ADMIRALTY

[Sir Frederick Pollock, distinguished jurist.] Autograph Letter Signed ('F. Pollock') to Dr Maurice Ernest, discussing the question of arms control, preferring the term 'Limitation of armaments' to 'disarmament'.

Author: 
Sir Frederick Pollock (1845-1937), distinguished jurist and Cambridge Apostle, author of 'The History of English Law before the Time of Edward I' [Maurice Ernest, biologist; arms control; disarmament]
Publication details: 
27 April 1907. On letterhead of the Athenaeum, Pall Mall [London].
£120.00

2pp, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded several times. Small slip of paper with printed biographical entry on Pollock laid down at top left of first page. With several corrections giving the appearance of a draft, but from the papers of the recipient, the Austrian-born biologist Maurice Ernest (1872-1955). An interesting discussion of the question of arms control by a leading jurist in the years preceding the First World War. He begins by stating: 'Limitation of armaments is, as you rightly suggest, the only practical term.

[Admiral John Markham, Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty and First Naval Lord.] Autograph Letter Signed ('J Markham') to John Atkins, regarding the 'general drunken habits' of 'Mr [Miles] Burn', and the impossibility of reinstating him 'to his rank'

Author: 
Admiral John Markham (1761-1827), Royal Navy officer who served in the American and French Revolutionary Wars, Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty and First Naval Lord, MP for Portsmouth [Miles Burn]
Publication details: 
Admiralty [London]. 21 August 1806.
£100.00

The letter is 1p, 12mo, and is accompanied by the covering 8vo leaf, addressed to 'John Atkins Esqre | Duke Street | Westminster', with a second signature for franking. The covering leaf is endorsed: 'Admiralty August 21 1806 | Adml. Markham concerning Miles Burn that it would be impossible to get him reinstated'. Both letter and covering leaf in good condition, lightly aged and worn, with fold lines. Markham could hardly be more decisive.

[Samuel Pepys, Secretary of the Admiralty and diarist.] 31 items of Pepysiana from the papers of Edwin Chappell, comprising rare printed pamphlets, booklets and offprints by him and other Pepys scholars including Sir Arthur Bryant and J. R. Tanner.

Author: 
Samuel Pepys; Edwin Chappell; Sir Arthur Bryant; J. R. Tanner; Sir Stephen Gaselee; T. Wellard; Arthur Ponsonby; Allen Beville Ramsay; Edward B. Powley; H. L. O. Flecker; G. S. de Beer
Publication details: 
31 items dating from between 1921 and 1941. Most of Chappell's publications from his address, 41 Westcombe Park Road, Blackheath, London. Several papers delivered at St Olave's Church, Hart Street, London. Also items from Cambridge and Greenwich.
£750.00

31 items from the papers of leading Pepys scholar and maritime historian Edwin Chappell (1883-1938). The collection in good general condition, with light signs of age and wear. Around half the items are by Chappell himself, including offprints (many of them bearing his Blackheath address, 41 Westcombe Park Road), pamphlets, articles, proofs, and a bibliography. Other items are papers and pamphlets by: Sir Arthur Bryant; J. R. Tanner; Sir Stephen Gaselee (bearing an autograph inscription by him); T. Wellard; Arthur Ponsonby; Allen Beville Ramsay; Edward B. Powley; H. L. O. Flecker.

[Samuel Pepys, Secretary of the Admiralty and diarist.] 31 items of Pepysiana from the papers of Edwin Chappell, comprising rare printed pamphlets, booklets and offprints by him and other Pepys scholars including Sir Arthur Bryant and J. R. Tanner.

Author: 
Samuel Pepys; Edwin Chappell; Sir Arthur Bryant; J. R. Tanner; Sir Stephen Gaselee; T. Wellard; Arthur Ponsonby; Allen Beville Ramsay; Edward B. Powley; H. L. O. Flecker; G. S. de Beer
Publication details: 
31 items dating from between 1921 and 1941. Most of Chappell's publications from his address, 41 Westcombe Park Road, Blackheath, London. Several papers delivered at St Olave's Church, Hart Street, London. Also items from Cambridge and Greenwich.
£750.00

31 items from the papers of leading Pepys scholar and maritime historian Edwin Chappell (1883-1938). The collection in good general condition, with light signs of age and wear. Around half the items are by Chappell himself, including offprints (many of them bearing his Blackheath address, 41 Westcombe Park Road), pamphlets, articles, proofs, and a bibliography. Other items are papers and pamphlets by: Sir Arthur Bryant; J. R. Tanner; Sir Stephen Gaselee (bearing an autograph inscription by him); T. Wellard; Arthur Ponsonby; Allen Beville Ramsay; Edward B. Powley; H. L. O. Flecker.

