[ King William IV as Lord High Admiral. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('William') to Sir James Cockburn, Inspector General of the Royal Marines, on Lt-Col. Robert Moncrieff acting 'foolishly' over his commission. With ALS from Moncrieff on the subject.

2pp., 4to. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with slight tear to one edge. Cockburn is not named as the recipient, but the item comes from his papers. William (at the time the Duke of Clarence) writes that he is enclosing Moncrieff's letter, 'by which you will perceive he is acting foolishly not to use a harsher term. My determination therefore is when I arrive tomorrow afternoon at Portsmouth to be informed by you whether he sells or goes on the Half pay of a Colonel which is Fourteen Shillings and Six Pence pr: diem. He shall not appear at the Head of the Division on Thursday and before tomorrow night I hope to have in orders Sr. Richard Williams as the Commandant of the Royal Marines at Portsmouth.' (He had his way. Williams (1764-1839) was commanding officer of the Royal Marines from 1827 to 1835.) Moncrieff's letter, to 'Captain The Honble. R. C. Spencer', is 2pp., 4to, and in good condition. It is signed 'R Moncrieff Comt. R. Marines'. It begins: 'I have this moment received thro' Sir James Cockburn the Orders of His Royal Highness The Lord High Admiral to send by return of post my decision whether I accept half pay, or leave to sell the Commission of a Lt Colonel'. Unfortuntately he cannot decide which is 'the most advantageous - but being ignorant what is meant by half pay of a Commandant - the half pay of several ranks being about two thirds of full pay'. He has had 'no time to deliberate on a matter to me of so much importance'. A memorial to Moncrieff, who died in 1844 at the age of 86, states that he was 'commandant of the Portsmouth Division of the Royal Marines' for 'a period exceeding 50 years', and that he was 'distinguished by valour and energy in service and by a high sense of honour and justice in command'.