Letter from Lord Alexander Colville, on board the Northumberland at Spithead, to Captain James Hodsolle, 1753 July 11 : autograph manuscript signed.

Asking after Hodsolle and saying that he has had a pleasant journey, "tho' a very crowded but healthy Ship, there having been eight hundred and fourty of us aboard at one time;" praising the Northumberland as "the best and easiest Ship I ever went to Sea in [...] she is so fine a Ship, that she even silences Envy itself;" saying that they have been on very good terms with the officers of the regiments at Gibraltar and Menorca and he hopes this bodes well for future joint maneuvers; describing the changes that have occurred on Menorca since Hodsolle was last there and sending news of mutual acquaintances, including the Duchess of Marlborough; adding "The Judge of the Admiralty, had the Impudence to take me by the Hand, as familiarly as if he had never done me Injustice;" writing that in Gibraltar he had the pleasure of seeing an uncle and two of his brothers; asking if Hodsolle remembers Polly Travers and how much she had wanted to accompany Colville to New England; saying that, following Colville's refusal, she became acquainted with Lord Robert Manners, "who liked her so well, that he took her to himself, and has lately settled a Pension of a hundred a year upon her. She now lives with him at Gibraltar on the very Pinnacle of high Life. I believe her to be perfectly honest ; and she behaves so well in every respect, as to have great deference paid her by all the Officers;" saying that some of the officers put on plays and Polly has turned out to be an excellent actress: "I saw her act the part of Selima in the Tragedy of Tamerlane, with great applause ; but Juliett is the part she is fondest of;" sending his compliments to Doctor Smollet and Mr. Smith; mentioning that Captain Macdonald is in the Baltimore Sloop: "he tells me you are all well, and that you are again mounted on your Quarter Deck at the end of the Row;" saying that "the Villain Mordecai Green" is still in Mahon and is a great favorite of Lieutenant-General Blakeney's; concluding "I expect orders by every Post to return to my Station at Plymouth."