will thank you to convey this information to them, and to state to them that the Medallions will be delivered on the day of the Anniversary Festival which is fixed for the 16th: of April next'. Should either man not wish to be present, Brownlow offers to 'act as their Proxy, and receive the medallions for them'. Lambton Young's 'Acts of Gallantry' (1872) prints a letter from Brownlow to the the Committee of the Royal Humane Society, 29 January 1834, making an application on behalf of 'Richard Hoodlass [sic] and Joseph Dobson, who, in the most gallant manner, saved the lives of four out of eight, forming the crew of a brig that was stranded on the coast of Lincolnshire during the dreadful storm of the 31st of August last; and who very nobly declined receiving any portion of a sum, which I immediately sent for the reward of those who had exerted themselves on that occasion; saying, it was a sufficient satisfaction to them to have been able, under the blessing of Providence, to save the lives of four fellow-creatures'.