WARS

Autograph Signature of William Pitt Amherst, 1st Earl Amherst ('Amherst') on frank addressed to 'Robert Barrie Esqre. Captain of H.M.S. Pomone'.

Author: 
William Pitt Amherst (1773-1857), 1st Earl Amherst, British diplomat and colonial administrator (sometime Ambassador Extraordinary to China) [Captain Sir Robert Barrie (1774-1841) of HMS Pomone]
Autograph Signature of William Pitt Amherst
Publication details: 
Undated.
£35.00
Autograph Signature of William Pitt Amherst

On rectangle of paper, 11 x 5.5 cm, cut from front frank. Aged and spotted, with closed tear at head repaired on reverse with archival tape. The whole in Amherst's hand, with his signature (as usual on frank) in bottom left-hand corner between two horizontal lines. Launched in 1805, the Pomone was a 38-gun Leda-class fifth rate Royal Navy ship, built by Josiah and Thomas Brindley at Frindsbury. She saw action during the Napoleonic Wars, primarily in the Mediterranean, and was wrecked off the Needles in 1811.

[Printed British Parliamentary paper.] Report of the British Delegates to the International Opium Conference held at the Hague, December 1911-January 1912. Presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command of His Majesty. November 1912.

Author: 
[1912 Report to the British Parliament of the British Delegates to the International Opium Confer.ence, the Hague, 1911-1912] [HMSO]
Publication details: 
'Miscellaneous. No. 11 (1912).' London: Printed by His Majesty's Stationery Office.
£25.00

Folio, [ii] + 39 + [i]. Stitched. Text clear and complete. Fair, on lightly-aged paper, with slight staining to fore-edge. Title-page bearing stamp and withdrawal stamp of the University of Hull.

Letter, in the hand of a secretary, signed ('J W Croker') by John Wilson Croker, Secretary to the Admiralty, to Vice-Admiral Douglas, concerning 'Naval Occurences at Yarmouth', Captain Hawtayne of the HMS Quebec and Chaplain Forster of HMS Roebuck.

Author: 
John Wilson Croker (1780-1857), Secretary to the Admiralty, Irish author and politician [Captain Charles Sibthorpe John Hawtayne of HMS Quebec]
Letter, in the hand of a secretary, signed ('J W Croker') by John Wilson Croker
Publication details: 
Admiralty Office; 26 July 1810.
£125.00
Letter, in the hand of a secretary, signed ('J W Croker') by John Wilson Croker

Folio, 2 pp. Fair, on aged paper, with a few short closed tears to extremities, and carrying traces of previous mount on reverse. On behalf of the Lords of the Admiralty Croker grants the Admiral's request for leave of absence to two individuals following 'the Naval Occurrences at Yarmouth'. In same hand as letter on reverse: 'Captain Hawtayne Quebec Two Days | Mr Forster, Chaplain Roebuck One Month'.

Manuscript, on paper watermarked 1810, a detailed table titled 'Present <Stat>ement of His Majesty the King of Prussia's Army'.

Author: 
[The Prussian Army (Königlich Preußische Armee), 1810]
Present <Stat>ement of His Majesty the King of Prussia's Army
Publication details: 
[Circa 1810.]
£325.00
Present <Stat>ement of His Majesty the King of Prussia's Army

Landscape folio leaf (32.5 x 40.5 cm), 1 p. On paper watermarked 'JOHN HALL | 1810'. Neatly ruled to make a complex, detailed table, in three columns of 31 rows each. The table has a central vertical fold, with the left hand side of the reverse mounted on a leaf removed from an autograph album. In poor condition, with around an eighth of the total area of the paper and text lacking, mostly from the bottom right-hand corner. Despite the loss the table (presumably prepared for the British War Office) contains a mass of valuable information.

Manuscript, in French, written by a Royalist, titled 'Notes sur la Conduite des grandes Maisons de France, dans la Révolution. (Extraits trés Abrégée.)'

Author: 
[King Louis XVIII of France; the Bourbon Restoration; the French peerage; nobility]
Notes sur la Conduite des grandes Maisons de France, dans la Révolution.
Notes sur la Conduite des grandes Maisons de France, dans la Révolution.
Publication details: 
[Early nineteenth-century.]
£650.00
Notes sur la Conduite des grandes Maisons de France, dans la Révolution.
Notes sur la Conduite des grandes Maisons de France, dans la Révolution.

