1811 original Admiralty press gang authority printed letter ...

Hammer

£390

1811 original Admiralty press gang authority printed letter issued on behalf of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom which reads:
"In Pursuance of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent's Order in Council, in the name and on the behalf of the King, dated the 8th day of November , 1811, We do hereby Impower and Direct you to impress so many Seamen, Seafaring Men, and Persons whose Occupations and Callings are to work in Vessels and Boats upon Rivers, as you shall be able, in order to serve on board His Majesty's Ships, giving unto each Man so impressed One Shilling for Prest Money. And, in the execution hereof, you are to take care, to demand or receive any Money, Gratuity, Reward, or other consideration whatsoever, for the Sparing to Impress or for the Exchanging, or Discharging, any Person or Persons impressed, or to be impressed, as you will answer it at your Peril. You are not to intrust any Person with the execution of the Warrant, which is to continue in Force till the Thirty-first Day of December, 1812, and in the due execution thereof, all Mayors, Sheriffs, Justices of the Peace, Bailiffs, Constables, Headboroughs, and all other His Majesty's Officers and Subjects whom it may concern, are hereby required to be aiding and assisting unto you, as they tender His Majesty's Service, and will answer the contrary at their Perils."
The letter is addressed to Lieutenant Samuel Gordon Commanding His Majesty's Cutter Dwarf and signed by John Barrow, Second Secretary to the Admiralty and 3 others. The letter has an embossed Admiralty stamp to top left corner, some light wear along the folds and edges, but generally very fine and a rare survivor.
HMS Dwarf was Decoy Class cutter commissioned in 1810 with Lieutenant Samuel Gordon in command. During the War of 1812-14, the Dwarf was in action against very French ships in the area of the Channel and Gironde and had hand a hand in the capture of a number of vessels. (R)