[William Marsden, orientalist, First Secretary to the Admiralty who broke the news of the victory at Trafalgar.] Autograph Signature ‘Wm Marsden’ to printed Admiralty order, addressed to Commodore Darby, regarding overmanning with 'young Gentlemen'.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB, which states that ‘it fell to him in October 1805 to wake Lord Barham, as first lord of the Admiralty, with the news of victory at Trafalgar and the death of Nelson’. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with creasing at head. Folded into packet. 1p, folio, and docketed on reverse: ‘Admiralty Order of 6 May 1802 respecting Bearing Boys of 1st Class recd. 1 July 1802 -’. Signed by Marsden, and addressed by him ‘To / Commodore Darby / &c. &c. &c.’ The printed text reads: ‘Sir, / My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having been informed that in order to give employment to a greater number of young Gentlemen than are allowed by the Establishment under the description of Boys of the first Class, a practice has prevailed of bearing them on the Books of His Majesty’s Ships as able and ordinary Seamen and landmen, and as the continuance of such practice, particularly with the reduced Complements allowed to His Majesty’s Ships in time of Peace will likely to be attended with great prejudice to His Majesty’s Service; I am commanded by their Lordships to signify their direction to you, on no account to bear a farther number of young Gentlemen on the Books than is allowed by the Establishment to be borne as Boys of the first Class, as in the event of any discovery being made of a departure from the established Regulations, their Lordships will mark their displeasure in the strongest manner.’