[ Admiral Sir Philip Charles Durham, British naval hero. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('P. C. Durham') to a Sea Lord, complaining of his treatment following the capture of Guadeloupe, and seeking preferment for his nephew.

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'. The letter begins: 'My Lord | I feel no exertion has been wanting on the part of the Navy in the joint capture of Guadeloupe – and did flatter myself <?> had given his Nephew the best Situation, and provided for most of his friends the admiral might have been offered something but to my surprize on my return from Pointe a Pitre in the <?>, where I had been in the Public Service, all was disposed of – it has been generally (in point of Captures) the practice to give the admiral the nomanation [sic] of the Naval officer, which is all I request for my Nephew Mr Thomas Calderwood Durham [(1797-1842)] and have requested Lord Bathurst would be pleased to give it to him – may I hope for your Lordships support'. He complains that in the meantime 'it has been given to Mr King a Gentleman well known to hae thought, and acted in opposition to Government which is not paying the Navy nor Army any compliment for their exertions in this Country.'