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Papers of the Society for Nautical Research consisting of: Council minutes, annual reports of the Council and reports from sub-committees, 1926 to 1977; minutes of the preliminary General Meeting, 1910; minutes of Annual General Meetings from 1930, though many between 1940 and 1958 are missing; lists of members, though these appear to have been issued intermittently; statements of accounts for the Society and its different funds, 1910 to 1966; and correspondence relating to the Society's activities from 1911, with a large number of gaps but including papers relating to the Implacable, 1915 to 1946, and to the Victory, 1922 to 1972.

This class, consisting of forty-fve volumes, relates to the history, practice and business methods of British, French and German shipbuilding, seventeenth to twentieth centuries. The seventeenth-century volumes include a manuscript on shipbuilding theory by A Symmer, c 1636; a volume of fifty-four documents containing proposals by Sir William Petty (1623-1687) for a double-hulled ship, 1662 to 1685. A disbound volume contains engraved plates by Thomas Fagge, 'the bends of a ship, their various sorts and shapes', undated, together with nine contracts between the Navy Board and contractors, 1649 to 1701, including one for the HAMPTON COURT, 1699, and the WARSPIGHT, 1701; also included in this volume is a Charter Party between the Navy Board and the master of the ANNE AND FRANCIS to transport naval stores from Deptford to Portsmouth, 1701.

There is a copy of Edward Battine's 'The Method of Building, Rigging, Apparelling and Furnishing His Majesty's Ships of War', 1684. Finally, there are two French volumes, one consisting of thirty-four drawings in pen and ink of the construction of a galley, 1685, and the other by Morineau de rochefort, 'Memoire sur la Conaissance et proportions des lois qui composent la construction des vaisseaux de premiere position at liaison', 1698. Among the eighteenth-century volumes are a contract book, 1775 to 1807, and a memorandum book, 1777 to 1801, of John Perry and Company of Blackwall, 1775 to 1808; a book of five contracts of ships built for the Navy by Adams of Buckler's Hard, 1776 to 1797; the notebook of William Wilkins, a shipwright at Chatham dockyard, containing lengths and dimensions of ships as well as methods and theory, 1754; and a pair of notebooks chiefy on mastmaking by two shipwrights John Williams 1720 to 1750, and Richard Reynolds, 1785. French shipbuilding is again represented by two works: 'Les descriptions Geometrique de toutes les pieces qui entrent dans la construction les agrez et les maneuvres d'une Galere', 1721, by Dr Sieur Debenat; and a volume on 'Carte de l'Architecture Navale concernant les proportions de la Mature', 1788, by a Bordeaux shipwright, Of the seventeen volumes relating to the nineteenth century, there is one of drawings and descriptions of the blockmaking machinery desinged by Marc Isambard Brunel (1769-1849) and installed in Portsmouth dockyard between 1802 and 1805; a private account book, 1839 to 1840, of Kelsick Wood (1771-1840), shipbuilder of Maryport, recording details of ships built and the purchase of materials; a book on 'Sailmaking, 1811 to 1840', by W Rutter; and two day books of the sailmakers J Morice and Company of Liverpool, 1883 to 1904. On the subject of steam there is a book of wash drawings and text by Robertson Buchanan of Glasgow, dated 1815, and entitled, 'Memoir respecting the employment of steam vessels for the purposes of war'; and a large volume of drawings and reports on steam vessels, 1870 to 1873, by John Oliver (ca.1820-1883), Chief Inspector of Machinery Afloat. There are a small number of specifications and contracts for twentieth-century ships, and three volumes relating to the German battleship, BADEN, 1904 to 1908.

Papers of Thomas Abel Brimage Spratt, consisting of various reports, 1850 to 1884, which include surveys (particularly of the Black Sea area); remarks on Crete and the Cretans; on the coal trade of the Black Sea; on a new harbour at Malta; on an electric cable between Malta and Alexandria; reports submitted to the Teignmouth Harbour Commission and Fishery Commission reports for England and Ireland. Spratt's correspondence consists of a few letters received and some draft replies, 1853 to 1860. The memorandum of his service, 1837 to 1862, contains an account of his part in the Crimean War. His publications are also listed.

