file 9815
Printed dairy page
January, First Month – XXXI Days (1798?)
Paid Wm Chapman wages of 10.0 due this day.
(Sunday 7th January – in pencil)
Acquainted Mr Reeves that I mean to sell his house for 170 – and Mr Ingrey’s for 130. My son and all his family dined with me. This day I was 76 years of age and thank Good I have and do enjoy a very large share of Blessings of life such as health, peace of mind and every comfort.
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10 February 1798
The present condition of Europe is apparelled in the Annals of the World, every man professing the belief of a deity, and enjoying the blessings of a well regulated society, under the influence of Divine and Moral Law, must shudder at the evils dealing out to them by the Republicans of France. Our existence as an independent Nation is at stake, the dreadful alternative of conquest or submission seem to hang over our heads, permit me therefore, to call to your attention to the awful moment.
Threatened with invasion similar to that which hath over run and transformed other Nations to be the slavish dependents of Gallic power, threatened also with the plunder of our property, the destruction of our Laws, and the loss of our liberty and lives, shall we supinely wait the coming tyrants and timely suffer the Altar the Temple of the God of our creation and of our hope to be profaned, his laws derided and our admirable constitution, the work of our wisest of ancestors “dashed in pieces like the potter’s vessel” by a host of Gallic spoilers?
Forbid it Heaven! – Rather, like those Ancestors let us congregate in this moment of threatened danger, and strengthen by every effort That Constitution all of us have reason to support and maintain unimpaired and free from every inimical attack.
To what but an accumulated degree of wretchedness will our property tend, if it is not in some measure used for our general defence against the foe? – Come then, ye nobles by long, by high ancestry, ye Lords of extensive Domains. Come also, ye opulent by inheritance, or by the favouring hand of prosperity, bring your gifts to the Altar of God, and your Country, what consideration would not the suffering, the ruined emigrants be happy to offer to regain their confiscated property?
Let their dreadful situation be a warning to you my dear countrymen, and impel you to join my humble effort to assist in saving our country and ourselves from the impending ruin – the hearts of the poor shall bless you, and their honest brave hands be strengthened to resist the meditated attack. Gratitude be an additional spur to their loyalty and their natural courage (though the contest may be tough one) will rise superior to every endeavour to conquer and enslave them, for knowing that those whose means are ample, have amply offered them in aid of their country in the present contest, their zeal will be extended and their fidelity confirmed.
The many and very generous subscriptions for the relief of those brave men (seamen and soldiers) and their relatives who have been more immediately employed to check the efforts of the foe, fully evince that the spirit of true patriotism and brotherly love is eminently active amongst us, yet I hope I may with (without?) offending be permitted to suggest that such subscriptions, though highly useful and meritorious, are only palliatives – they do no seem to go far enough. As the danger is apparently great, now that the enemy is exerting very nerve of hostile preparation to assail us in our domestic empire, and therefore a National and Expective Union, in my humble opinion is at this time necessary to secure us from the consequences of their threatened visit. It will do more to repel the foe than millions raised under the coertion of taxation.
GM
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11th February 1798
April 1798
Impromptu
On reading an account of the glorious action between the Mars and L’Hercule.
Herculean France is destined thus to bend
Whilst Britain hails the Godlike Mars her friend,
Hood hears the shouts of Victory rend the Skies
He grasps the Palm and then contented dies
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An Address to the Inhabitants of the Parish of Lewisham, Kent
As the time is drawing near in which our Country is threatened with total Destruction I submit it to the consideration of those persons who are happy in it, and Love the King, the Constitution, Laws, Religion, Liberty, and every thing else that is dear to us, whether voluntary Contributions without delay should not be made for the support and preservation of the Nation, before the Enemy may attempt to make a Landing, and thereby avert the dire calamities and consequences if they should succeed therein.
By subscribing for the support of the state, it would in a great degree,if not wholly prevent otherwise the unavoidable increase of Taxes, and lessen the distress of the Industrious Poor. For my own part I will cheerfully subscribe Five Hundred Pounds every Years during the War, for so noble a purpose.
See the Example of Our brave Officers, Seamen and Soldiers at this Crisis who are not only ready to shed their blood in the defence of their Country, but also to subscribe as much as in their power for the support of the Nation.
How absolutely necessary it is therefore become that the Landholders and Wealthy part thereof, should liberally subscribe to the safety of it, and indeed all others; for although their Contributions individually may be but small sums, yet if it should be only half a Crown, or even one Shilling, it would from numbers raise in each Parish a considerable Sum, added to what persons might give, who have it mor in their power, and be a proof of the Unanimity of the whole Nation.
George Marsh, Blackheath, 11 February 1798
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July 1798
Proposed to be written to Lord Spencer but was not.
