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A collection of early 19th century letters relating to Admiral Sir William Sidney Smith (1764 -
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Description
A collection of early 19th century letters relating to Admiral Sir William Sidney Smith (1764 - 1840), the ‘Hero of Acre’.Smith was a veteran of the American Revolutionary War, Russo-Swedish War, French Revolutionary War, Napoleonic War, and the Peninsular War.A skilled military leader and strategist, Smith became involved in numerous naval engagements, espionage, and diplomacy, running up substantial debts by way of the latter.The collection comprises of 9 letters, to include:1. Aletter written in the third person, signed W.Sidney Smith to a Mr Birt, giving him the authority to collect the book (of HMS Tigre).Dated May 15th 1802, Rochester, and featuring a small engraved portrait of Smith affixed top left.2. A Masonic invitation, issued to Smith on December 21st 1825, with his address given as Rue de Faubourg, St Honore No.35.3. A letter from Smith to William Dorset Fellowes, author and Royal Naval Officer.Relating to the sending of a printed letter (not included) to the Chiefs and Tribes among the Arabs, Turkish affairs, white slave traffic, the condition of the defences in the Dardanelles, the liberation of Morea, and other topics.4. A letter from Smith to ‘My Dear Friend’ (probably to General Sir Charles Doyle, dated circa 1825.The letter declines an invitation, explaining that ‘Lady Smith’s health is now very precarious’ (Lady Smith died in May 1826).5. A letter written by Robert Fisher to Smith,, requesting a copy of his portrait for inclusion in a work called ‘The National Gallery of Illustrious & Eminent Personages.Admiral Smith has drafted his response on the reverse side, stating ‘The best portraits of Sir SS extant are those painted by Sir Robert Kerr Porter, one of the breach at Acre, the other a full length now in the marine map room at Plymouth’.6. An undated letter from Admiral Edward Pellew, Viscount Exmouth, addressed to ‘Mr Dear Sir Sidney’, and expressing his wish that they would ‘talk over old affairs and new expectations’.7. An autographed memo, dated April 9th 1803, detailing his plans to establish a telegraph between the shore and Commodore of His Majesty’s ships stationed on the coast.8. A letter from Sir Sidney Smith to a ‘Mr Thompson and all his family, and will be happy in the pleasure of their company to a breakfast and a little dance at the boathouse on Tuesday next at 10 o’clock.Unsigned and undated.9. A letter written to a Mr Jackson, ‘Printer Strand’ requesting two dozen lithographed sketches of the balanced carriage may be sent forthwith to him at the above.Dated October 29th 1830, and sent from Suffolk Place, Baths, Pall Mall.Condition varies across pieces, with some browning / foxing to the paper in places, minor tearing to edges, and overall light soiling to the pages.
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A collection of early 19th century letters relating to Admiral Sir William Sidney Smith (1764 - 1840), the ‘Hero of Acre’.Smith was a veteran of the American Revolutionary War, Russo-Swedish War, French Revolutionary War, Napoleonic War, and the Peninsular War.A skilled military leader and strategist, Smith became involved in numerous naval engagements, espionage, and diplomacy, running up substantial debts by way of the latter.The collection comprises of 9 letters, to include:1. Aletter written in the third person, signed W.Sidney Smith to a Mr Birt, giving him the authority to collect the book (of HMS Tigre).Dated May 15th 1802, Rochester, and featuring a small engraved portrait of Smith affixed top left.2. A Masonic invitation, issued to Smith on December 21st 1825, with his address given as Rue de Faubourg, St Honore No.35.3. A letter from Smith to William Dorset Fellowes, author and Royal Naval Officer.Relating to the sending of a printed letter (not included) to the Chiefs and Tribes among the Arabs, Turkish affairs, white slave traffic, the condition of the defences in the Dardanelles, the liberation of Morea, and other topics.4. A letter from Smith to ‘My Dear Friend’ (probably to General Sir Charles Doyle, dated circa 1825.The letter declines an invitation, explaining that ‘Lady Smith’s health is now very precarious’ (Lady Smith died in May 1826).5. A letter written by Robert Fisher to Smith,, requesting a copy of his portrait for inclusion in a work called ‘The National Gallery of Illustrious & Eminent Personages.Admiral Smith has drafted his response on the reverse side, stating ‘The best portraits of Sir SS extant are those painted by Sir Robert Kerr Porter, one of the breach at Acre, the other a full length now in the marine map room at Plymouth’.6. An undated letter from Admiral Edward Pellew, Viscount Exmouth, addressed to ‘Mr Dear Sir Sidney’, and expressing his wish that they would ‘talk over old affairs and new expectations’.7. An autographed memo, dated April 9th 1803, detailing his plans to establish a telegraph between the shore and Commodore of His Majesty’s ships stationed on the coast.8. A letter from Sir Sidney Smith to a ‘Mr Thompson and all his family, and will be happy in the pleasure of their company to a breakfast and a little dance at the boathouse on Tuesday next at 10 o’clock.Unsigned and undated.9. A letter written to a Mr Jackson, ‘Printer Strand’ requesting two dozen lithographed sketches of the balanced carriage may be sent forthwith to him at the above.Dated October 29th 1830, and sent from Suffolk Place, Baths, Pall Mall.Condition varies across pieces, with some browning / foxing to the paper in places, minor tearing to edges, and overall light soiling to the pages.
The Captain Maitland Collection: The Surrender of Napoleon Bonaparte July 15th 1815
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