AUTOGRAPH NOTE SIGNED in the text by CRIMEAN WAR MILITARY LEADER and GOVERNOR of NOVA SCOTIA GENERAL SIR WILLIAM FENWICK, 1ST BARONET OF KARS.

[London]: circa [1859]., [1859].. Good. - 18 words penned in black ink on both sides of a 4-1/2 inch high by 3-5/8 inch wide sheet of United Service Club letterhead with the club's raised insignia printed in blind at top left. Signed in the opening of the letter: "Sir Fenwick Williams regrets..." with the place and date at the foot of the note: "U.S.C. / 14th June". A strip of document tape has been mounted down the right edge of the verso, covering up 1 word of the note. Good. <p>Williams writes regretting he is unable to dine with Mrs. Ford because of a previous engagement. The note is accompanied by a newspaper obituary.<p>General Sir William Fenwick Williams, 1st Baronet of Kars [1800-1883] was born in Nova Scotia. He was a renowned military leader for the British during the Victorian era, remembered for his gallant defense of the town of Kars during the Crimean War. He and other British officers inspired the poorly equipped Turkish soldiers to repel Russian attacks for three months. Starvation and lack of ammunition finally forced them to surrender, but they did so on their own terms. Williams was imprisoned but was treated very well and was released when the war ended in 1856. A knighthood, a baronetcy with a pension for life and many other honors were bestowed on Williams for his actions. From 1865 to 1867 he was the first Lieutenant Governor of his birth province of Nova Scotia.