Papers of Shaw Savill and Albion Co Ltd. The bulk of the correspondence files belong to the period 1947 to 1965, although the earliest paper is dated 1924. They are concerned with the building and trials of new vessels, ships in service, standard freight rates and routine instructions to masters. There are summaries of passage money and numbers of passengers, 1900 to 1946; analyses of passage money, outward, 1946 to 1960, 1970 to 1972; passage money, homeward, 1965 to 1968. the records cover chartered vessels as well as the Company's own ships. (Although there is some information about individual passengers, this is not a complete record of passengers carried: more comprehensive lists can be found in the passenger lists in the Board of Trade records at the Public Record Office.). In 1969 a series of refrigerator and engine logs, 1956 to 1962, were deposited as well as deck logs, 1944 to 1965.

Papers of Admiral Robert Fanshawe Stopford, consisting of loose papers mounted in a volume, relating mainly to the TALBOT and ASIA periods, with official service documents. An additional volume relates to RF Stopford's time as a midshipman, featuring sailing and wind calculations, together with observations on forts in the Dardanelles and Sevastopol.

Papers of Robert Neville Stopford comprising two midshipman's log books kept while Stopford was in the Mediterranean between 1905 and 1908. The first volume covers his time on HMS BARFLEUR and HMS FORMIDABLE. The second volume covers his time aboard HMS HINDUSTAN and HMS BERWICK.

Papers of Sir Montagu Stopford, consisting of memoranda issued to the fleet in the Crimea, 1854, records of arrivals and sailings of ships at Malta, 1855 to 1856, and the commission appointing Stopford Superintendent of Malta Dockyard.

Papers of Adml Sir Robert Stopford, comprising an order book, 1803 to 1805, official service documents and private and semi-official letters from many important officers of the time. Among them is one from Nelson (q.v.), 1805, from the Duke of Wellington, 1811, and a series of thirty-five from William, Duke of Clarence, 1827 to 1828, when Lord High Admiral. For the Mediterranean command there are letters from the 2nd Earl of Minto (q.v.) and Lord Ponsonby (1770-1855), ambassador at Constantinople. Finally, there is a volume of letters from well-known literary and social figures received by Stopford and Field-Marshal Thomas Grosvenor (1764-1851) between 1791 and 1850, including one from Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) (Stopford and Grosvenor both lived at Richmond, Surrey). Also, the log of HMS SPENCER, kept while Capt Stopford was attached to the Channel Fleet in 1803-1804.

Papers of Charles Steevens, consisting of a letter to Steevens from the Nabob of Arcot, 1760, and the draft and printed copy of his life written by his grand-nephew, Nathaniel Steevens. Also in the collection is the plan of learning of the Naval Academy, Portsmouth, 1753, of Charles Stevens, midshipman (1735-1756), nephew of Rear-Admiral Steevens, and a book of jokes, morals and proverbs.

Letters and orders from Horatio Nelson and others to various correspondents including Emma Hamilton, 4 May 1795-8 Dec 1806, also engravings mostly of Nelson, of VICTORY and of memorial in St Paul's. Letters from Nelson, Emma Hamilton and others, 29 May 1787-3 Jun 1808, also advertisements, engravings and drawings, mainly of Emma in her 'attitudes', also Nelson, William Hamilton, Greville and others, and scenes of Merton.

Papers of South Western Steam Packet Company. They include Deeds of Settlement (later known as Articles of Association) of the Commercial Steam Packet Company, 1835 to 1837; the South Western Steam Packet Company, 1843; and the New South Western Steam Navigation Company, 1846. These documents give lists of shareholders and their occupations. There is a minute book covering shareholders' meetings of the South Western Company, 1842 to 1845; notices to shareholders and reports of the Commercial and South Western Steam Packet Companies, the New South Western and the London and South Western Railway, 1838 to 1847; mortgage deeds, Bills of Sale and Certificates of Sale. Of technical interest are two contracts of 1855 for a wrought iron steam vessel and a set of engines, and a 'Return of Rolling Stock owned by English, Welsh and Scotch Railway Companies', 1883.