4to, 3 pp. Bifolium. Neatly and closely written. Text clear and complete. Fair, on aged paper. Evaluations of the conduct of more than thirty families, from a staunchly Bourbon point of view. First entry: 'Lorraine. Des sentiments trés pur. Ils quitterent ce Pais et furent trouver l'Empereur, qui les Emploie dans ses Armées.' Some families come in for criticism: 'Bethune. Cette maison si illustre s'est couverte d'ignomenie, un seul Bethune d'Artois a Emigrée.' Longest entry (twenty lines) on the Durfort Boissier family.

An archive illustrating English coastal defence against French invasion, 1794 to 1796

Author: 
[The Coast Committee of Northumberland; Napoleonic Wars]
The Coast Committee of Northumberland, 1794-6. Archive
Publication details: 
1794-6
£450.00
The Coast Committee of Northumberland, 1794-6. Archive

121 signed bills and receipts from the accounts of the Trustees of the Northumberland Coast Committee (also described as 'Trustees for Guarding the Coast', 'The Honourable Coast Committee Alnwick', 'The Honnble. Coasting Committe [sic]'). Very little is to be discovered about this organisation, with no contemporary references in The Times.

Regulations and Instructions relating to the Royal Marine Forces, when on shore.[Copy, from the 'Barrack Office' at Chatham, printed ] [Containing section on 'Infirmaries', and appendix on 'Vaccine Inoculation'.] With manuscript additions.

Author: 
Admiralty Regulations, Royal Marines, 1819 [Barrack Office, Chatham Division; Royal Navy; naval and military; vaccination; inoculation]
Publication details: 
[Undated.] In manuscript on front board: 'Admiralty Regulations 1819. Barrack Office Chatham Division'.
£450.00

4to: 120 + [19] pp. The last 19 unpaginated pages comprise the appendix, divided into 18 parts. Text clear and complete. On aged and foxed paper. Original boards rebacked in leather, with title on spine and new free endpapers. Title-leaf carries no date or printing details. In manuscript scored through on reverse: 'Adjutants Office by order | [signed?] T. G. Gascoigne | Adjutant', with crude drawings. The first section (pp.3-39) is headed 'BY the Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, &c.

Manuscript order, signed by Bickerton ('R Bickerton') and Hulbert ('Jno. Se. Hulbert'), directing Bathurst, as Captain of HMS Fame, to proceed to Chatham, to be paid off.

Author: 
Sir Richard Bickerton [Sir Richard Hussey Bickerton (1759-1832), English Admiral; Walter Bathurst (1764?-1827), naval officer; John George Hulbert; J. S. Hulbert; Royal Navy; naval and maritime]
Publication details: 
Given onboard [sic] the Prince at Spithead, 11th. Septr: 1814'.
£280.00

One page, on the recto of the first leaf of a bifolium (leaf dimensions 32 x 20 cm). 14 lines. Text clear and complete. On aged and somewhat grubby laid paper with Britannia and 'GATER | 1811' watermarks). Chipping and wear at head and extremities. Printed at head: 'By Sir RICHARD BICKERTON, Bart. Admiral of the White, Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's Ships and Vessels at Spithead, and in Portsmouth Harbour, and on the Guernsey Station.' Written in a secretarial hand and signed by Bickerton and, 'By Command of the Admiral', by Hulbert.

Coloured engraving: 'Copy of the Transparency exhibited at Ackermann's Repository of Arts, During the Illuminations of the 5th and 6th of November, 1813, In Honour of the Splendid Victories obtained by The Allies over the Armies of France, at Leipsic

Author: 
Thomas Rowlandson [Rudolph Ackermann, Repository of Arts, Strand, London; Napoleon Bonaparte; Regency caricature]
Publication details: 
Date, place and publisher not stated. [London: R. Ackermann, 1813.]
£250.00

On a piece of good wove paper, roughly 415 x 260 mm. Dimensions of engraving 180 x 220 mm. On aged paper and with the margins of the leaf trimmed. Laid down along the right hand margin runs a strip of blue paper, 30 x 410 mm, which it may be possible for a professional restorer to remove. This edges the border of the print (which is clear and entire) and overlaps a few letters of the text. Neatly coloured in sombre tones.

Handbill headed 'An Account of a Grand Fete at St. Ives, On 23rd of April, 1702, in honor of Queen Anne's Coronation; Taken from a Manuscript Book compiled by Edmund Pettis, at the time.'

