TONYN

Both certificates landscape 8vo, 1 p. Each on paper, backed with contemporary cloth. The two texts are in the same secretarial hand, variously signed by Bourmaster and Bastard (both lieutenants at the time). Clear and complete. Fair, on aged paper. Both documents with Paterson's name given as 'Patterson'. The first certifcate concerns Paterson's service on the St Antonio (Captain George Anthony Tonyn) as Able Seaman, from 28 November to 2 December 1767, and from 3 December to 31 October 1768. It is signed 'Jo Bastard s Lt'.

On one side of a piece of vellum, dimensions 27 x 32 cm. Neatly folded to make eight rectangles. Red wax seal under paper in top left-hand corner, embossed with the Admiralty anchor. One blue 2s 6d stamp in left-hand margin. Small paper stamp on the reverse, which is docketed 'Ariadne | Capt. Paterson | Admty Conf Comm | 20 Jany 1794'. Text entirely legible on lightly discoloured vellum. The body of the document is printed over fifteen lines, with the specific information added in manuscript.

12mo: 1 p. Five lines. Good, on lightly aged paper, with one minor water stain affecting a couple of letters of one word. Reads 'The Adm[ira]lt[ie]s order for you son's reception as Vol[untee]r 1st. Class in the Victory is arrived, & he may join as soon as convenient'. Docketed by Tonyn on reverse '3d. June 1828 |Sir Robt. Stopford Commr. in Chief Porstmo. respecting my son George'. After Trafalgar the Victory was moored in Portsmouth Harbour off Gosport and used as a depot ship.

Foolscap (31.5 x 20.5 cm): 1 p. 24 lines of text. Address, with postmark, on reverse. Good, on lightly aged and creased paper. Discussing a picture he has been painting of 'Captain Tonyn', which 'is within one days work of being finished'. Points out that there has been a misunderstanding about the price: 'fifty five pounds [...] could not be the case because I never yet reced from any body pounds, but always Guinneas'. Because of 'the great work that so large a Canvas wod. require (it being bigger than a whole length for which I had at that time 50 Gs. and now 60 Gs.

2 pp, on the first leaf of a bifolium of gilt-edged watermarked laid paper. Leaf dimensions 30 x 19 cm. Text clear and entire. On lightly aged, worn and creased paper. The king's signature is in the top left-hand corner of the first page, above the royal seal, which is embossed on a folded square of paper over red wax. The seal covers the downstroke from the 'g' of 'George' and the final stroke of the 'R' in the royal signature. The document carries three blind-stamped 2s 6d tax stamps in the left-hand margin of the first page.

2 pp, on the first leaf of a bifolium of gilt-edged watermarked laid paper. Leaf dimensions 30 x 19 cm. Text clear and entire. On lightly aged and worn paper. The king's signature is bold and clear, in the top left-hand corner of the first page. It is the version described by Rawlins ('Four Hundred Years of British Autographs', p.53) as 'an uncommon form'. Beneath the signature is the royal seal, which is embossed on a folded square of paper over red wax.The document carries three blind-stamped 2s 6d tax stamps in the left-hand margin of the first page.

2 pp, on the first leaf of a bifolium of gilt-edged watermarked laid paper. Leaf dimensions 30 x 19 cm. Text clear and entire. On lightly aged and worn paper. The king's signature is bold and clear, in the top left-hand corner of the first page, above the royal seal, which is embossed on a folded square of paper over red wax.The document carries three blind-stamped 2s 6d tax stamps in the left-hand margin of the first page.

8vo: 1 p. 7 lines of text. Good, on lightly aged and creased paper, with the address on the reverse of the second leaf of the bifolium, to which Verney's red wax seal adheres. A graceful letter of thanks. 'It gives me no small satisfaction to think that my general Conduct has hitherto merited your approbation.' Informs Tonyn of the date of the general election. Verney would lose his seat, and with it his immunity from prosecution for debt, forcing him to flee to France.

Stitched 4to notebook, in original brown calf half-binding, with grey paper boards. 71 pp of text, with a further 19 pp blank, across 45 leaves of watermarked laid paper. Leaf dimensions roughly 19 x 15 cm. In good condition: internally clean and tight, on lightly aged paper. In worn boards. Ruled with red lines. Neatly written and entirely legible.

On one side of a piece of vellum, dimensions 24.5 x 31 cm. Neatly folded to make six rectangles. Entirely legible on discoloured vellum, with one small hole (not affecting text) caused by wear at one fold. The body of the document is printed over nine lines, with the specific information added in manuscript. Also in manuscript at the head: '[By] Sir George B Rodney Bart. KB.

One one side of a piece of vellum, dimensions 28.5 x 33 cm. Neatly folded to make eight rectangles. Red wax seal under paper in top left-hand corner, embossed with the Admiralty anchor. Two blue 2s 6d stamps in left-hand margin. Small paper stamp on reverse. Text entirely legible on lightly discoloured vellum, with one small hole (not affecting legibility of text) caused by wear to a fold. The body of the document is printed over fifteen lines, with the specific information added in manuscript.

Both items clear and entire: good on lightly aged paper. Both addressed, with postmarks, to 'Mrs. Admiral Paterson, East Cosham Cottage, near Portsmouth.' Letter One, to 'My dear Ellen' (4to, 8 pp). Long letter, leaving his sister 'to judge as a reasonable Being whether I do not do every thing that can possibly be expected from me'. He is at present in debt to the tune of £460. Letter Two, to 'My dear Sister' (4to, 4 pp). Another letter dealing with the financial matters of the family. Docketed 'Dr. Yeats most strongly desiring his Sister Mrs.