Papers of the Telegraph Construction and Maintenance Company Limited. The main series consist of contracts including for the supply, laying and repair of cables (TCM/6), cable engineers' logbooks (TCM/8) and ships' logbooks (TCM/10). Other records include memorandum and articles of association 1964-1920, papers relating to the SS GREAT EASTERN and the first Atlantic cables, publicity material and books and pamphlets. The collection also contains records of the Gutta Percha Company, H W Jewesbury and Company and personal papers of Willoughby Smith.

Papers of Sir William George Tennant, including official service documents; midshipman's logs, 1905 to 1909; diaries of war service, written up in 1919, and one for the cruises of 1925; a work book, 1927; papers on the loss of the REPULSE , 1941; tactical and secret papers on the 'Mulberry' operations, 1944, and engagement diaries, visitors' books, notes for speeches and lectures, 1946 to 1949, as well as many general papers and notebooks relating to Tennant's historical interests and the role of the three services in defence strategy.

This class consists of single copies of newspapers and newssheets, including a copy of the 'Challenger Gazette', 1828; two issues of 'The Great Eastern Telegraph', 1866, when the GREAT EASTERN was engaged on laying the Atlantic cable; and a copy of the 'Wei-Hai-Wei Gazette', 1902. It also contains playbills, including one advertising a performance on board the prison ship CROWN in 1807 of a play by a French prisoner of war and another announcing the performance of a comedy, Speed the Plough on the MINDEN, 1817.

Papers of the Troubridge and Cochrane Family. Correspondence includes Sir Edward Thomas Troubridge, 2nd Baronet and his family, Sir Thomas St. Vincent Hope Cochrane Troubridge, 3rd Baronet and his family circa 1800 to 1900. The collection also includes correspondence within the Cochrane family involving Sir Alexander Forrest Inglis Cochrane and his wife, Thomas Cochrane, Louisa Cochrane and Andrew Cochrane. The nature of the correspondence is personal and undated. Also included is correspondence with the Noel family, a collection of 'verse and poetry', miscellaneous prints, drawings and sketches (10 items), invitations, business cards and miscellaneous pamphlets 1808-1948. In addition, Louis Shennan's research and biographical information on the Troubridge family is included (TRO/407/1-10)

Papers of Sir Edward Thomas Troubridge, comprising Orders from the Admiralty in this collection are wide ranging covering the period 1810-52. Including memorandum, commissions, provisions, transport orders for the ARMIDE during the Anglo- American War, 1812-14 and orders for the STAG, 1831-34. Official correspondence, 1810-52, includes Sir A. F.I. Cochrane, Napier, Elphinstone and papers concerning Sir Edward Thomas's father's Neapolitan pension. Also included is letters re: the action fought by the GREYHOUND in company with the HARRIER in 1806 against the Dutch Company's brig's QUEEN ELIZABETH and BELGICA. Personal correspondence includes letters to his wife Anna Maria, his sons Edward Norwich and Thomas St. Vincent Hope Cochrane and his daughters Charlotte and Louisa. There are also letters from the Cochrane family.

Papers of Adml Sir Ernest Charles Thomas Troubridge. The collection includes his scrapbook album, 1889-99, a pocket notebook, correspondence as President of the International Danube Commission (1920-4), correspondence from a variety of individuals, 1895-1921 and volume listing his commission dates, entitled 'recollections in ranks'.

Sir Thomas Herbert Cochrane Troubridge including letters 1933-6 and a certificate dated 1879 from the Royal Military College and three invitations to dinner parties.

Papers of Sir Thomas Hope Troubridge, including training guidelines whilst as a gunnery officer 1922-1944, Naval orders 1925-1926, Admiralty papers 1945-1946, two commissions 1915 and 1943, and lecture notes, syllabuses and essays whilst at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, 1924-1925.

