GEORGE III: (1738-1820)

GEORGE III: (1738-1820) King of the United Kingdom 1760-1820. An excellent and rare lengthy A.L.S., `Your most affectionate Father, George R´, four pages, 4to, Queens House, 20th March 1795, to his son Prince Frederick. The King sends a very important letter to his son, going through all the military issues existing, explaining his views and advising on wise decisions. George III refers first to the additional troops requested for the West Indies, and states in part '..I am enabled to put you into a proper train to bring some regularity in forming the general plan the want of which caused all the disasters in the different services from the outset of this war..´ further explaining to his son the common sense that some military matters require, saying `..It is obvious that the defence [sic] of this Island is the first object, for which purpose the reports of the Generals who command districts must be examined, each of them will naturally desire to have a larger proportion of troops than can be furnished, but at the same time care must be taken that they have what appears sufficient in case of emergency to secure success provided they use every kind of exertion which the cases that may occur can possibly demand.´ further on saying about the situation in Germany `After I have consented to let the British infantry return from Germany which cannot but be looked upon as a personal sacrifice considering the exposed situation in which my electorate will be left, it is but just that I must insist that the British cavalry now there be left to preserve my Dominions, and consequently that that corps be compleated [sic] to its full compliment and without further loss of time formed with the German troops into n Army of Observation not a cordon to act independently of the Austrians..´ The King then refers to Gibraltar stating `Gibraltar must be kept by sending Young Corps to season there in a respectable state. Ireland must be furnished with Feasible Regiments to replace Regiments that can be employed in Foreign Service. The same measure must be followed up in Guernsey and Jersey, and the Island of Corsica must have a sufficient [sic] to prevent any insult from the Enemy.´ George III concludes saying `..The only possible means that can occur to me would be if some Irish Troopers could be taken from Ireland as the foundation of some new Corps of Cavalry and sent with such Recruits as may be raised to form a Corps of that nature… Upon the whole I would have you therefore state the whole on paper, then send for the Secretary of War and apprize him of the whole… I can make no other cause for the loose manner in which I have stated my thoughts, but my desire of letting you have as soon as possible the result of my thoughts on what you mentioned last night. I ever remain my dear Frederick…´ A letter of extremely interesting content. Folded, with very small remnants of former mounting very slightly affecting the ''R'' of the signature, otherwise VG £2000-3000 Prince Frederick (1763-1827) Duke of York and Albany. Second son of George III and Commander-in-chief of the British Army. His father George III promoted him to the rank of Field-Marshal on 18th February 1795 and on 3rd April 1795 appointed him effective Commander-in Chief. The present letter was written only few weeks after being appointed Field-Marshal, and two weeks before becoming the Commander-in-Chief of the Great Britain Army. Prince Frederick headed the most important army reform that Great Britain has ever lived, founding military colleges and organizing massive fortification of the country´s southern coast, and is credited with defeating Napoleon in the Peninsular war. Henry Dundas (1742-1811) Secretary of war 1794-1801 under Prime Minister William Pitt. The present letter refers to 1795 French attack on the Dutch Republic when referring to Groningen and Friesland, to Hanoverians and British soldiers in Germany, to Gibraltar, to Irish troops, to the fortifications of the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey, to Corsica which the British had wrested from the French in 1794 establishing the short-lived Anglo-Corsican Kingdom, and to the economically important British West Indies.