Author: 
Joseph Harris [St Ives, Cornwall; printed ephemera; handbill]
Publication details: 
Note by Harris at foot dated 'St. Ives, 29th June, 1814.'; 'CROFT PRINTER, &c. ST. IVES.'
£150.00

On one side of a piece of wove paper, dimensions roughly 365 x 255 mm. Laid down on a larger leaf. Lightly creased and a little spotted, but good overall, and with the text entirely legible. The upper part of the item consists of the quotation from Pettis's manuscript book, consisting of nineteen lines in single column and twenty-six lines in double column. It begins 'The day was usher'd in with Ringing, Music, and Versing from door to door. At Eleven o'Clock a Cavalcade was formed in the Court Yard, West of the Church, which made a gallant appearance, in manner and form following'.

Belle Fresque Napoléonienne', in the form of a broadside poster in a wallet, inscribed by de Régie to Jules Dechamps, together with twenty cuttings of newspaper and magazine articles by de Régie.

Author: 
René de Vivie de Régie, 'Rédacteur à la "Revue des Études Napoléoniennes" [Napoleon Bonaparte; Professor Jules Dechamps (1888-1968), Queen Mary College]
Publication details: 
The poster dated 1925; the cuttings circa 1928-29.
£250.00

The poster is printed on one side of a piece of paper approximately 110 x 75 cm. Good, on lightly-aged paper. With its green printed wallet (21 x 28.5 cm), lightly worn and creased. Wallet covered in text, including the words 'NAPOLÉON FLORILÈGE' in large type. A curious piece of Napoleonic hagiography, with the text, consisting of a large number of unconnected effusions on his greatness ('Astre humain. Dieu terrestre'), in a variety of types and point sizes, arranged in six columns.

Printed form headed 'Royal Naval College,' not filled in, which when completed is intended to give 'an account' of the 'progress' made by an individual 'in his studies at this establishment'.

Author: 
[Royal Naval College, Portsmouth; Royal Navy; naval and maritime; the Admiralty]
Publication details: 
Without date or place [early nineteenth century].
£150.00

Folio bifolium (dimensions of leaf roughly 32 x 20 cm): one page, with the reverse of the leaf and the whole of the second leaf of the bifolium blank. Unbound. Good, on lightly aged and creased laid paper with a Britannia watermark. Eighteen lines of text, mostly taken up with comments on the teaching at the College of Latin and Greek, followed by an 'Extract from the General Report transmitted to the Admiralty Office' with room for the Student's name, his date of admission, and progress in mathematics, English, Latin and Greek, History and Geography, French and Drawing.

Handcoloured engraving, 'Etched by W Heath', 'From a Sketch by Paul <Sevinre?>', of 'Alexander Emperor of Russia'.

Author: 
William Heath, engraver; Richard Lambe, printseller, Gracechurch Street, London [Alexander I, Emperor of Russia]
Publication details: 
Undated [circa 1814?]. 'Published by R. Lambe, Gracechurch Street.'
£250.00

305 mm high and 225 mm wide. The print has been trimmed, with the top corners cut away to give the print the appearance of an arched window. A strip, 35 mm high, at the foot contains the caption, with the bottom right-hand corner damaged (not affecting print) by removal from backing. A good crisp impression, on lightly-aged paper, the only faults being loss to the sky above the Emperor as a result of the trimming of the top corners, and a couple of spots of glue to the sky.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Jane Halliday') to an unnamed Lord of the Admiralty.

Author: 
Lady Jane Halliday [née Tollemache] (1750-1802), English society beauty painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds [Lord Hugh Seymour; the Royal Navy]
Publication details: 
Grove Cottage near Cowes'. Undated, but docketed '22 Sept: 1800'.
£120.00

4to, 1 p, 12 lines. Very good, on aged paper. Asking the recipient 'through this medium to recommend my son Lieut Halliday [Francis Halliday, born around 1776; fl. 1820] of the Thunderer, now at Jamaica, to the notice of Lord Hugh Seymour; Sir Hyde Parker has sent me an account of him, but to my great disappointment has not brought him Home - - - - - Francis has been six years in the East & West Indies & very attentive to his profession'. She feels sure that 'a line from yr. Lordship to Lord Hugh could not fail of being of great use to him'. Docketed on reverse 'Mem: Enquire abt.

Autograph Letter Signed to unnamed male correspondent.

