WARS

An excellent letter from Spencer as First Lord of the Admiralty, 1794-1801, vividly conveying the urgency and energetic action required of the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. 4pp, 4to. Bifolium. Fifty-eight lines of text. In fair condition, aged and worn, with light damp staining. Folded three times. Written following Smith's successes against Napoleon's Egyptian expeditionary force, in particular at the Siege of Acre (1799), for which he was granted a Government pension of £1000 a year.

On one side of 8 x 19 cm piece of paper, torn from the end of a document. In fair condition, lightly aged, with strip of paper from mount adhering to the reverse. Two folds. The signature 'Cavan' is between two horizontal lines. The rest of the document would appear to be in a secretarial hand, but the matter is not quite certain. It reads: '[...] | I have the Honor | to be | Sir | Your Royal Highness's | Most Obedt. Faithful | & Much Obliged | Humble Servt. | Cavan'. It is dated 'Cowes. | March 1st 1804' and addressed to 'His Royal Highness | The Duke of York'.

Valediction only, 15.5 x 7.5cm, cut from letter, as follows: "to give him the command of -| I have the honor to be with very high respect | Your Royal Highness | Dutiful | and Obedt. Servant | St Vincent". Note that Nelson had been given the command of the Mediterranen Fleet three days earlier (14 May 1803). Docketed by HRH or secretary "The late Earl St Vincent" and from a large collection of similar valedictions, so often to the Duke of York ("Royal Highness" etc) that they may reveal the fate of his incoming correspondence, or part of it..

Although ostensibly neutral, Denmark participated was participating in the Continental Blockade, and under heavy pressure from the French and their Russian allies to pledge its fleet to Napoleon. As a consequence a Royal Navy fleet, under Vice-Admiral James Saumarez, bombarded the Copenhagen for a period of days in August and September 1807. The controversial action succeeded in its aims: the Dano-Swedish fleet was seized, and the sea lanes of the Baltic and North Sea were secured for the use of the British merchant fleet.

Two highly interesting letters relating to nineteenth-century New Zealand. Both concern Thomas Alfred Sneyd Kynnersley (1839-1874), chief warden and commissioner of the Nelson South West goldfield, whose entry in the New Zealand Encyclopaedia states was famed in the colony for 'his ingenuity and daring'.

Abercromby's entry in the Oxford DNB, explains the context: 'As a brigade commander in the ill-fated Flanders campaign of Frederick, duke of York, he played a prominent part in the fighting, notably in July 1793 at Valenciennes, where he directed the storming parties, and in September 1794 at Boxtel, where a young lieutenant-colonel, Arthur Wellesley, later duke of Wellington, underwent his baptism of fire while covering the withdrawal of Abercromby's forces.' 1p, 4to. On bifolium, the reverse of the second leaf of which is endorsed. In fair condition, aged and worn. Folded twice.

A savage and bitterly-sarcastic satirical spoof epitaph, the text of which, the Liverpool Mercury reported in 1822, had been 'repeatedly published before'. Some versions are said to have included a woodcut by George Cruikshank, but the only other publication found (with a few minor variations from the present version) is in the Irish Magazine, June 1809, pp.286-287, where the author is named as 'WILKS INR.', i.e. '[John] Wilkes [sic] Junior'. Printed on one side of a 26.5 x 10 cm piece of unwatermarked wove paper.

Two pages, obl.12mo, fold mark, good condition. "Previous to leaving the Baltic, Sir James Saumarez was presented with a magnificent Sword [sett?] in Diamonds by His Majesty The King of Sweden for the Services he rendered to thjat country and upon the arrival of the Emperor of Russia and the King of Prussia in England he was honored with their Majesties persoanl thanks for the benefit derived to the Common Cause of Europe, which were also communicated to him from the Emperor of Austria by his Excellency Prince Metternich.

On both sides of a 37 x 24 cm piece of paper (i.e. half a 'pinched post' folio leaf), with 1806 fleur-de-lys watermark. Folded twice, to make eight 24 x 9 cm panels (four on each side), in seven of which Perceval has written his notes in a close and neat hand. The eighth panel forms the outside of the folded paper, and on this Perceval has written 'Parliamentary | Miscellaneous'. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn.