[ Lords of the Admiralty ] Part printed, part MS. Document instructing the Governor of the Royal Hospital of Greenwich, Sir Charles Hardy, to receive and entertain five named men.

Author: 
[ 4th Earl of Sandwich; Ist Viscount Palmerston; Admiral Hugh Palliser; Philip Stephens ]
Publication details: 
[ Admiralty ] 22 July 1777.
£280.00

Document, folio, fold marks, tipped onto card of similar size, good condition, printed form instructing acceptance of men into the Greenwich Hospital with details added in MS, including the names of the men to be admitted, the signatures of Lords of the Admiralty (Sandwich, Palmerston, and Hugh Palliser) and by Philip Stephens, Secretary (see Oxford DNB)

[Sir George Henry Richards, Hydrographer to the British Admiralty, responsible for many Canadian place names.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Geo Henry Richards') to '[Setcham?]'.

Author: 
Admiral Sir George Henry Richards (1820-1896), Hydrographer to the British Admiralty from 1864 to 1874, responsible for many Canadian place names
Publication details: 
On letterhead of The Cottage, Fetcham, Leatherhead. 21 February 1895.
£60.00

3pp, 12mo. Bifolium on grey paper. In good condition, lightly aged. A letter of seventeen lines, written 'In haste'. Written in a difficult hand. He begins by thanking him for his 'Satisfactory note', written in answer to a point by '[Shuter?]' which Richards was 'not able to answer then'. The postscript refers to the 'sad loss […] I never knew a better man & friend'. As a hydrographer on the coast of British Columbia from 1857 to 1862, Richards was responsible for the selection and designation of dozens of place names (e.g.

[ Sir Henry Newbolt, poet. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Henry Newbolt') to 'Simpson' [ Dr Henry Simpson ], giving his reasons for resigning the presidentship of the Poets' Club.

Author: 
Sir Henry Newbolt [ Sir Henry John Newbolt ] (1862-1938), poet [ Henry Simpson (d.1939), founder and president of the Poets' Club, London ]
Publication details: 
No place. 12 October 1919.
£65.00

2pp., 4to. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. He begins by stating his great appreciation of 'the kindness of the Committee – I have had a long and sympathetic experience of the Club and the relationship has been to me a happy one from first to last'. Were he able to 'fulfil the duties of the President's office' he would be 'strongly tempted to accept their generous inviation and stand for re-election.

[ Sir Andrew Hamond, Comptroller of the Navy, on 'the Report of Buonaparte's assassination'. ] Autograph Letter in the third person to Lady Spencer, regarding a report of the assassination received from a Madeira merchant.

Author: 
Sir Andrew Snape Hamond (1738-1828), British naval officer, Comptroller of the Navy and Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia
Publication details: 
No place. 29 December [ 1798 ].
£150.00

2pp., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. Docketed: '29th. Decr 98 | Returned the Inclosure with Lady Spencer's thanks'. He is enclosing the letter (not present) which 'he mentioned from the Madeira merch[an]t. - The Postscript of which takes notice of the Report of Buonaparte's assassination having reached that Island on the 19 Novr. which is two days later than only, than the time the Report reached Constantinople.' The letter is 'on private business', and he would have forwarded it, had not business in the House of Commons kept him from Fulham.

[ Sir James N. Dick, Royal Navy Inspector-General of Hospitals and Fleets. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('J N Dick') to 'Hart' [ Ernest Hart, editor of the British Medical Journal ], regarding the post of 'Admiralty Surgeon & Agent at Hull'.

Author: 
Sir James Nicholas Dick (1831-1920), Royal Navy Inspector-General of Hospitals and Fleets, and Honorary Surgeon to King Edward VII [ Ernest Abraham Hart (1835-1898), editor, British Medical Journal ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Medical Department of the Admiralty, Avenue House, Northumberland Avenue, W.C. [ London ] 18 October [ no year ].
£120.00

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, aged and worn, with minor traces of stub adhering to the blank reverse of the second leaf. Headed 'Private'. In reply to his letter he informs him that 'the post of Admiralty Surgeon & Agent at Hull has already been filled up by the appointment of Dr Roe who was formerly in the Navy'. He ends by informing him that he sent his nephew 'a permit to fish some little time ago'.