Author: 
Lieutenant J. Longshaw, of His Majesty's Brig Tyrian [Ireland; Irish; textile; textiles; weaving]
Publication details: 
Tyrian July 3d. 1813 Spithead.'
£56.00

8vo: 1 p. Sixteen lines of text. The Tyrian arrived in Spithead the previous night 'with a Convoy', and the postal delay prevented him 'from fulfilling Mrs. P's Commission'. They 'remained three days in Ireland' and 'had a good passage there and Back': 'but as we may frequently have the trip, I shall keep it in Memory, I have bought over Two pieces. Enclosed are Patterns of Eight Yards each We call them Poplins, but these are Manufactured only at Dublin and by the Natives called '. States what he paid and sends respects. Docketed on reverse in a contemporary hand.

Ought France to Worship the Bonapartes?

Author: 
Ahriman I., pseud. [Napoleon Bonaparte]
Publication details: 
London: Robert Hardwicke, 192, Piccadilly. 1863. [W.H. Collingridge, City Press, 117 to 119, Aldersgate Street, E.C.]
£100.00

8vo: [iv] + 90 + [ii] pp. In original grey printed wraps. The answer to the question in the title is an emphatic 'No!', with the author's argument summed up in the conclusion: 'The publication of these remarks has been elicited by a feeling of indignation and surprise, on learning, that, in any part of the world, and especially of France, the man, whom a former generation cursed, should now be deemed worthy of being canonised.' The author puts his case forcefully and well, marshalling a number of quotations from classical and modern sources.

Autograph Letter Signed to "Lord Duke of Buckingham", presumably Grenville, Richard Temple Nugent Brydges Chandos, first Duke of Buckingham and Chandos

Author: 
Admiral Sir [William] Sidney Smith, hero of Acre.
Publication details: 
No 5 Regent Street ([Powells?]), London, 25 July [1830].
£100.00

Four pages, 4to, fair condition. Smith has crossed out page one, suggesting this was a draft. He regrets missing the Duke on whom he waited. He makes strenuous representations on behalf of Dr George Roddam, hoping that Buckingham will support Roddam with the new King (William). He discusses Roddam's experience as Royal Physician to "the late King" (GeorgeIV) and Charlotte, and his services to Smith himself on the "Antelope" and "Pompee", and in Rio de Janeiro.

Manuscript (part prob.)signed by Williams as Captain and by the gunner [Jack?] Mathers.

Author: 
Admiral Thomas Williams (then Captain of the "Vanguard).
Publication details: 
01/08/01
£450.00

Two pages, c.8" x 8" (probably lacking half a folio leaf), pages, entitled "An Account of Gunner's Stores returned into Store &c from His Majesty's Ship Vanguard, Sir Thomas Williams, Kt. Captain between the 27th February 1801 and the 30th November 1801, pages columnised under headings: Time return (all 12 August); Place where (all Portsmouth); To whom ([S.L. Spencer?] Storekeeper); Quality (see list below); and Quantity.

Document (secretarial) Signed "Gassendi", addressed to "Monsieur le Comte". En francais.

Author: 
Comte J.J.B. Gassendi
Publication details: 
[Printed heading: Ministere de la Guerre] 6e. Division / Bureau de l'artillerie / Poudres & Saltpetres, Paris, Le 27 Juillet 1811.
£200.00

General (1748-1828)(biography on net). One page, sm. folio, good condition.. He acknowledges a letter in which he was asked about the "plans & . . . construction du nouveau magazin des poudres [de debit?] a Paris. Le devise & le plan de ce magasin ont ete renvoyes dans le temps a Me . . . administrateurs generaux . . . Il est essential de ne pas arreter les Tarvaux de Construction de ce magasin, afin qu'ils doient terminer pendant la belle saison."

Two autograph letters signed to William Smith, anti-slavery M.P.

Author: 
Louis-Matthieu Langles.
Publication details: 
Bibliotheque Royal, 8 April 1813 and Bibliotheque du Roi, 17 April 1814.
£120.00

Of the Bibliotheque Imperiale (Bibliotheque du roi). In French. Total 6 pages, text from verso shows through on recto, but both letters clear and complete. ITEM ONE (1813) He is looking forward to seeing Smith in Paris. General Macaulay has givcen "l'agreable asssurance". Progress made in beautifying Paris. He mentions a female author (Indecipherable to me), "celebre en France" to whom he recommends him particularly, eulogising her. Regards to wife and daughters. ITEM TWO (1814) Thanks for a letter. Smith's "sejour a Paris", happy memories and a wish for a future visit.

