![Admiralty Papers, 1804-1818 [Henry and Robert Dundas, Viscounts Melville, First Lords of the Admiralty]](https://media.app.artisio.co/media/104cbde6-0d38-43cb-9e0f-bb721ef57bcf/inventory/9c3ec12c-abf0-48d6-ae59-f78f07dd03ce/7b37351f-f8a6-43f3-9cfe-b161967857bc/0001_bHXzJu_original.jpg)
Admiralty Papers, 1804-1818 [Henry and Robert Dundas, Viscounts Melville, First Lords of the Admiralty]
Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photography
Auction: 31 August 2016 at 12:00 BST
Description
Comprising: 1) An Order to be Given by the Naval Board to purchase dated 16th May 1804, ordering the purchase/ requisitioning of armed vessels, bifolium, 23.5 x 18.5cm; 2) A List of ships Offered for Sale and which may be adapted for Sloops of War dated 17th May, 32.5 x 20.5cm; 3) Sea Fencibles 4 Admiralty Office documents from 1804 assessing the strength of the naval militia or sea fencibles around the Kent and Essex coast as they prepared to counter the feared Napoleonic invasion of Britain following the resumption of war, dating from June 1804, each c. 32 x 20.5cm; Documents relating to preparations of the Admiralty for Waterloo, under Robert Dundas: 1) Proposed Establishment on renewal of hostilities dated 25th March 1815, a rapidly drafted thumbnail sketch of the proposed arrangement of the British navy, c. 31.5 x 20cm; 2) Expense of the Navy 1813-14, for 1815, April, a document estimating and desperately trying to control the cost of the new war, c.32 x 40cm; 3) Estimate of the number of Seamen and Marines requisite for Ships and Vessels c.34 x 20.5cm, 2pp.; Three other documents, comprising: 1) An account of the additional Naval Force which has been ordered to be provided... together with an estimate of the expense thereof dated 30. May 1807, including 6 East India ships, built in India, for £112.000, 33 x 20cm; 2) A List of Ships building, repairing &c. which might be brought forward in the present year dated Navy Office, 26th March 1813, detailing repairs and construction to about 50 ships, 32 x 20cm, 8pp; 3) Ships in Commission on the Peace Establishment dated 1. January 1818, a comprehensive Inventory of the entire Royal Navy, c.32 x 20cm, 5 ms. pp.
Footnote
Provenance: Seemingly from the family of Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, and Robert Dundas, his son, both First Lords of the Admiralty during the Napoleonic Wars. From a private Scottish collection.
Note: A collection of documents dating from 1804 order the construction and acquisition of ships in the months immediately preceeding the Battle of Trafalgar. The Admiralty made strong efforts to ensure that the Navy could move swiftly to counter Napoleon. These documents date from very soon after Henry Dundas's appointment as First Sea Lord.
A second collection of documents relate to the Admiralty's preparations for the Battle of Waterloo. On 26th February 1815, Napoleon managed to escape the island of Elba and return to France. The British government panicked in response to this and began preparations for their final confrontation - Waterloo. Robert Dundas had been First Sea Lord for three years at this point.
The documents also relate to Kent coastal defences, Ships in Commission on the Peace Establishment and to East India ships. The latter may refer to Henry Dundas's longstanding links with the East India Company.