[ Royal Navy commission to 'Her Majestys Steam Ship the Simoom'. ] Appointing Lieutenant Peter Mackenzie Godfrey, on vellum and signed by Admirals Sir Alexander Milne and Lord FitzHardinge, and by First Secretary of the Admiralty John Parker.

Author: 
[ Lord FitzHardinge ] Maurice Frederick FitzHardinge Berkeley, 1st Baron FitzHardinge (1788-1867); Sir Alexander Milne (1806-1896); John Parker (1799-1881), First Secretary of the Admiralty
Publication details: 
The Admiralty [ London ]. 10 February 1852.
£80.00

Printed on one side of a 28 x 34 cm piece of vellum, and completed by Parker in manuscript. With the customary tax stamp and embossed Admiralty seal. In good condition, with the customary aging and wear of the vellum. Headed 'By The Commission for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland &c.' Godfrey's seniority is given as 30 August 1841, and the document is signed by 'J Parker', 'M. F. F. Berkeley' and 'Alexr Milne'. The word 'Commissioned' is written at the foot.

][ Thomas Orby Dundas, M.P. for Winchelsea, Lord of the Admiralty. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Thos. Orby Hunter') stating mortgage terms, with two memoranda in the case 'Creuzer v. Bishop of London', one signed 'W. Graves'.

Author: 
Thomas Orby Hunter (c.1716-1769), of Crowland, Lincolnshire, and Waverley Abbey, Surrey, Member of Parliament for Winchelsea and a Lord of the Admiralty [Gibbs Crawfurd; Creuzer v. Bishop of London]
Publication details: 
Admiralty [ London ]. 18 March 1762.
£65.00

1p., 4to. Bifolium. On aged and worn paper. Hunter's letter, on the recto of the first leaf, reads: 'I write you this letter to inform you, that I agree to the proposal you made to me yesterday, that the growing Interest on the Mortgage shall be four and a half Per Cent, to Comence [sic] from the dates the last payments were due upon.' On the reverse of the first leaf are two memoranda in the court case 'Creuzer agst. Bp, London'. The first, signed by 'W. Graves', states that 'This paper Writing was produced & shewn to Mr. Richd. Burn at the time of swearing his Afft. in this Cause the 10th.

[ Sir David Carnegie, Scottish politician. ] Autograph Letter in the third person to 'Lord Spenser [sic]', i.e. Lord Spencer, First Lord of the Admiralty, urging the suit of 'Mr Moodie'. With Autograph Draft of Spencer's reply.

Author: 
Sir David Carnegie of Pitarrow (1753-1805), Scottish politician, Baron Carnegie of Kinnaird and Leuchars, de jure Earl of Southesk [ George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer (1758-1834); Admiralty ]
Publication details: 
25 Portman Square [ London ]. 19 June 1798.
£65.00

1p., 4to. Bifolium. On aged and creased paper. Carnegie's letter is on the recto of the first person, with Spencer's instructions regarding the response as customary diagonally on folded over outer corner of the reverse. Spencer was First Lord of the Admiralty between 1794 and 1801. Carnegie begins by addressing 'Lord Spenser [sic]', and stating that he 'is sorry to trouble his Lordship again about Mr Moodie, whom he had the goodness to put on the list of Marine Expectants at Sir David's request'.

[ The Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, in the aftermath to the Great War. ] Typed circular, with cyclostyled signature of 'O. Murray' [ Sir Oswyn Murray ], inviting the parents of cadets to withdraw their offspring as fewer officers are needed.

Author: 
Sir Oswyn Murray [ Sir Oswyn Alexander Ruthven Murray ] (1873-1936), Permanent Secretary to the Admiralty, 1917-1936 [ Sir Richard Harington of Whitbourne Court ]
Publication details: 
Embossed letterhead of the Admiralty, S.W.1. [ London ] 1 March 1920. [ 'C. W. 3832.' ]
£150.00

2pp., foolscap 8vo. In good condition, lightly-aged. In good condition, lightly aged and neatly folded. Addressed with typed name of 'Sir R. Harington, Bart.', followed by his address 'Whitbourne Court, | Worcester' in manuscript.

