Copy of a manuscript letter : Brighton, to the Duke of Kent, 1803 Dec. 29.

Saying it is out of his power to help General Burton; saying "In the first place it is impossible for me to have any intercourse with the D. of Y. since the numberless Insults he has thought proper to pass upon me...;" adding "In the next place were it in my power to apply to the D. of Y. I certainly would not do so as I should be only diserving [sic] the General and counteracting the principal for which such an application would be made -- For you know but too well that any application--coming from me or you, n'importe le quel, would be viewed with the most jealous eye -- construed into interference and impertinent intrusion in military concerns and add to the load of prejudice which always surrounds the D. of Y. & would drive him the more to make an example & sacrifice of the poor General;" lamenting the situation in which the General finds himself; saying "From what little I have heard of the affair which has occasioned the poor General so much trouble and vexation, it appears to me that the D. of Y. might have shut his Eyes upon it, and have hushed it up if he had pleased so to do, for after all the worst that can be said of it, is that it was an impudence on the part of the General, & perhaps an error in judgment;" asking him to express these sentiments to the General and giving him permission to either show him the letter or read it to him, "which though of a private nature, I have that High opinion of his Honor, that of course he would not think of making it the topic of public investigation. Why I particularly mention this is because he was good enough to write to me himself, the ensuing day after I had received your letter, and I naturally can write more amply & fully to you than I possibly could to him--;" asking him to give the General his apologies for not directly answering his letter.