1p, 8vo. In good condition, lightly aged, with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to edge on reverse. Ten-line letter, addressed to 'Richd: Clark, Esqr.' Reads: 'Sir, | I have received a Letter from Mr.

1p, 4to. In fair condition, aged and worn; laid down on part of a leaf removed from an album. Bathurst's name written in two nineteenth-century hands at the head. The letter was evidently written on receipt of an engraving of Captain George Nicholas Hardinge (1776-1813) of HMS St Fiorenzo, adopted son of George and Lucy Hardinge, who was killed in a naval action off the coast of Ceylon.

At the age of 22 Sulkowski entered the Napoleonic army, taking part in the Peninsular War and the Invasion of Russia. After the death of Józef Poniatowski, he briefly took command of the Polish Corps. He returned to Rydzyna in 1815. 1p, 12mo. Laid down on part of leaf from album. In fair condition, aged and worn, with slight staining and a closed tear at foot. Biographical note in German at foot in nineteenth-century hand.

3pp, foolscap 8vo. On laid paper with watermark: 'GOLDING | & | SNELGROVE | 1811'. Aged and worn, with closed tears along folds, but with text complete and clear. The document includes two passages written in red ink which has faded but is still legible. The background to the present letter is given in Lambert's entry in the Oxford DNB: 'On 4 June 1813 Lambert was promoted major-general, and was appointed to a brigade of the 6th division. […] Having been sent to America, he joined the army under Sir Edward Pakenham below New Orleans on 6 January 1815, with the 7th and 43rd foot regiments.

Three pages, folio, bifolium, fold marks, aged, some chipping, text complete and clear.

7 x 21 cm panel from the front of an envelope, carrying the frank in Pitt's autograph, with 5.5 x 3 cm rectangle extending vertically from the bottom, with Pitt's seal in red wax adhering at the foot. Laid down on a leaf from an album. In fair condition, lightly aged, with the seal somewhat cracked and with a few small fragments having chipped away. The frank, written in a bold hand, reads: 'May 1790 | Dr. Leycester | Serles Stair Case | Lincolns Inn'. The signature is written in the customary fashion, between two lines at bottom left: 'W Pitt'.

2pp., 12mo. In fair condition, aged and ruckled. A somewhat florid letter of thanks, addressed to 'My dear Lord', and with the valediction 'Your affectionate Friend, | Sidmouth'. The letter begins: 'Your kind Solicitude on Account of my two Daughters is just what I should have expected from your long experienc'd Friendship.' The girls have had 'a merciful Deliverance from a great & imminent Danger, in Comparision with which the Degree in which They have suffer'd, tho' not inconsiderable in itself, is a Subject of heartfelt Thankfulness from me & all my Family'.

6 + [1]pp., folio. Side stitched and unbound. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with light staining at foot of first page. The contents of the document are given as follows: '1. - Account of Sums advanced, for Public Services, from the Civil List Revenues, pursuant to Addresses, not being part of its Ordinary Expenditure. | 2. - Account of Sums advanced, for Public Services, from the Civil List Revenues, not being part of its Ordinary Expenditure. | 3.

On a 1.75 x 4.25 cm rectangle of laid paper cut from letter. In fair condition, lightly aged, with paper from mount on reverse. A neat, firm signature, reading 'Roger Curtis'.

4pp., 4to. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. With two tax stamps. Laid out in double column, with the Dutch text on the right, and a French translation on the left. Begins with official announcements ('Administration. | Renovation.' and 'Contribution Fonciere sur les Proprietes Baties'), followed by 'Nouvelles - Politique' ('Baviere', 'Angleterre' and 'Empire-Francais') and ending with 'Varietes'.

1p., 4to. In fair condition, on aged and creased paper. The body of the letter is written in another hand, and reads: 'The names of two Gentlemen appointed to act as Lieutenants whom Admiral Durham is particularly desirous of getting confirmed as Lieutenants. - | Mr Brigss - Vacancy. Lt Gordon 1st on Admiralty List appd to Spider - | Mr Maltman - do - Lt Luke promoted by Admiralty order -'. Beneath this Durham has signed: 'P. C. Durham'.

