Two Autograph Letters Signed (both 'John Corbett') from Admiral Sir John Corbett, Naval aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria, to 'Miss Bruce', daughter of 'the Commodore' [ Admiral Sir Henry William Bruce].

One: 3pp., 16mo. 42 lines. Fair, on aged paper. A marvellously melodramatic communication, worthy of a Victorian romantic novel, as the commencement indicates: 'I thank you most sincerely for your very kind answer to to [sic] a note that perhaps I ought never to have written - I could not at the time help it and I ask you now as a very [last word underlined] great favour to try and forget that I did write it - "No one is always wise" This is a fact taught one even at school, and I feel that nothing can justify what I did (though it was under the influence of very honest feelings) save the kindness of her who is now my judge | Do not shun meeting me whatever you do, it will be hard for me to believe that you have fully forgiven me if you do - even if my presence is any constraint on you, my stay at home is never of very long duration & that need not debar you from making Aston a resting place on your journey's to & from Ireland'. After a reference to a picture ('in very good hands') and the exclamation 'least said soonest mended', he declares that his 'greatest wish is for your future wellfare [sic] & happiness'. Two: 1p., 12mo, and 1p., 8vo. In a shaky hand, possibly with his left hand following an injury to his right. Written on parting. He writes that he is indebted to 'the Commodore' for his unvaried kindness to me ever since I have known him', and, having missed him that morning, he bids her wish him good bye from him, 'once more good bye to yourself too'. He asks whether a parcel addressed by 'Alexander' to 'Lady Hervey Bruce' ought not have been addressed to 'Lady Bruce' instead. In a postscript he declares that he is sorry to hear 'of Bonham's accident'.