[Sir Edward Thornton, diplomat.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Edwd Thornton') to Viscount Castlereagh, writing from Sweden, to which he has travelled in HMS Victory, asking for a knighthood for negotiating the first treaty between Britain and Russia.

5pp., 4to. On two bifoliums. In fair condition, on lightly aged paper, with slight wear and creasing at the foot of both bifoliums, and labels from previous mounting still adhering. Headed 'Private'. After a reference to 'the condescending Notice which His Royal Highness the Prince Regent has been pleased to take of my Conduct here' he makes a request, in the most circumfluous terms, for 'the Dignity of Extra Knight Companion of the Order of the Bath', beginning: 'When I came out to this Country last year, on the Commission which Marquess Wellesley entrusted to me, His Lordship was pleased to say, that independently of my Expenses, I might be entitled on my Return to some farther Remuneration [...] I expressed myself [...] in a private Letter to Mr Culling Smith, that a pecuniary Remuneration was what a Man who thought rightly would never propose to himself as the Object of his Ambition and the Result of his Success. Honour and Distinction appeared to me always as the sole Object of a well-directed Ambition: and I told Mr Smith on that Occasion, that they were the only Object on which in the Midst of the greatest Success I should ever set a Value.' He continues with reference to 'the Success which I have since had the good Fortune to meet with in the Business entrusted to me (the last Affair of the Spanish Negotiation included)', adding: 'I hope I may be allowed to say without any Imputation of improper Vanity, that the first Treaty of Peace ever signed between Great Britain and Russia, and which (thanks to the happy Turn which Providence has given to the Affairs of Russia) may perhaps be the last, at least for Years to come, might be without Impropriety marked by some Distinction bestowed on the fortunate Man who signed it.' Thornton's entry in the Oxford DNB gives the background to the letter: 'On 10 December 1807 Thornton was sent to Sweden as envoy-extraordinary and minister-plenipotentiary, with a view to obtaining an offensive and defensive alliance against Napoleon. In November 1808 he returned to England unsuccessful, and for a time was prevented by the hostile attitude of Sweden from returning to his post. In October 1811 he again went to Sweden on a special mission in HMS Victory, negotiated treaties of alliance with both Sweden and Russia, and thus assisted in the first step towards the union of the northern powers against Napoleon. On 5 August 1812 he was again appointed envoy-extraordinary. '