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Auction: 26066 - Historical Documents, Autographs and Ephemera
Lot: 1186

(x) Great Britain
Royalty / British Navy
King William IV (1765-1837)
1798 Lengthy 7 sided autograph letter written from Bushy House "Wednesday night" with filing endorsement of 11 October 1798, signed "William" as Duke of Clarence, to Captain, later Admiral Richard Goodwin Keats (1757-1834). The Duke refers to naval appointments and promotions, "you are on every account the fittest person to serve in the situation of Flag Captain with me as Commander in Chief". Further references to Lord St. Vincent, the Mutiny at the Nore, rebellion in Ireland "and the consequent conduct of the Irish in the King's Ships as ultimately productive in many ways of good". He refers to the Admiralty that does "not intend to forgive any men under sentence of death for Mutiny and are much displeased with the lenity of the Court Marshal on the men of the Defiance."
Prince William refers to Admiral Lord Nelson's "important and glorious victory" at the Battle of the Nile a few months prior to this important letter, accompanied by a transcript.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£300 to £350

Starting price
£250