Croker, The First Secretary To The Admiralty, Writes About An American Serving In The British Navy: He Be Not A British Subject, Did Fraudulently Represent Himself To Be Such

JOHN WILSON CROKER (1780-1857). Croker was a British statesman and writer.LS. 3pg. 8 x 12. August 31, 1824. Admiralty Office. A letter signed J W Croker to Thomas Aspinwall, the American consul in England. Croker, then the First Secretary to the Admiralty, wrote: the case of William Long, said to be an American, serving on Board His Majestys Ship Gloucester, I have their Lordships Commands to acquaint you, in reference to your letter of the 23rd Ulto., that as this Mans discharge is asked on private grounds, & as it is admitted that he volunteered into the British service, & if he be not a British Subject, did fraudulently represent himself to be such, my Lords do not think it would be proper to discharge him at his own request or that of those acting for him, but they think it right to add that if the United States were at War with any power & required the services of her citizens, they would in that case have discharged the man supposing him to be what he has latterly represented himself. The letter has mailing folds and is in fine condition.