SEAMEN'S PENSIONS BRUCE (Hon. Thomas Charles, 1825-1890, M.P. for Portsmouth and Railway Director)

Autograph Letter Signed to 'My dear Sir', explaining that up to 1832, "merchant seamen were required to pay 6d a day towards the funds of Greenwich Hospital", when the Hospital was closed in 1870, "6d a day was allotted to those ... who had contributed ... before 1832", which was reckoned "a full settlement ... - whether equitable or not", the pensions are "paid by the Board of Trade" and do not benefit from increases paid by the Admiralty to the Royal Navy, he adds, "my friends the Turks have been putting themselves & us in a mess - but I think we shall survive", with his colour cartoon portrait by 'Spy', three-quarter length with magnificent whiskers, 13¾" x 8½", Vanity Fair, 29th April 1882, the letter 2 sides 8vo., 42 Hill Street, Berkeley Square, 23rd November



Item Date:  1878

Stock No:  50124      £120

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