Papers of Sir Thomas St. Vincent Hope Cochrane Troubridge. Official letters include work concerning the improvement of army uniform, 1856-59 and letters on his award of the Companion of the Bath, 1855. Personal correspondence includes his account of the events leading up to the Battle of Alma and Inkerman, 1854, during the Crimean War. He recounts his time in Hospital and being severely wounded at the Battle of Inkerman. Letters also recount his voyage from Southampton to Sevastopol, 1854. Letters also include correspondence with his wife, Lady Louisa Troubridge (nee Gurney) and his children, 1854-67.

Papers of Sir Thomas Troubridge. The papers include orders, 1795-1801, commissions of Sir Thomas Troubridge and his son Sir Edward. Correspondence and orders, 1801-1807, correspondence relating the Battle of Copenhagen, 1801, the court martial of Calder, 1801, HARRIER and GREYHOUND, 1806, re: destroying Dutch Company's brigs CHRISTIAN ELIZABETH and BELGICA. The collection also consists of 12 letters detailing prize money, 1798-1802, purchased via Maggs in 1982.

Papers of the Tucker family. They are primarily concerned with the career of Benjamin Tucker during his employment with Earl St Vincent and in his role as Surveyor General of the Duchy of Cornwall. A substantial part also relate to the naval career of John Jervis Tucker, especially his service on HMS DUBLIN, and his ownership of Trematon Castle, Cornwall after his father's death.

Papers of Adml Sir Charles Tyler, comprising service documents and letters received, including those from Horatio Nelson, 1805, Lord Mulgrave (1755-1831), 1807 to 1808, and Admiral Collingwood, 1808 to 1809. There is also one letter from Lady Hamilton, 1808, and letters to Lady Tyler, 1800 to 1815.

Papers of Adml Edward Vernon, including a few letters, 1714 to 1716, from Vernon's father and brother. The main part of the collection consists of correspondence received and draft replies, 1739 to 1742 and 1745, as well as Vernon's own order books, 1739 to 1741, and his out-letterbook to the Admiralty. Also included in the collection are a few papers of other members of the Vernon family, 1632 to 1837.

Papers of Adml Sir Edward Vernon. They consist of official service documents, 1743 to 1794, and orders and letters relating to the East Indies command, 1776 to 1779.

Papers of Sir Richard Vesey Hamilton comprising Hamilton's letterbooks, 1865 to 1868 and 1885 to 1887, official papers and correspondence, cover his career in outline and provide detailed information for some periods, notably his time as Commander-in-Chief on the China Station. Among the Arctic papers there are some orders from Sir Edward Belcher (q.v.), Captain Henry Kellett (1806-1875) and Captain Horatio T. Austin (c 1800-1865). The letters which he received also include some references to his Arctic service but the majority relate to his work at the Admiralty and there are several from Lord George Hamilton (1845-1927), who was instrumental in the passing of the Naval Defence Act of 1889. There is a series of photograph albums and notes made by Hamilton for his articles on naval and historical subjects, as well as some service memoranda.

Papers of William Wilkinson, and comprise fifty-six letters, written mainly by Wilkinson to his wife, 1807 to 1833.

Papers of William Wallace Walker including a letter initialled R.C.G.C., 30 Aug 1859; press cutting, n.d. about a proposed Ecuador expedition.

Papers of Hamilton Williams consisting of eleven volumes of transcripts, lectures and notes on naval history.

Records relating to HMS Worcester consisting of printed reports, 1863 to 1968; minute books, 1861 to 1867, 1881 to 1965; harbour log books, 1862 to 1865, 1867 to 1869; visitors books, 1935 to 1947, 1953 to 1968; ledgers, 1862 to 1870; wage books, 1933 to 1936; hooks of newspaper cuttings, 1857 to 1967, 1917 to 1967, together with photographs and other miscellaneous items. There are further records at the Merchant Navy College at Greenhithe, and the records relating to the cadets are with the records of Seafarer Education Service, now with the Marine Society at Lambeth.

