Two original Autograph Letters Signed ‘Cha: Wager’ while on HMS Torbay in the Mediterranean, addressed to Consul Russell, the consul at Tetouan, both letters in a distressed state, but nevertheless referring to the death of Moulay Ismail ibn Sharif, Emperor of Morocco, instructing Russell to send condolences and “to congratulate his Imperial Majesty’s accession to the Empire of Morocco and to desire a continuance of the peace and friendship, that was establishd between our late Sovereign King George the first, and his Imperial Majesty’s Regal father of glorious memory; or to this purpose.” by WAGER, Admiral Sir Charles

HMS Torbay off Lagos and at Gibraltar, October and November 1727. 3 pp., 9 x 7 inches, clean and legible but with extensive damage, loss of some words, some old repairs. With a page of typed historical notes and transcripts. In poor condition, but it is remarkable that letters sent from HMS Torbay to a consul in Morocco in 1727 should have survived at all. Admiral Sir Charles Wager (1666-1743), who was knighted for the defeat of the Spanish fleet near Carthagena in 1708. He became first lord of the Admiralty in Sir Robert Walpole’s ministry. Wager was sent out in 1727 to blockade Cadiz and keep open communications with Gibraltar until the cessation of hostilities in June 1727 and the signing of the preliminaries of peace in February 1727/8. “I now understand that Basha Hamel has made himself master of Tetouan. I hope that will rather be an advantage to you, and us, than otherwise; I believe I must now write home, that you may be continued Consul at Tetuan, but I don’t know what to say, till I hear father of the Bashes success, and how you an Mr. Hatfield are come off in the fray. I send a letter to the Bashe by Capt. Toller, and a fine Cymeter [scimitar], and hope to be in his favour. I want very much a letter from you, with a true account of what has happen’d. I hope we hsall now by suplyd by the Bashan, with all we want and more ... [PS] We remain as to the Spaniards just as we were, neither Peace nor Warr.”