BIB_ID
107122
Accession number
MA 22776
Creator
Yorke, Joseph, Baron Dover, 1724-1792.
Display Date
The Hague, Netherlands, 1779 December 25.
Description
1 item (2 pages) ; 22.7 x 18.9 cm
Notes
Richard Pearson was an English naval officer. In 1779, while commanding the HMS Serapis, he encountered John Paul Jones in the Bonhomme Richard off Flamborough Head and was defeated by Jones and the American squadron. The Richard sank, and Jones sailed to the island of Texel off the coast of the Netherlands in the Serapis.
A note in an unknown hand under Yorke's signature identifies him as "ambassador at The Hague & afterwards Lord Dover."
A note in an unknown hand under Yorke's signature identifies him as "ambassador at The Hague & afterwards Lord Dover."
Summary
Telling Pearson that "I could not celebrate Christmas Day in a more satisfactory manner to myself than in finishing the negotiation for your exchange, & release from the horrors of Texel;" saying that he has sent Pearson a copy of a document in French, "persuaded that you will understand it easily [...] it would have taken up two or three hours to have translated it, & time is precious just now;" discussing the availability of ships in Amsterdam; sending greetings to mutual acquaintances; sending news in a postscript about the war in America, particularly "d'Estaing's defeat in Georgia, & the quarrels between the French & Rebels."
Catalog link
Department