Papers of Greive, William Samuel, containing logs, 1845 to 1847, and 1851 to 1855; a letterbook, 1871 to 1874; commissions, 1851 to 1884, and a few single documents.

Papers of Cpt William Wrey. They include logs, 1882 to 1885; photographs, 1882 to 1918; office diaries, 1918 to 1919, and secret sailings, reports, statistics of troops embarked and disembarked at Southampton and other official papers, 1914 to 1918. There are also papers of the following relatives: General John Tatton Brown, R.M., notes and memoranda, 1823 to 1826 and 1849; Commander John Bathurst (d.1866), commissions, 1838 to 1860; Captain Lord Francis Granvill Godolphin Osborne (1864-1924), a log, 1888 to 1889, and notebooks, 1887 to 1889.

Papers of James Alfred Yates. A large part of the material consists of documents and notes gathered by Ruby Yates, in preparation for the article published in the Mariner's Mirror. The article, "From wooden walls to dreadnaughts in a lifetime" was based on Yates' "Memories" and other manuscripts, which his daughter, Ruby, found amongst his papers. The papers include autobiographical material, notebooks, transcripts of talks, correspondence, certificates, ephemera and printed books.

Papers of Charles Yorke, chiefly private letters received between 1810 and 1812 from many correspondents, including Admirals G C Berkeley (1753-1818), Sir Charles Cotton (1753-1812), Samuel, Viscount Hood, Sir Richard Keats, Sir Charles Penrose (1759-1830), Sir James Saumarez (1757-1836) and Sir William Young (1751-1821), while a number are addressed to Yorke's brother, Admiral Sir Joseph Yorke (1768-1834).

Papers covering a short period of the career of Admiral Pelham Aldrich. There are extracts from journals, 1860 to 1867, returns from the sledge CHALLENGER and notes and journals concerning surveying 1879 to 1884. There are no papers for the CHALLENGER expedition in this collection: the main Arctic papers are with the Scott Polar Research Institute at Cambridge.

This catagory contains examples of various types of ships' papers and documents relating to the operation of merchant ships. There are examples of Charter Parties, including one of 1322 between Walter Giffard, master of the cog OUR LADY of Lyme and Sir Hugh de Berham for a freight of wine; the remainder are twentieth-century examples. The earliest example of a Bill of Lading is for the TRIPLE CROWN of Bristol, 1689; there are others from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Among the examples of Bills of Sale of ships and shares of ships is one for the Dutch East India Company ship DEHELDWOITEMADE, sold to James Mather, a London merchant, 1782; and also one for the SPECULATOR, a French prize, formerly LE CARME, sold in 1810. Examples of documents relating to insurance include a Statement of General Average for the POLLY AND EMILY made after she had been damaged in a gale in 1895. There are also Muster Rolls and Articles of Agreement of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries (see also entry no.13); Bills of Health, nineteenth and twentieth centuries; Safe Conducts, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries; and various nineteenth-century passenger documents and papers relating to wreck and salvage, including an order issued by Sir Cyril Wyche (1632-1707) and Sir Henry Capel (d 1696), Lord Justices of Ireland, for the arrest of the pilot of the wrecked TALBOT pink, 1695.

Paper of Charles James Barlow, 1848-1812, including logs, 1863 to 1867, 1876 to 1880 and 1889 to 1892; a journal and a report on the Burma War; some papers concerning the opening of the Kiel Canal, 1899, and official papers for both dockyards.

Papers of John William Brackenbury. The bulk of the collection is a series of letters written by Brackenbury to his wife, 1870 to 1902. Other than these there are logs, 1862 to 1863, 1879; a diary, 1888; official service documents; official correspondence, 1879, 1881 to 1882, 1884, 1887 to 1892 and 1896; letters from other naval officers, 1879 to 1912, and papers relating to the Vitu operations and the VICTORIA and CAMPERDOWN disaster.

