BIB_ID
459175
Accession number
MA 14909.22
Creator
Edward Augustus, Prince, Duke of Kent, 1767-1820, sender.
Credit line
Bequest of Gordon N. Ray, 1987.
Description
1 items (5 pages) ; 23.6 x 18.9 cm
Notes
Written from Kensington Palace.
"The scandal surrounding his excessive expenditure on the maroons, defence, and a new government house had led Wentworth to fear in 1801-2 that he would be demoted to a West Indian post" (Judith Fingard, WENTWORTH, Sir JOHN, Dictionary of Canadian Biography [vol 5]).
"Captain Bentinck" is William Bentinck (1764-1813) of the Royal Navy. Bentinck served as governor of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 1798-1802.
"[M]y last letter of the 11th of September" is MA 14909.21.
After British victory in the Second Carib War, British colonial authorities forcibly deported thousands of Carib (Garifuna) people from St. Vincent to elsewhere in the Caribbean.
"Major Lyons" is Charles Lyons (died 1812), town major of Halifax court-martialed and "reduced to penury" in 1798. Edward made appeals to the government on behalf of his widow and children over some years (see Gerald Hamilton-Edwards, Edward, Duke of Kent, and the Lyons Family in Nova Scotia, Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research [vol. LVI no. 225], pp. 39-47).
Part of a collection of letters from Prince Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent, to Sir John Wentworth, 1st Baronet (MA 14909).
"The scandal surrounding his excessive expenditure on the maroons, defence, and a new government house had led Wentworth to fear in 1801-2 that he would be demoted to a West Indian post" (Judith Fingard, WENTWORTH, Sir JOHN, Dictionary of Canadian Biography [vol 5]).
"Captain Bentinck" is William Bentinck (1764-1813) of the Royal Navy. Bentinck served as governor of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 1798-1802.
"[M]y last letter of the 11th of September" is MA 14909.21.
After British victory in the Second Carib War, British colonial authorities forcibly deported thousands of Carib (Garifuna) people from St. Vincent to elsewhere in the Caribbean.
"Major Lyons" is Charles Lyons (died 1812), town major of Halifax court-martialed and "reduced to penury" in 1798. Edward made appeals to the government on behalf of his widow and children over some years (see Gerald Hamilton-Edwards, Edward, Duke of Kent, and the Lyons Family in Nova Scotia, Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research [vol. LVI no. 225], pp. 39-47).
Part of a collection of letters from Prince Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent, to Sir John Wentworth, 1st Baronet (MA 14909).
Provenance
Gordon N. Ray.
Summary
Acknowledging receipt of September 26 letter on October 23; speaking to "the reports [...] of the appointment of Captain Bentinck to succeed you as Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia"; referring to a supposed reference "in my last letter of the 11th of September" that he had "seen that gentleman at Weymouth" and relaying what he has heard of Bentinck's travel plans, including stop in Holland; believing, given what he knows, it is a "decided point" that Wentworth is to be replaced as lieutenant governor by Bentinck and that Wentworth is to be assigned to a colony of the West Indies; stating that a potential posting to St. Vincent "is likely to be very lucrative indeed, for I believe, the Carib lands will be sold forthwith, to discharge the debts of the civil list, and the fees upon that are likely to be something very handsome"; reporting on ongoing business involving Wentworth and auditors of public accounts; begging "once more" to take "the unfortunate Major Lyons to your protection"; sending regards from Madame de St. Laurent.
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