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Auction: 14035 - Postal History, Autographs and Historical Documents
Lot: 3032

Historical Documents
Admiral Lord George Anson
1758 (30 August) a sheet of "Additional Fighting Instructions" and signed "Anson" on board His Majesty's Ship Royal George at Sea, addressed to Captain Deane of His Majesty's Fireship Vesuvius. The message reads , "If upon coming to action with the enemy I should think proper to hawl down the signal for the Line of Battle, every ship in the Fleet is then to use his utmost endeavours to take or destroy such ships of the enemy as they may be opposed to, by engaging them as close as possible and pursuing them if they are driven out of their Line, without having any regard to the situation which was prescribed to themselves by the Line of Battle before the signal was hawled down." Countersigned at foot by Philip Stephens (Anson's secretary). Affixed to backing sheet, some soiling. Photo

Admiral of the Fleet George Anson, 1st Baron Anson (1697-1762).
A wealthy aristocrat, noted for his circumnavigation of the globe and his role overseeing the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War. During his time in office Anson instituted a series of reforms to the Royal Navy.

Sir Philip Stephens, 1st Baronet (1723-1809)
After his return from his voyage round the world, Rear-admiral George Anson took notice of young Stephens, and had him moved to the admiralty. Stephens afterwards served as Anson's secretary.
Later he became First Secretary of the Admiralty and later a Lord Commissioner of the British Admiralty between 1795 and 1806. A friend of Captain James Cook, the Pacific atoll of Caroline Island is named for his daughter.

H.M.S. Royal George was launched in 1756, a 100-gun ship of the line and, at the time, was the largest warship in the world

H.M.S. Vesuvius was an 8-gun fireship (purchased in 1756)


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