Papers of Sir Edward Berry comprising logs, 1787 to 1788, 1796 to 1797, 1799 to 1806, 1812, 1813 to 1814, and twenty-five letters from Nelson, 1797 to 1805.

Papers of Capt Henry Bethune comprising a series of logs for the above ships and a notebook on navigation and steam.

Papers of Sir Gilbert Blane including memorials, notes and letters from Tsar Paul of Russia (1754-1801), 1799, the Prince Regent, later King George IV (1762-1830), 1802, Prince William Henry (1765-1837), undated, Spencer Perceval (1762-1812), 1809, Lord Palmerston (1784-1865), 1810, Sir Edward Pellew (later Viscount Exmouth) (q.v.), 1799, Earl St Vincent (q.v.), 1800, Lord Keith (q.v.), 1808, and other public figures, kept largely for their autograph value.

Papers of Capt Arthur Rodney Blane from some commissions for his early service, they concern Blane's activities in China. There are charts of Canton, orders from the Admiralty and copies of contemporary newspapers.

Papers of Sir Geoffrey Blake covering Blake's career from 1914 but not in great depth. There are official service documents; photographs of his service in the First World War and official papers relating to his period in America; papers covering affairs in Samoa, 1930, and other items relating to the New Zealand appointment. In addition, there are semi-official and personal letters, 1937 to 1940, from Admirals Sir Dudley Pound (1877-1943), A.B. Cunningham (q.v.), Sir Charles Little (1882-1973), and Admiral Stark (1880-1972), United States Navy, 1945, as well as post-war correspondence with Admiral Stark, Lord Louis Mountbatten (1900- ), General Lord Ismay (1887-1965) and Professor Marder (1910- ). There are also some notes on the attack on Oran, 1940, and on Operation Torch, 1942.

Papers of Henry Theodore Augustus Bosanquet including seven volumes of personal papers and newspaper cuttings, 1879-1955. Bosanquet's service afloat is covered by logs and watchbills, 1883 to 1894. Bosanquet's notes on historical and technical subjects are elsewhere in the Museum manuscript collections.

Volumes of the wreck register, Marine Department of the Board of Trade, 1855 to 1898, giving the names and details of wrecks of British vessels reported to the Marine Department. The information includes the name of the vessel, its official number, port of registry, port number and year of registration, tonnage, name of managing owner, master, date and place of wreck, cause and the number of lives lost. Printed reports clipped from shipping newspapers, as well as manuscript reports from the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen are often included as well as references to Lloyd's List , Mitchell's Maritime Register and Board of Trade correspondence (see MT/9 at the Public Record Office).

Papers of Albert Francis Barclay Bridges, including a journal, 1912 to 1918; pocket diaries, 1918 to 1920, kept whilst in the Mediterranean and Black Sea; and a photograph and scrap album belonging to his brother, William M Bridges mainly relating to the surrender of the German fleet, 21 Nov 1918.

Papers of Sir Cyprian Arthur George Bridge including a few watch bills and other papers relating to the AUDACIOUS, 1874 to 1877; out-letterbooks, 1881 to 1885 and 1898; private letters received, 1895 to 1898, 1901 to 1904, and admiral's journals, 1895 to 1898.

Papers of Sir Harold Arthur Brown, comprising certificates, 1899 to 1929, appointments, 1894 to 1932, and letters, including those from the Foreign Office and British Embassy (Washington) in appreciation of his service, 1925, and those from Vice-Admiral Dalton (1904- ) about substituting 'Chief Naval Engineer Officer' as a title for the former 'Engineer-in-Chief of the Fleet', 1959.

Papers of Francis Clifton Brown comprising a continuous run of logs, 1890 to 1900, diaries, 1890 to 1902, notebooks and loose papers, including some relating to his period as naval attache in Greece. There are also some comprehensive photograph albums, 1890 to 1911. There are no papers for Brown's First World War service.

