Beschreibung:

GEORGE III, King of England . Autograph letter signed ("Go. R.) to First Lord of the Admiralty Lord Admiral Richard Howe, Queen's House, 4 February 1783. 1/2 page, 4to, integral blank, verso docketed by recipient: "The King's answer to my note...requesting the discharge of Irish Volunteers." Fine condition. KING GEORGE III TO ADMIRAL HOWE An uncommon full autograph letter of the King, with attractive signature. "The idea of going tomorrow to Portsmouth to see that proper Attention is had to the just representation of the Irish Volunteers is very becoming of Lord Howe's Character, and cannot but be the more efficacious means of keeping the Fleet at Spithead in good Order, and I should imagine that He will be able by the end of the Week to return; but the present is so much the most pressing business, that it certainly calls most essentially for his attention...." Richard Howe (1726-1799), Commander-in-Chief on American station, had been dissatisfied with the conduct of the war in the American colonies, and was relieved at his own request and declined to serve while the Earl of Sandwich remained in office. When a new ministry took over in March 1782, Howe assumed command of British naval forces in the Channel and accomplished the relief of Gibralter in October in the face of a superior force. A month prior to the present letter, Howe had been appointed First Lord of the Admiralty and later served with distinction against the French in 1794, although nearly seventy years of age.