On both sides of a 13 x 20 cm piece of paper cut from an official letter. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. The recto reads: '[…] Having received the enclosed Papers since I wrote to you on the 27th inst transmitting the Proceedings of a General Court Martial on the Trial of Lieutt Irwine of the 55th Regt. I think it right to transmit them to you as they are documents relating to […]'. Reverse reads: 'I have the honour to be Sir | Your most obedient humble | Servant | Edw: Morrison Lt: Govr | Commr of the Forces at Jamaica <?>'.

1p., 16mo. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. Reads: Dear Sir - | I am directerd by the Commander of ther Forces to request that you will pay the enclosed on account of the Extraordinaries of th Army.' Torrens was Military Secretary between 1809 and 1820.

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. Docketed on reverse of second leaf: '15 Augt. 1815. | Sir P. C. Durham'. According to the DNB, Durham, having 'cleared the West Indies of American cruisers', 'in June and August 1815 co-operated in the reduction of Martinique and Guadeloupe, at which place the last French flag was struck to Durham, as the first had been'.

1p., 12mo. Bifolium. Addressed on reverse of second leaf, with broken wafer, 'A Monsieur | Monsieur le Major Walter Scott | Hotel Mirabeau rue | de la Paix | A Paris', and franked 'Mal. Duc de Tarento'. On aged and lightly ruckled and damp-stained paper. 11 lines of text. He writes in the hope that Scott and his 'Lady' will be able to come 'pour diner chez moi en famille seulement'. MacDonald was of Jacobite stock, and a near-relative of Flora MacDonald.

2pp., 4to. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged. Written in a difficult hand. Docketed on reverse of second leaf in a neat hand, explaining the context: 'Genl Thomas Graham | Stratton Street | 31 Janry 1803 | wrote him first febry that Peers could not be Commssrs of Supply | 1803 | 3 Febry wrote L[or]d Keith.' Graham's letter reads: 'There is the list – except two names wch. L[or]d Keith wishes to have inserted & the mem[orandu]m. Of wch. I have mislaid – one is the Baillie of Kinkardine [sic] for the time being I think – but it wd.

All three letters are on bifoliums, and they total 11pp., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. They are all written by a secretary (for reasons made obvious below), and signed by Willoughby. ONE: To 'Sir John', 27 September 1839. 4pp., 12mo. He is sending him copies of his work, 'The one dedicated to Seamen and Sailors meant for Greenwich [i.e.

3pp., folio. Bifolium. In poor condition, worn and stained. A corner has been cut away from both leaves. Addressee's name at foot of first leaf, difficult to decipher, but appearing to read: 'The Rep[resentati]ve of J D de Warter at Mr Davis | Parliament Street'. Docketed: 'Treasury Circular of 17th Decemr 1833 | Calling on Supplemental Claimants to present appeals within a fortnight'. At upper left: 'Claims rejected'.

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, aged and worn, with traces of mount adhering to the blank reverse. The male recipient is not identified. The letter reads: 'Sir, | My memory hardly serves me so as to answer your enquiry positively. I do not recollect Robert Craufurd in Holland in '99; and I am pretty sure that Robt: Anstruther, who died at Corunna, was our Depy. Quarter Master General'. According to Bunbury's entry in the Oxford DNB, he purchased 'a captaincy in the 16th Queen's light dragoons on 16 August 1797.

Pp.x.188, 8vo, folding genealogy of his family at back, decorated black cloth gt., hinge strain at half-title, mainly good condition. Copies at five UK and USA libraries, and Bologna

1p., 4to. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. The reverse of the second leaf, with seal in black wax, is addressed to 'Capt Crossley | &c &c &c | O L M', and the foot of the letter to 'John Crossley Esqre | Capt: Oldham L: M:' (Crossley, the commanding officer of the Oldham Regiment of Local Militia, built up a notable collection of military memorabilia, which was dispersed after his death.) The letter begins: 'With this you will receive the interesting little "Bijou" - Bonaparte's Star of the Legion of Honour for which I beg a place in your curious Collection.