Papers of Cowper Phipps Cole, consisting of three large albums of newspaper cuttings which relate to the Navy and to ship design and were collected by Coles himself between 1862 and his death. There are a number of later cuttings to 1878.

Papers of Henry Chatfield, including notes on ordnance and shipbuilding and on the sailing trials between the St. Vincent and the Queen, 1844. There are two letters relating to the Dockyard Committee of Enquiry, 1858 to 1859, and a copy of Chatfield's dissension from its Report. There are also printed copies of Parliamentary Reports relating to the dockyards, 1805 and 1860, and a pamphlet written by Chatfield in 1834, 'An elementary essay on the principles of masting ships'.

Papers of Thomas Clifford spanning the period May 1649 to June 1673, the papers include correspondence, commissions and official instructions, proposals for treaties with various European heads of state, reports and dispatches. All relate to the Dutch Wars of 1652-1654, 1665-1667 and 1672-1674.

Papers of Andrew Browne Cunningham relating mostly to the period after his retirement. There are seven copies of the Tenedos Times, 1914 to 1915, notes and drafts of speeches, and papers relating to the many honours bestowed on Cunningham and to his membership of various societies and institutions.

Papers of Archibald Cochrane consisting of two midshipman's logs, 1890 to 1894.

Papers of Sir Edward William Campbell Rich Owen. They consist of an account, drawn up in 1825, of the mutiny at Spithead in 1797 and of documents and narrative towards a history of the Walcheren expedition of 1809. There is also a letter of Privy Seal appointing Owen Clerk of the Ordnance, 1834.

Papers of William Fitzwilliam Owen. They include a narrative of Owen's naval service, an account of the proceedings in the Cornelia and papers relating to the Africa survey and his work at Fernando Po. There are also papers concerning the settlement founded by Commander Owen, Admiral Owen's father, in Nova Scotia.

Papers from the collection of Andre De Coppet consisting of sixteen documents. The earliest, 1618, is an estimate of expenditure on seven ships 'at the narrow Seas' signed by the Lord High Admiral, Charles Howard, Earl of Nottingham (1536-1624), the Comptroller of the Navy, Sir Guilford Slingsby (d 1632) and the Surveyor of the Navy, Sir Richard Bingley (fl 1590-1618). Two other seventeenth-century documents relate to prize money; a letter of 1667 from Lord Bellasis (1614-1689) to Samuel Pepys (1633-1703), with Pepys' draft reply. Three documents are addressed to Admiral Honore Ganteaume (1755-1818) from Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) and consist of an order, 1798, regarding the blockade of Alexandria, and two letters, 1798 and 1805; the former discusses possible courses of action open to the French fleet against the British in the Mediterranean. The eleven letters of Lord Nelson (q.v.), 1799 to 1805, which make up the rest of the collection, concern events in the Mediterranean after the Battle of the Nile and those leading up to the Battle of Trafalgar. Four of these are to Sir John Acton (1736-1811), Prime Minister to Ferdinand I of Naples and Sicily. Complaints about Lord Keith (q.v.) are the main subject in the letter, 1799, to Sir William Hamilton (q.v.).

Papers of Leslie Cope-Cornford, consisting of letters, 1902 to 1927, received by Cope-Cornford from Rudyard Kipling and others, thanking him for copies of his books, discussing the politics of the day and personal matters. The correspondence with Professor Sir Geoffrey Callender (1875-1946), refers to a scheme to establish a national maritime museum and there are many letters from Callender to Mrs Cope-Cornford, 1928 to 1938. Also present are two volumes of Press Cuttings of his own work, serving as a portfolio of his journalistic career.

Papers of Dr Edward H Cree, including volumes one to twenty-one, 1937-1961, and comprises Cree's personal journals whilst serving at sea. The text is supplemented by circa seventeen hundred watercolours and sketches. The journals account details of his sea voyages, experience whilst in foreign lands, his impressions of people and places, his recollections amongst family and friends and writings concerning his life at home and with his wife. In addition to the illustrated journals are his 'rough journals' 1841, 1847, 1849, 1851-2 and 1854, his medical journal kept 1841-1847, journal notes (1837), sketchbook (1839), newspaper cuttings, service records and certificates and invitations. An index to the journals provides useful information on the vessels served on, the places visited and the illustrations within.

