[General Sir William Napier, Irish soldier, historian of the Peninsular War.] Autograph Letter Signed ('W N') to 'Macdonald', declining to ask for rank of Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, with resentment towards Admiral Sir William Parker.

4pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with minor traces of tape from mount adhering along one edge. Endorsed 'Genl. Wm. Napier'. On wove paper with watermark 'CANSELL | 1830'. The letter - written with energy and some resentment - refers to Admiral Sir William Parker (1781-1866), who was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1815. It is headed 'Private & Confidential' and begins: 'My dear Macdonald | In reflection I decided not to ask for the rank you suggested, because I thought it might be considered a personal favor, & not an act which conferred personal dignity on one of the King's Agents, & I detest asking for favors, especially from persons unwilling to grant them.' He continues: 'Lord Palmeston ought to see & judge himself whether or not the public service is benefitted by such rank being conferred, my own belief is that when An Agent goes amongst these Military Nations, where Military rank is alone considered, the higher the rank of the Agent the easier he can do his duty.' Nevertheless Napier will not ask, '& without asking nothing is given in England'. He continues: 'I think I was ill used in not having the 2d Order of the Bath given to me when it was given to Adl. Parker. We were colleagues on the same station, he a New Admiral, I a Brigadier General with fuller powers than he had, for when two Ministers like Asses sent our fleet to Sea where it remained at a great expense (from near 2 [?]) to the Nation I alone had the Power to call it into the Tagus, & did call it into the Tagus, on my own responsiblity, which act was approved of by the Ministry. However they gave Parker the Bath & not me, but I certainly shall not ask for it. Nor have I ever, nor shall I ever complain of not having it, & say to to you & to you alone in strict Confidence'.