[ Lord George Hamilton, Conservative politician. ] Autograph Letter in the third person to Percy Noble, recommending Ernest Peeke as a footman.

Author: 
Lord George Hamilton (1845-1927), British Conservative politician, First Lord of the Admiralty, 1885-1886, and Secretary of State for India, 1895-1903
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Deal Castle, Deal. 25 February 1910.
£50.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Hamilton can 'confidently recommend' Peeke 'as a reliable honest & capable footman. He is very steady, a trifle slow at taking in <?> but remembers all he is told. He is a good valet. Lord George is sorry to lose him.'

[ Sir Robert Phillimore, last judge of the Court of the Lord High Admiral of England. ] Autograph Note Signed ('Robert Phillimore') to 'Mr Hammond' (his clerk?), with directions regarding a copy of a letter.

Author: 
Sir Robert Phillimore [ Sir Robert Joseph Phillimore ] (1810-1885), last judge of the Court of the Lord High Admiral of England, and politician
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 5 Arlington Street, London, S.W. 21 March [ no year ].
£35.00

1p., 12mo. With mourning border. In good condition, lightly aged, laid down on part of a leaf from an album. Reads: 'My dear Mr Hammond | Will you cause a copy of Mr 's letter to Mr Fane to be sent, as speedily as may be convenient, to the Neutrality Laws Commiss[ion]ers'.

[ Sir George Warrender of Lochend, as Lord of the Admiralty. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('G. Warrender') to an unnamed recipient

Author: 
Sir George Warrender [ Sir George Warrender of Lochend, 4th Baronet (1782-1849), Scottish politician nicknamed 'Sir Gorge Provender', Lord of the Admiralty, 1822-1828
Publication details: 
Admiralty [ London ]. 10 April [ no year ].
£50.00

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, on aged paper. Reads: 'My Dear Sir | Mr Macpherson Grant the Member for Sutherland wishes to see the Dock Yard at Woolwich tomorrow and you will oblige me very much by directing that he & his party may be admitted into the Dock Yard. | I am My Dear Sir | every Yours truly | G. Warrender'.

[ Lord Francis Leveson-Gower, later Earl of Ellesmere. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('F Leveson Gower') to Viscount Melville, as Chief Secretary for Ireland, regarding the post of Vice Admiral for the Province of Munster.

Author: 
Lord Francis Leveson-Gower [ later Francis Egerton, 1st Earl of Ellesmere ] (1800-1857), Conservative politician and patron of the arts [ Robert Saunders–Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville (1771-1851) ]
Publication details: 
London. 30 March 1830.
£180.00

1p., 4to. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Docketed on reverse of second leaf: 'Lord Frs. Lewson [sic] Gower | 30. Mar: 1830 | Vice Admiral for the Province of Munster'. Headed 'Private'. He was unable to answer Melville's letter 'without previous communication with the Ld Lieutt'. In response to Melville's 'question whether there is any Peer in the Province of Munster to whom it would be proper to offer the vacant Vice Admiralty jurisdiction, I have now to communicate the Ld Lieuts opinion, in which Mr Peel concurs, that it would be admirable to offer it to Ld Donoughmore'.

[ Jefferson Miles, Proof Master General of Ordnance. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Jeaffreson Miles') to Robert Eddowes, Ordnance Storekeeper at Portsmouth, directing him to have all his receipts signed.

Author: 
Jeaffreson MIles [ Jefferson Miles ] (d.1763), Proof Master General of Ordnance [ Robert Eddowes, Ordnance Storekeeper at Portsmouth; Royal Navy ]
Publication details: 
Office of Ordnance [ London ]. 17 July 1753.
£250.00

1p., folio. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Addressed on reverse of second leaf, with postmark, 'To | Robert Eddowes Esqr | Ordnance Storekeeper | at | Portsmouth'. 24 lines of neatly-written text. An unusually emphatic communication, the possibility of fraud clearly being in the air.

[ Josiah Burchett, Secretary of the Admiralty. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('J Burchett') to Lord of the Admiralty Sir Robert Rich, a sick note describing his symptoms and the circumstances.

Author: 
Josiah Burchett (c.1666-1746), Secretary of the Admiralty, clerk and servant to Samuel Pepys [ Sir Robert Rich (1648-1699) of Roos Hall, Suffolk; James Welwood (1652-1727), physician ]
Publication details: 
Epsom. 26 August 1697.
£120.00

2pp., 8vo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly-aged, with seal cut away from second leaf, which carries a postmark and the address: 'For the Rt. Honoble. Sr. Robert Rich, one of the Lords of the Admiralty. At his house near ye Admty. Office. | Westminster'. Thirty-two lines of text.