File 0341
My Lord,
I beg leave to state to your Lordship that upon my application on the 21 August 1795, you were pleased to honor me with a very kind reception; since that time particularly on the 21 September last, I have with great concern, experienced the contrary.
It therefore appears to the astonishment of those who know me, both in and out of Office, that I certainly must have unknowingly offended your Lordship, or that you have been prejudiced by persons to great Influence against me, for their own Credit and emolument; whereby I have already sustained a loss, since June 1796 of about £350,a nd the King’s house taken from me, which I have enjoyed the possession of (agreeable to my several patents) in common with the Commissioners of the Navy and Victualling, ever since His Majesty was graciously pleased to order me to be appointed in October 1763, in that Quality; and it is well known I have lived therein, until this office was removed from Tower Hill.
My Lord no sooner was the change of the Office business determined upon, that it was judged proper to increase the number of Commissioners here, when I was told my application to your Lordship on the said 21 August 1795 was thought to be a Job, although it was known not to be so, for expected no pecuniary advantage, nor was any proposed thereby to me.
My Lord Sir Andrew Hamond, has never lived in the King’s house here appropriated to hm, no more than I have in mine, but is allowed by sign manuel £170 per annum out the Fund (little known) arising from the sale of old Stores, and receives also £80 a year more from Sir WIlliam Bellingham to whom he lets his house together £250 per annum for house Rent only.
Sir Andrew has too, thought proper to take one of the unfinished houses here instead of going into his own; and as mine has been taken from me, and given to Mr.Hope he has obtained two houses and also the allowance for Coals and Candles, and has got Sir William fixed (as his Tenant – crossed out) in that appropriated to him, who is not intitled to a house at this Office, even by the last order from the Admiralty Board on that head.
I am conscious my Lord that my Character, conduct and actions, both public and private will bear the most stricktest scrutiny, which I shall always be ready to meet and defend.
And it is well known that veyr few men if any ever served His Majesty and the publick so long, more Truthfully, or more constantly attended the Duty of my several appointments than I have always done, having devoted my whole time thereto, which it is absolutely necessay from the very great business of this Office for a Commissioner of the Navy to do so. Indeed I have made it my pleasure, and mean to persevere therein as long as I live.
My Lord, thank God I only want Justice for I am not anxious for anything else, and in consequence of the repeated messages I have received from your Lordship, by Sir Andrew and Mr.Hope that I should be paid, I have (long requested it – crossed out) forbore troubling your Lordship thereon.
The reason therefore of my being excluded so long from those favors and justice, it is obvious from the high office your Lordship holds you have if in your power, as well as inclination to confer and administer to others, is totally unknown to me.
I shall however still hope and it is my earnest wish, to obtain the same from you my Lord only, by ordering me to be paid the arrears due, and to have one of the houses here; or paid the house Rent and the allowance for Coals and Candles, all which I have been deprived of, by men of great Interest.
I am with all due Respect.
My Lord, your Lordships most obediant and most humble servant.
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2nd August 1798
Mr Gambier [Admiral of the Fleet James Gambier, 1st Baron Gambier, 1756-1833] reported in the office my request was granted and was to be created Bart and have a pension of £500 year neat, and it was so published in the News papers. And a paragraph appeared therein on the 7th August in the following words Viz. Commissioner Marsh it is reported is about to retire from the Navy Office with a Baronetcy. Be that as it may we are fully persuaded that there is not a more faithful or more honourable servant of the public. I know not who published this respecting me, for I knew not myself the least about it.
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Letter
6 August 1798
draft letter to – ? Lord Spencer – (proposed to be written but was not)
From – George Marsh ? Navy Office
To –
My Lord,
In consequence of a communication from Sir Andrew Hammond in the course of last month, I have been in dayly expectation of being honored by your Lordship’s order to wait upon you on the Subject of my retiring from this Board, but I have not had that honor, and an arrangement is now in consequence thereof become a Public even to the news papers.
I have long depending my Lord from the Messages communicated to me by Sir Andrew and Mr.Hope that it was your Lordship’s intention that I should be paid my house rent &c which I have been deprived of ever since Midsummer 1796 amounting now to near Four hundred Pounds.
The last time I had the honor to wait upon your Lordship you was pleased with great displeasure to observe that after living at Blackheath fifty years I wanted to turn Sir William Bellingham out of his house. My Lord I conclude you have been wrongly informed, and that my Character in many respects has by artful Interested persons been greatly injured by false respesentations to you, but I have no doubt at a future time, if any such has been made, very fully to clear it to your Lordship.
It is well known both in and out (of) office that I always lived in the King’s houses appointed to me at the Victualling and Navy Offices ’till the latter was moved from Tower Hill; and what has occurred since, your Lordship has been acquainted with.
And it is as well known, I have never neglected my Duty at either, and that no Individual member has ever more constantly attended the business of those Boards than myself.
