Marine Admiral Sidney Smith Rival of Nelson Autographed Letter Signed 1795

  
Admiral Sidney Smith (1764 - 1840). Rare set of 3 documents, handwritten by him. One signed autograph letter addressed to Chevalier D'Asnières. The envelope in which the letter traveled. A handwritten note, unsigned, but clearly in the same handwriting. 1: Autograph letter signed, on wove and watermarked paper, 4 pages, of which 2 are handwritten. Dimensions of the closed letter: 18.5 x 23 cm.

The letter is written in French (Smith spoke and wrote French very well), with a few spelling mistakes. On board the Diamond at Portsmouth, this 20th Dec. "I have not failed to place the letter you wrote to me (regarding the 'three pence' deducted from the pay of your detachment) in the hands of the Secretary of War in order to procure for you either the surrender if it was an error, or a reply from the office which should satisfy the soldiers regarding the unfounded suspicions they had conceived about their officers mentioned above. I have received the response that I have the honor to send you herewith, which I hoped to deliver in person, having planned a short visit to Southampton and Lymington for service matters, and then I would have had the pleasure of seeing you, which, however, must be postponed for the moment, as the news I received from Mr. De Frotté urges me to return to the coast of Normandy to try to be of service to him.

I have the honor to remain, with consideration, Your very humble servant." A rare letter signed by one of the greatest English Admirals, addressed to one of the members of the Army of Princes (Carrey D'Asnières), regarding a pay issue. At the end of the letter, Smith mentions Louis De Frotté, the leader of the Norman Chouans.

The recipient: Armand Nicolas Charles de Carrey D'Asnières, a member of the Army of Princes, under the command of Count Hector, French Navy. The letter is in perfect condition, originally folded in 8 to fit into the envelope. Envelope size 14 x 9 cm, addressed: to Monsieur le Chevalier D'Asnières, from the Dead Letter Office, the enclosed letter was opened by.

An exceptional L A S to which a second handwritten note, unsigned but undoubtedly from the same hand, is attached, as can be seen when comparing the L's, D's, F's, or M's. Smith refers to himself in the third person. It seems that this is the response from the Secretary of War mentioned in the first letter, transcribed by Smith himself.

Sheet of vellum paper, size 18.5 x 22.5 cm. (difficult to decipher) "Sunday evening. Commander Sidney Smith sends his compliments to the officers of the Royal Corps of Count Hector, congratulating them on their arrival in his squadron. He is very sorry to learn that they suffered greatly during the voyage. The Commander will make it his duty to improve their situation as soon as possible; he plans to come on board around four o'clock tomorrow and hopes to have the honor of receiving the officers for dinner.

" Also folded in 6 originally. A superb set; documents in Smith's hand are rare. Fast, free, and careful delivery in a recommended cardboard letter.