[ George Rose, Tory politician. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('G Rose') to unnamed recipient [ H. S. Alves? ], commenting in detail on a naval tract he has sent him.

Author: 
George Rose (1744-1818), Scottish politician, reformer, anti-abolitionist, friend of William Pitt the Younger and Admiral Nelson [ Robert Saunders Dundas, Viscount Melville; Henry Scott Alves ]
Publication details: 
'Wednesday Morng'. Without date or place.
£150.00

3pp., 4to. In good condition, each of the two leaves in neatly-trimmed remains of a windowpane mount. Headed 'Private' by Rose and 'Rec[eiv]ed' by the recipient, who has sent Rose a copy of a tract he has written on naval matters. (The reference in the letter to Lord Melville, who was Lord of the Admiralty from 1812 to 1827, may suggest Melville's secretary H. S.

[ King William IV, as Lord High Admiral. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('William') to Sir James Cockburn, Inspector General of the Royal Marines, concerning officer's examinations, divisional reports, and the preparation of a portrait.

Author: 
King William IV (1765-1837) of the United Kingdom, King of Hanover [ Sir James Cockburn (1771-1852), 9th Baronet, Inspector General of the Royal Marines ]
Publication details: 
Bushy House. 14 November 1829.
£250.00

2pp., 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. Cockburn is not named as the recipient, but the item comes from his papers. William (at the time the Duke of Clarence) writes: 'I rejoice exceedingly at the favourable account you are enabled to give me concerning the late examination for Adjutants amongs the Royal Marine Officers'. He is anxious to have Cockburn's 'various reports from the different Divisions'.

[ 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.

Author: 
King William IV (1765-1837) of the United Kingdom, King of Hanover [ Sir James Cockburn (1771-1852), 9th Baronet, Inspector General of the Royal Marines; Lt Col. Robert Moncrieff ]
Publication details: 
Admiralty [ London ]. 22 November 1827. [ Moncrieff's letter to Cockburn from Portsmouth, 22 November 1827. ]
£200.00

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.

[ Vice-Admiral Philip Howard Colomb, inventor. ] Autograph Note Signed ('P H Colomb'), regarding the adoption by the Admiralty of his system of 'signals for the service of the Fleet'.

Author: 
Vice-Admiral Philip Howard Colomb (1831-1899), Royal Navy officer and inventor
Publication details: 
18 Edith Villas | Fulham S.W. [ London ]. 12 February [ 1867? ].
£220.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper. The identity of the recipient is unknown. Reads: 'My dear Sir | You will be glad I am sure to learn that the Admiralty have finally adopted my signals for the service of the Fleet. | Yrs. try | P H Colomb'. A note in pencil on the reverse of the second leaf states that Colomb 'Devised night System known as "Colomb's Flashing Signals"'. Colomb's contributions to naval warfare and signalling were considerable. His evolutionary signal-book forms the basis of the current system of tactical evolutions at sea.

[ W. H. Smith, stationer and Conservative politician. ] Autograph Signature on cover of envelope, franking a letter to Thomas Thatcher.

Author: 
W. H. Smith [ William Henry Smith ] (1825-1901), stationer and Conservative politician, First Lord of the Admiralty and First Lord of the Treasury
Publication details: 
No date or place.
£20.00

Cover of envelope, 9.5 x 13 cm. Aged and discoloured. Partial official postmark in red. Addressed by Smith at centre to 'Thomas Thatcher Esqre | 44 College Green | Bristol.' Signature in bottom left-hand corner: 'W. H. Smith'.

[ Vice-Admiral Robert Hall, Third Lord and Controller of the Navy. ] Letter in a secretarial hand, signed 'Robert Hall', to William Griffith of Derby

Author: 
Vice-Admiral Robert Hall (1817-1882), Royal Navy, Third Lord and Controller of the Navy [ The Admiralty, Whitehall ]
Publication details: 
Admiralty [ Whitehall, London ]. 27 March 1874.
£56.00

1p., folio. In good condition, with light signs of age. Addressed to 'Wm. Griffith Esqre. | Becket Street Chapel | Derby.' Informing Griffith that he has 'laid before My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty the petition from the United Methodist Free Church, Derby, requesting the alteration of the 93rd. Clause of the Marine Mutiny Act'.

