A NAVAL SPY IN 1798 [SPENCER (George John, 1758-1834, Statesman and Bibliophile, from 1783 2nd Earl)}

Petition from Stephen Parsons Mariner to Earl Spencer and the other Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty saying that in June 1758 he had been "employed by Evan Nepean, Esquire, under the capacity of Manager and Commander of the Ship Unity, an English and Dutch Letter of Marque, in which your Petitioner crossed the Seas from the English Coast to Flushing, for the purpose of obtaining such knowledge and Intelligence of the Enemy's Fleet, as from his efforts and endeavours, he might be able to acquire, but that your Petitioner was thwarted in his Pursuits by the interposition and interference of some evil-disposed person or persons, disaffected to the Cause in which your Petitioner had embarked, and who had given private Information the to Dutch of such your Petitioner's Designs and the precise nature and purport of his voyage previous to his arrival in the Dutch Port ... in consequence of such information, considered as a Spy, and did not only undergo a very strict, personal examination by the Dutch, but the closest Search was likewise made in your Petitioner's Vessel ..." however they had been unable to claim the vessel as a prize, the Dutch then asked the French to take the vessel but he refused to let them so he "sailed on the Second day of July for England, the French Lugger continuing in the Flushing Roads till that period but did not then attempt to pursue ..." he then gives an account of a battle with the Lugger and his capture by French Soldiers, he was released but bought a smaller vessel to attempt to return to England but was recaptured and "conveyed, under heavy Irons to Prison, where ... was closely confined under the Imputation of being a Spy ...", he escaped again and managed to get his crew released but has incurred heavy financial losses which he is hoping that the Admiralty will compensate him for, 3 sides large folio, no place, defect in blank lower part of fold

Spencer gave valuable service as 1st Lord of the Admiralty in which post he selected Nelson to lead the Battle of the Nile, he then became Home Secretary. Lord Spencer retired to Althorp and was one of the founders of the Roxburghe Club.
Together with a letter from the Public Record Office saying that it was common practise for the Admiralty to get information about enemy shipping. In this case the Unity had a letter of marque to attack the Dutch as a Privateer. The Unity was a cutter of 41 tons, armed with six 2 pounder guns and 4 swivels with a crew of 14 commanded by Stephen Parsons.

Item Date:  1798

Stock No:  39793      £275

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