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James Gilchrist papers relating to his service with the Royal Navy
Creator
Title
James Gilchrist papers relating to his service with the Royal Navy, 1795-1806.
Physical Description
0.42 linear feet (1 box)
Language
English
Provenance
Purchased from Winifred Myers, Ltd. on the James Marshall and Marie-Louise Osborn Fund, 1979.
Organization
Organized into three series: I. Correspondence, 1800-1806. II. Legal Documents, 1795-1804. III. Related Material.
Biographical / Historical Note
James Gilchrist joined the Royal Navy in 1778 and served as purser on several ships, most notably on the HMS Camilla and the HMS Espion. Court-martialed by the captain of the Camilla for insubordination, Gilchrist in turn pursued charges of corruption and malfeasance against him and against the officers of the Espion.
Summary
Letters and other documents pertaining to Purser James Gilchrist's prolonged disputes with the Victualling Board and the Admiralty Board over his purser's accounts and his claimed reimbursements for service on the HMS Camilla (1794-95) and HMS Espion (1799). Gilchrist's complaints included the lengthy procedural delays; the corruption and hostility of the captains under whom he served; and various claims of malfeasance against most of the officers on both ships. His letters, addressed to Admiralty Board members Sir Evan Nepean and Viscount Melville, repeat and elaborate his charges; demand prompt responses or private appointments; and occasionally offer suggestions for reforming the purser's role on warships. Other documents include official copies of orders and an affidavit by Alexander Wallis on behalf of Gilchrist.
The collection also contains a typescript carbon of a senior essay by Charles David Booth, "Corruption and Reform in the Royal Navy, 1778-1810."
Format
Archives or Manuscripts
Added to Catalog
June 09, 2006
Indexes/Finding aids
Accompanied by a container list.
References
James Gilchrist Papers Relating to His Service with the Royal Navy. James Marshall and Marie-Louise Osborn Collection, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University.
Cite as
James Gilchrist Papers Relating to His Service with the Royal Navy. James Marshall and Marie-Louise Osborn Collection, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University.
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