Papers of Sir Charles Cunningham including official service documents, a log, 1796 to 1798, and a manuscript account of the Nore Mutiny. There is also a transcript of this made by Mr Granville Proby in the 1940s. The loose papers consist of correspondence received between 1799 and 1832 from, among others, William, Duke of Clarence, when Lord High Admiral, Earl St. Vincent (q.v.), Sir Evan Nepean (q.v.), Lord Spencer (1758-1834), Sir William Cornwallis (q.v.), the Hon. Charles Philip Yorke (q.v.), Sir John Barrow (1764-1848) and the 2nd Viscount Melville (q.v.). There is also material relating to Cunningham's period at Chatham.

Papers of Alexander Davison including a collection of forty-five letters concerning prize money, 1804-14, including those from Admirals Collingwood (q.v.), Robert Digby (1732-1815), Sir Thomas Graves (c 1747-1814), Thomas Hardy (1769-1839), Samuel, Viscount Hood (q.v.) and Sir James Saumarez (1757-1836). They deal largely with Davison's expectations of the fleet agency which were disappointed after Nelsons death.

Letters from the Navy office to Davison, recommending agents he could work with, and discussing the issue of Head Money and the purchase of prizes after the Battle of the Nile. 12th October 1798 - 10th May 1799. Copy letters from Davison, including his application to be appointed sole agent for the Battle of the Nile prizes, letters to the Navy Board, and to Tucker, secretary to Lord St Vincent. 27th November 1798 - 11th June 1799.

Letters from the Captain James Saumerez to Davison, regarding his escorting vessels back from the Nile, and passing on news of Lady Nelson. 28th November 1798 - 13th July 1799.

Miscellaneous letters to Davison. Includes various applications for employment following his appointment as prize agent for the Battle of the Nile prizes, a letter from Captain Thomas Thompson regarding the issuing of prize money following the Nile, Louisa (wife of Sir Edward) Berry asking advice on how two Norfolk seamen should apply for their prize money, and a copy letter on behalf of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland offering money towards a commemorative obelisk to mark the victory. 5th October 1798 - 4th December 1799.

Extracts from the log of HMS VANGUARD at the Battle of the Nile.

Davison's appointment as prize agent for HMS ALEXANDER, signed by the crew, and his prize list for HMS ALEXANDER, detailing those eligible to receive prizes. 10th August 1798. Davison's list of officers of the fleet, who served under Rear Admiral Nelson's command at the Battle of the Nile. Detailed series of eight Navy Office bills, relating to ships captured at the Battle of the Nile. 15th March 1799 - 29th May 1799.Miscellaneous papers - includes a certificate appointing Mr Campbell of HMS CANOPUS to act on Davison's behalf, and various accounts regarding Head Money and the valuation and sale of captured French vessels following the Battle of the Nile.

Papers of Admiral Dawkins, including papers of his early career consist of official service documents and three diaries, 1851 to 1858. Those concerned with the loss of the VANGUARD consist of some official publications, such as the findings of the court martial, a large collection of press cuttings, some private letters and Dawkins' own account of the disaster.

Papers of Kenneth Dewar, consisting mainly of letters received, including some from Admiral Sir Herbert Richmond (q.v.) and drafts and memoranda relating to Dewar's Admiralty service, there being little official or other correspondence relating to his career afloat. Private and family letters, and papers concerning the court-martial arising out of the Royal Oak affair, were presented subject to certain conditions and access to them remains restricted. There are also diaries kept for both the First and Second World Wars and official service documents.

Papers of Sir Eustace Tennyson D'Eyncourt. The majority are loose papers, 1898 to 1939. Many are copies of official memoranda on particular ships, the development of the tank and on general topics, while there are subject files of correspondence for the post-1924 period.