Manuscript list of members of "E" Battery, "E" Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery

Author: 
Afghan Campaign
Publication details: 
c.1880
£150.00

Manuscript, one page, 7.5 (W) x 19" (L), with list, two columns including information as follows: state (killed and when, dead, discharged, etc.)/ rank from Major to Gunners/ name. About 60 names. Those who were killed mainly died on 27/7/1880, others died at Kandahar. With: typescript, 2 copies, 4pp., folio, listing members of "E" Battery, "Medal Roll of those who took part in the Afghan Campaign, showing those who were awarded the clasp for KANDAHAR",giving regimental number and rank, most names appearing in the manuscript list.

Autograph Letter Signed "Ch M Pole" to an unnamed correspondent, a naval historian.

Author: 
Sir Charles Morice Pole.
Publication details: 
18 Hill Street, Berkeley Square, London, 22 Oct. [no year].
£110.00

Admiral (see DNB). Two pages, 8vo, black-bordered, small tear, mainly good condition. He refers to an earlier meeting and a "severe affliction in [his] family" which affected his movements. He will soon "endeavour to find the history you desire; your proposed naval history was to trace back to early periods it is possible that I might assist you with some manuscript copies that would interest the curious in naval history, and when you are again in Hertfordshire, I should willingly urge this as an excuse for soliciting the pleasure of your Company at Aldenham Abbey . .

Autograph Letter Signed [to R. Byham of the Ordnance Office].

Author: 
Admiral Sir Edward Campbell Rich Owen
Publication details: 
Windlesham Bagshot | 14 July 1835'.
£120.00

English admiral who 'while in command of the "Immortalite" captured and destroyed many French gunboats and privateers, 1802-5' (DNB).Two pages, 12mo. Good though grubby, and with blank second leaf of bifoliate cut down to a stub. Thanks Byham for 'all your kindness'. 'I shall have an opportunity of expressing my good wishes & those of Lady Owen to Mrs. Byham & yourself whenever you can seize a moments holiday'. Gives directions. '[...] At the 24th.

Autograph Note Signed to "Hunt".

Author: 
Evelyn Wood.
Publication details: 
No place of date.
£35.00

Field-Marshal. One page, 8vo, slight blotching but text clear if hard to read in parts. He says that "Sir John [is] much better. Pronounced out of immediate danger. We only fear sudden excitement or [?] . . ."

Autograph Note in the third person to the Secretary, Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Sir Bartle Compton Arthur Frere [THE ZULU WAR; BECHUANALAND EXPEDITION]
Publication details: 
27 July 1919; on embossed letterhead '67 WESTBOURNE TERRACE, | HYDE PARK, W.2.'
£26.00

British soldier (1854-1933) decorated for service in the Zulu War. One page, 12mo. Creased, discoloured and with a few pin holes. Docketed and bearing the R.S.A. stamp. 'Sir Bartle Frere presents his compliments & begs to enclose an envelope wh has just reached him fm. P. Office | 27. 7. 19 | The Secy | R. Society of Arts'.

[Draft of?] Autograph Letter Signed to Lieutenant-General John Whyte.

Author: 
P. Johnston [Lt Gen. John Whyte, Frederick Maitland, the West Indies]
Publication details: 
22 May 1802; no place [London].
£38.00

Two pages, 4to. Very good, though on rather discoloured paper, and with strip of previous mount adhering to right-hand edge of verso. Johnston desires the settlement of the 'account of Incidental Expenses incurr'd during the period of [Johnston's deceased brother, A. Johnston's] command' in St Domingo.

Autograph Letter Signed to Sir Francis Vincent.

Author: 
George B. Rumbold.
Publication details: 
Berlin, 23 June 1806.
£180.00

Diplomat. Three pages, 4to, poor condition but most of the text legible. "Private". Rumbold discusses the reception of a petition he sent to "Mr Fen[?]" saying that he is to get "immediate indemnification for the losses & expenses occasioned by the seizure of my Person, my imprisonment &c". Vincent is giving him support. He encloses his account, anticipates delay by the Treasury in paying but enlists his correspondent's help. His case was a cause celebre of the time, described in DNB as follows: "On the night of 25 Oct.

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