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NAPOLEONIC & PENINSULAR WAR ARCHIVES WITH THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PENINSULAR WAR CAMPAIGN UPON US - NAPOLEON & SPAIN SIGN THE TREATY OF FOUNTAINEBLEAU ON OCTOBER 27, 1807 FOR THE INVASION OF PORTUGAL - WELLINGTON LANDS IN PORTUGAL AT MOUTH OF THE MONDEGA ON THE 1ST OF AUGUST OF 1808 - WE ARE PRESENTING QUALITY ORIGINAL SOURCE DOCUMENTS THAT WILL JUMP START OR ENHANCE ANY BICENTENNIAL EXHIBIT, COLLECTION OR TRIP TO THE BATTLEFIELDS. PENINSULAR WAR LETTER SIGNED LSADMIRAL OF THE FLEET, SIR GEORGE MARTIN, KCB, GCB, GCMGTHEN VICE-ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET OF PORTUGAL AND THE TAGUS, SIR GEORGE MARTIN,SIGNS A LETTER CONFIRMING RECEIPT OF CAPTURED AMERICAN PAPERSAND THE RELEASE OF THE BRIG "NIMROD" A NICE NAVAL LETTER FROM THE PENINSULAR WAR BY THE NAVAL COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF,WITH HIS TRADEMARK, BUT VERY UNUSUAL, SIGNATURE THIS DOCUMENT IS COVERED BY OUR WRITTEN, SIGNED AND SEALEDLIFETIME GUARANTEE OF AUTHENTICITY Transcription: Boa Morte 2 Sept'r 1813[Lisbon] Sir, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter of the 20th Ultimo, [preceding month] transmitting the Copy of one you had received from the Portuguese Minister, enclosing the American Papers of the Brig Nimrod, which I conceive makes it totally unnecessary any longer to detain that Vessel in the Tagus. -. Believe me very truly yours. I have the honor to be Sir Your Excellency's most obedient humble Servant George MartinHis ExcellencySir Charles Stuart. K.B. NB. I herewith enclose the American Papers Notes Boa Morte: The Boa Morte (Good Death) was previously an American and Spanish slaver which had been captured and was used by Admiral Martin, along with the tender "Wellington", as a command post. We believe the "American Papers" to be intelligence acquired by the Brig Nimrod, who was employed to attack American Privateers during the Course of the War of 1812, although there are conflicting records indicating a British ship Nimrod was destroyed in 1811, sot it could also be an American Brig "Nimrod" captured with papers, but then why were they letting it go? The Nimrod and its flag remain a mystery. The autograph signature of the Admiral is "Geo Martin" with a unique subscript that we believe represents his Admiral's rank and possibly a set of waves! In any event, he always signs in this fashion. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET SIR GEORGE MARTIN, KCB, GCB, GCMG(1764-1847) SIR GEORGE MARTIN, Admiral of the Fleet, was the youngest son of William Martin, Captain in the Navy, and of Arabella, daughter of Sir William Rowley, Admiral of the Fleet. His grandfather, Bennet Martin, M.D., was a brother of William Martin, Admiral of the Fleet. Many members of his family attained naval distinction. From an early age he was borne on the books of the "Mary" yacht, but he seems to have first gone afloat in December 1776, when he joined the "Monarch" as a captain's servant with his uncle, Captain Joshua Rowley. On 27 July 1778 he was present in the Action off Ushant, and following his uncle to the Suffolk, was in the battle of Grenada, 6 July 1779, and in the three actions off Martinique in April and May 1780. On 16 July 1780 he was promoted to be lieutenant of the "Russell". He was afterwards with his uncle in the "Princess Royal" at Jamaica. On 9 March 1782 he was promoted to the command of the "Tobago" sloop, and on 17 March 1783 was posted into the "Preston" of 50 guns. He returned to England early in 1784. From 1789 to 1792 he commanded the "Porcupine" on the coast of Ireland, and in 1793 the "Magicienne" in the West Indies. In 1795 he was appointed to the "Irresistible" of 74 guns, and in her took part in the Battle of Cape St. Vincent, 14 Feb. 1797. At the close of the battle Nelson, whose own ship, the "Captain", had been disabled, hoisted his broad pennant on board the "Irresistible" for a few days. On 26 April, two Spanish frigates, "Ninfa" and "Santa Elena", coming home from the West Indies, and ignorant of the blockade, were chased by the "Irresistible" and "Emerald" frigate into Conil Bay. The "Santa Elena" went on shore and broke up, but the "Ninfa" was captured and added to the English navy under the name of "Hamadryad" (JAMES, ii. 93). The skill and dash with which Martin took the ships past a dangerous reef that blocked the approach to the bay won for him the warm commendations of Lord St. Vincent, who described the action as "one of the most notable that had ever come under his observation." In