My Lord I am one of the last men in the World to endeavour to deprive any Man of his rights,from which cause perhaps arise those feelings (of which I flatter myself your Lordship can readyly judge) that serve to render me more tenacious of my own.
In consequence of what repeatedly passed at the Navy Board my expressing my sentiments on this subject Mr.Gambier (from the most friendly motives I hope (am satisfied – crossed out) put a Query to me a copy of which and my answer thereon I take the Liberty of enclosing to your Lordship as the most concise mode in my power at present of shewing how very much unfairly and unjustly I have been treated, although the oldest member of the Board.
I have only to add that to this moment I know by hearsay only, that your Lordship has been pleased to obtain such honourable testimony of my conduct in the Service of His Majesty and the Public (for the last Sixty years – crossed out) as is intended me. (whole paragraph crossed out).
I am persuaded (however – crossed out) from your Lordship’s honor and justice this plain representation of facts will have due weight with your Lordship and to induce you to order me to be paid what is my just due, which is most earnestly wished by him who is with all due respect,
My Lord, y.l.m.o.l.s. (Your loyal and most obliged humble servant.)
letter Draft – continued.
How or by whom the paragraphs I have seen in the new papers have been introduced there, I know not, but conclude (as I had no information on the subject from your Lordship), they have been inserted by some official and officious man for reasons only known to himself.
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My dear Father’s Letter &c. &c. &c.
9 August 1798
My Lord,
I beg leave to acquaint your Lordship that I have reason to suppose it appeared to me in August 1795 that you was desirous of appointing Mr Gambier to a Seat at this Board, who applied to me to know if I intended to retire from it, and even brought me a draft of a letter, proposed in that case, for me to (signify – crossed out) write to your Lordship for that purpose, which I did do on the 21 (day – crossed out) of the said month (without any the least pecuniary proposal) where-in I begged your Lordship’s influence to procure me a Baronetcy with such a pension as I should hope from my very long Services your Lordship should think me worthy of and that under such circumstances I should be inclined to resign.
Whereupon you was pleased to observe as you knew my opinion and supposed excellent character I was not in a hurry and you should be glad to serve me. (pencil edit – – )
Upon the death of my assistant in you was pleased to appoint Mr.Gambier to succeed him as Secretary to the Navy Board and in June 1796, to increase the Number of Commissioners these to carry on the business of it, by Committee and to appoint that Gentleman one of the Commissioners.
Since which I have never heard any thing from your Lordship on the subject of my aforementioned Letter (to your Lordship – crossed out) but have (frequently met with – crossed out) experienced very degrading, unjust treatment from men of influence and interest. I therefore now (shall – crossed out) beg leave to acquaint you that Mr.Towry has frequently applied to me in a very particular manner to solicit your Lordship for the purpose above mentioned, to which my answer has always been, that as your Lordship knows my mind, I (could – crossed out) would not again trouble you. To my great surprise however, I have lately seen paragraphs in all the newspapers that I was going to retire upon a Baronetcy &c., and that Mr.Towry was to succeed me, of which I had no intimation from your Lordship, indeed Sir, and – – -it is issued to me that everything was settled to my wish.
On Tuesday last your Lordship were pleased also to express to me very great surprise and displeasure on the occasion (also very great surprise – cross out). I then assured your Lordship I did not wish to retire from the Navy Board as I am blessed with good health, upon any other condition than those mentioned in my Letter of 21 August 1795, which I beg leave hereby to repeat.
(another page) –
To my great surprise however, I have lately seen paragraphs in all the news papers that I was going to retire upon a Baronetcy &c., and that Mr.Towry was to succeed me, of which I had no intimation from your Lordship, indeed I was told by Sir Andrew Hammond and others that every thing was settled to my wish.
On Tuesday last you was also pleased to express very great surprise and displeasure on the occasion. I then assured your Lordship I did not wish to retire from the Navy Board, as I am blessed with good health upon any other conditions than those mentioned in my letter of 21 August 1795 which I beg leave hereby to repeat to your Lordship.
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File 9835
Print Diary page – 1798 -99 ?
August, 8th Month, has xxxi Days. Account of Monies
17 – Admiral Gambier called on me at the Office. Mr Gambier came round me to know on what form I would quit.
Friday 21 August
Wrote to Lord Spencer to resign upon the conditions mentioned in my letter to his Lordship of this date and a copy in my drawer and in my Memorandum book of my family.
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Printed diary page
Memorandum, Observations, and Appointments – in October 1798
Monday 8th October 1798 – At the office.
Tuesday 9th October 1798 – Ditto
Wednesday 10th October 1798 – Ditto
Thursday 11th October 1798 – Ditto
Friday 12th October 1798 – Ditto
Saturday 13th October 1798 – Ditto
Sunday 14th October 1798 – At the Chapel