[ Admiral of the Fleet James Gambier, 1st Baron Gambier. ] Autograph Signature ('Gambier'), given immediately after the Battle of Basque Roads.

Author: 
Admiral of the Fleet James Gambier (1756-1833), 1st Baron Gambier, Lord Commander of the Admiralty and Governor of Newfoundland
Publication details: 
'Given on board the Caledonia in Basque Roads 17 April 1809.'
£30.00

On piece of 6 x 12 cm laid and watermarked paper, cut from an order. In fair condition, aged and worn. Above the good firm signature, in another hand, is: 'Given onboard [sic] the Caledonia in Basque Roads 17 April 1809'. At foot, in a nineteenth-century hand: 'Gambier's autograph'. Gambier's actions during the battle, the victory in which was credited to him rather than Lord Cochrane, led to a Court Martial. Gambier was exonerated, and Cochrane's naval career ended.

[ Admiral Sir William Alison Dyke Acland, Royal Navy. ] Autograph Signature ('W A D Acland').

Author: 
Admiral Sir William Alison Dyke Acland (1847-1924), Royal Navy
Publication details: 
Without place or date [1895].
£18.00

On 3.5 x 9.5 cm slip cut from a letter. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with remains of stub at one edge. Reads 'Yours truly | W A D Acland'. On reverse, in a contemporary hand: 'Capt Acland R.N. | H.M.S. S. Australia | Guard Ship Cow<?> | Augst. 1895.' Beneath this, in pencil: 'Admiral Sir Wm. Dyke Acland'.

[Captain G. Skeffington Smyth, Adjutant, The Motor Volunteer Corps.] Typed Letter Signed, a circular requesting that the recipient 'assist the Admiralty [...] by helping to drive the Officers of the French Fleet from London to Maidenhead'.

Author: 
Captain G. Skeffington Smyth [Lt-Col. Geoffrey Henry Julian Skeffington Smyth [FitzPatrick] (1873-1939], DSO, Adjutant, The Motor Volunteer Corps [The Admiralty, London; the Entente Cordiale, 1904]
Publication details: 
29 Sackville Street, London, W. 25 July 1905.
£56.00

1p., 8vo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. An interesting document, from the period immediately following the signing of the Entente Cordiale.

[HMS Berwick, Royal Navy cruiser.] Duplicated 'List of Urgent Defects', ninety-two in number, with the priority of the necessary work indicated in manuscript, compiled on the verge of the ship's decommissioning in 1946.

Author: 
[HMS Berwick, Royal Navy County class heavy cruiser, of the Kent subclass, launched 1926 and decommissioned 1946; Second World War; North Sea convoys; Norwegian campaign]
Publication details: 
No place. [Admiralty, Whitehall.] Latest reference to December 1944.
£150.00

9pp., foolscap 8vo. Duplicated carbon, printed in purple (except for Item 27, added in black), with the type breaking up heavily at points. Listing 92 numbered items, with columns for 'Departmental Serial No.' and 'Priority', the latter marked up in red pencil with 'A' (top priority), 'B' and 'C'. The list is divided into the following subsections: 'Hull & Miscellaneous', 'Auxiliary Machinery & Gunmountings', 'Electrical', 'First Fitting Stores'. The document was presumably produced as part of an assessment of whether the ship should be saved or scrapped.

[Thomas Crofton Croker, Irish antiquary.] Autograph Letter Signed ('T. Crofton Croker') to Sir Francis Palgrave, giving an excuse for not replying to a dinner invitation.

Author: 
Thomas Crofton Croker (1798-1854), Irish antiquary and civil servant [Sir Francis Palgrave (1788-1861), born Francis Ephraim Cohen, English historian]
Publication details: 
Admiralty [Whitehall, London]. 16 January 1827.
£120.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, on aged paper, with a closed tear along a fold line unobtrusively repaired with archival tape. Addressed at foot to 'F. Palgrave Esqr' (he would not be knighted until 1832), beside which Palgrave has written: 'Mr. Crofton Croker. | Author of Fairy Legends of the South of Ireland &c.' The text of the letter reads: 'My dear Sir | I ought to apologize for not replying to your invitation for Wednesday evening last. - My excuse must be that I did not return to town until yesterday and that your note reached me on Friday at Brighton.'

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