William Howe 1782 Manuscript Letter Signed - To Lord Amherst

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William Howe 1782 Manuscript Letter Signed - To Lord Amherst:
$1350.00

General William Howe was the commander of the British forces in America during the first part of the American Revolution. Though he achieved several significant victories including over George Washington, he resigned in 1778 when the tide of the war turned. He served in Parliament, was appointed to the Privy Council (1782) and served as Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance Office (1782-1804).

Two-page manuscript letter, sent from Office of Ordnance [London]. August, 1782, signed by General William Howe as Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance to Lord Amherst and two members of Parliament, explaining the Ordnance Office\'s position on military salaries, and on a particular case presented by the gentlemen in question. It is signed by William Howe, Thomas Pelham, G. Crawfurd and J. Aldridge.

This letter is a reply to Lord Amherst and others regarding a specific salary case presented by them, though it outlines the general rules for officers\' pay in order to illustrate where the specific case falls within the grander scheme. It reads, in full:

In reply to your Letter, We are to acquaint you that we cannot but still continue of Opinion, that the fair Rule should be, for the Salaries of the late Members to cease from the time they quitted, and that the Salaries of the new Members should commence from the time of their respective Appointments, when they commenced to do the Business; and Our several Patents support Us in that Opinion.

We have particularly Attended to the Observations you made, with regard to the List of those, whose Salaries commenced from the Quarter Day immediately previous to the date of the Patents; The Fact is admitted, but is accounted for in you Letter, either from the Intermission of a Quarter, of the Appointment to another Place, or the receipt of a Pension in the Predecessor; But still it appears, that no Person appointed within a short time after the Quarter commenced, has served that Quarter without Pay, and you mention Cases where such Payment has been made even by Debenture, where they were not put upon the Quarter Books.

We observe by His Majesty\'s Instructions it is directed, that if any Officer should die within the Current Quarter, before the same shall be finished; That the allowance, Salary or Wages due upon the Quarter, when entirely finished, should be paid to the Executors of the Person so dying. We conceive this to be a conclusive Argument in the present Case; For if it was constantly to have been paid in all Cases to the Persons who had commenced the Quarter, We can see no reason why there should be a special instruction, with respect only to those who die after the Quarter was commenced. We flatter Ourselves it can no longer remain a Doubt, by whom the Salary for the Quarter ending the 30th June ought to be received.

We have therefore Conformeble to our first opinion, received that part of the Salary for the June Quarter, which we conceive to be due to us for the time of our Executing the Duties of our respective Officers, and have given according to the Rule of Office, The Receipt to the Treasurer requisite upon this Ocasion (Our Names appearing on the Quarter Books) but have left in his hands, subject to your Order, the part of the Salary due to you previous to the time you Quitted.

Minor soiling. Inlaid by blank integral. Very good. In attractive half leather and cloth folder, spine gilt.

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