July 1798 Martin was appointed to the "Northumberland", in which, on 18 Feb. 1800, he assisted in the capture of the "Genereux" (NICOLAS, iv. 189). From May 1800 he had charge of the blockade of Malta, and on 5 Sept. received the capitulation of Valetta. In 1801 he was with the fleet on the coast of Egypt under Lord Keith. In 1803 he commanded the "Colossus" in the Channel, in 1804 the "Glory", and in November 1804 was appointed to the "Barfleur", in which he took part in the Action off Cape Finisterre on 22 July 1805. On 9 Nov. 1805 he was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral. In 1806 he was second in command at Portsmouth, and in 1807 was employed on the blockade of Cadiz. He was afterwards in the Mediterranean under the orders of Lord Collingwood, for the most part on the coast of Italy or Sicily. In June 1809 he took possession of "Ischia" and "Procida". On 23 Oct., being then with the fleet off Cape St. Sebastian, he was detached in pursuit of a small squadron of the enemy under Rear-admiral Baudin. On the 25th two of the pursued ships of the line ran themselves on shore not far from Cette, and on the 26th were abandoned, set fire to and blown up. One other ship of the line got into Cette harbour, so also did a frigate. The other frigate escaped (JAMES, iv. 445 ; CHEVALIER, iii. 362 ; JURIEN DE LA GRAVIERE, It Amiral Baudin). On 31 July 1810 Martin was promoted to be Vice-Admiral, and was again employed on the coast of Sicily, and in co-operation with the army under Sir John Stuart, for which service he received the Order of St. Januarius from the King of Naples. From 1812 to 1814 he was Commander-in-Chief in Portugal and the Tagus, and in the summer of 1814 was knighted, on the occasion of the Prince Regent visiting the fleet at Spithead. On 2 Jan. 1815 he was nominated a K.C.B., and a G.C.B. on 20 Feb. 1821. On 19 July 1821 he attained the rank of Admiral, and from 1824 to 1827 was Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth, with his flag in the "Victory". In January 1833 he was appointed Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom, and Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom in April 1834. He was nominated a G.C.M.G. in 1836, and was promoted to the rank of Admiral of the Fleet on 9 Nov. 1846. He died in Berkeley Square, London, on 28 July 1847. He was twice married, but died apparently without issue. His portrait, by Charles Landseer, R. A., after Lawrence, is in the Painted Hall at Greenwich. [Extracts from: Dictionary of National Biography, O'Byrne's Naval Biog. Dict.; Marshall's Royal Nav. Biog; James's Naval History (1860); Chevalier's, Histoire de la Marine Française.] Document Specifications: A fine (LS) letter signed by Vice-Admiral Sir George Martin as Commander in Chief of the Fleet in Portugal and the Tagus aboard the HMS Boa Morte in Lisbon and dated September 2, 1813. Single sheet measures 12" tall x 7⅞" wide (305mm x 198mm). On one page of batonne laid paper, watermarked with a large seated Britannia in triple line oval crested by British Crown, paper is dark toned and shows some wax seal (not present) bleed through. Writing on two pages as shown. The body text of the letter is written in another hand. This is a nice letter by the future Admiral of the Fleet of England (the highest naval position one can attain without actually being the Sovereign) and has a nice tie in from the Peninsular War which was winding down and the American War of 1812 which was to move to prominence the next year. Martin's "signed on ship" wardate naval letters are scarce. From the Sir Charles Stuart, Lord Rothesay, Correspondence. Stuart was His Britannic Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Portugal during the greater part of the Peninsular War (10 January 1810 to 26 May 1814). He was a personal friend and confidante of Wellington and Nelson, member of the Portuguese Regency (the only British Subject in the war ever permitted to hold an official position in a foreign government while also representing Britain), and later ambassador to Netherlands & France. The most important foreign diplomat of the Peninsular War, his archive of diplomatic, military and intelligence dispatches are second only to Wellington's Dispatches. Offered by Berryhill & Sturgeon, Ltd No Reserve - Free Shipping – No Auction Buyer’s FeesWhat You Bid Is What You Pay!! All items include a written guarantee of authenticity to the successful bidder and are accompanied by a full color picture receipt for your insurance and inventory records. 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