James Gilchrist papers relating to his service with the Royal Navy, 1795-1806.

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James Gilchrist papers relating to his service with the Royal Navy, 1795-1806.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/702179328

Letters and other documents pertaining to Purser James Gilchrist's prolonged disputes with the Victualling Board and the Admiralty Board over his purser's accounts and his claimed reimbursements for service on the HMS Camilla (1794-95) and HMS Espion (1799). Gilchrist's complaints included the lengthy procedural delays; the corruption and hostility of the captains under whom he served; and various claims of malfeasance against most of the officers on both ships. His letters, addressed to Admiralty Board members Sir Evan Nepean and Viscount Melville, repeat and elaborate his charges; demand prompt responses or private appointments; and occasionally offer suggestions for reforming the purser's role on warships. Other documents include official copies of orders and an affidavit by Alexander Wallis on behalf of Gilchrist. The collection also contains a typescript carbon of a senior essay by Charles David Booth, "Corruption and Reform in the Royal Navy, 1778-1810."

0.42 linear feet (1 box)

Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 8025778

Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Related Entities

There are 9 Entities related to this resource.

Camilla (Ship)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6004rgq (corporateBody)

Great Britain. Royal Navy

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6jm6277 (corporateBody)

Richard Howe, Earl Howe, was born in London, England, on March 19, 1726, the son of Emanuel Scrope Howe (1699-1735) and Mary Sophia Charlotte von Kielmansegg (1703-1782). Around 1735, he joined the crew of the merchant ship Thames, and in July 1739 he joined the 40-gun Royal Navy ship Pearl . Howe then served on several ships in the Caribbean and off the South American coast. After being promoted to lieutenant in 1744 and post captain in 1746, he continued his military service in th...

Nepean, Evan, Sir, 1751-1822

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6j394s6 (person)

Secretary to the Admiralty in 1788. From the description of Autograph letter signed, [n.d.]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270610549 English administrator. From the description of Autograph letters signed (8) and an autograph list of dispatches received : Whitehall, to Sir James Murray-Pulteney, 1793 Aug. 6-1793 Nov. 29. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270611575 Epithet: Incumbent of Grosvenor Chapel, London; 4th son of Sir Evan Nepean Britis...

Booth, Charles David.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6gj04gm (person)

Great Britain. Victualling Office

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w67t2c4c (corporateBody)

Espion (Ship)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6gr1nbg (corporateBody)

Dundas, Henry, 1742-1811

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w60k2d1v (person)

Henry Dundas, the first Viscount Melville (1742-1811), statesman, was the father of Robert Saunders Dundas, the second Viscount Melville (1771-1851), also a statesman. Henry Dundas was educated at Edinburgh High School and University, before becoming solicitor-general for Scotland in 1766. He was M.P. for Midlothian 1774-1790, except for a few months in 1782, when he sat for Newtown, Isle of Wight. He was lord advocate 1775-1783, lord rector of Glasgow University 1781-1783, privy councillor, and...

Gilchrist, James,

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6794q9b (person)

James Gilchrist joined the Royal Navy in 1778 and served as purser on several ships, most notably on the HMS Camilla and the HMS Espion. Court-martialed by the captain of the Camilla for insubordination, Gilchrist in turn pursued charges of corruption and malfeasance against him and against the officers of the Espion. From the description of James Gilchrist papers relating to his service with the Royal Navy, 1795-1806. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702179328 ...

Great Britain. Admiralty

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w64r1qjw (corporateBody)

HMS Cleopatra operated out of Halifax during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, sailing as far south as the West Indies. Sir Robert Laurie became captain in August 1804 and in 1805 became renowned for his action against the superior French ship Ville de Milan. From the description of By the commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland ... (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 778951118 In 1764...