10th January 1816: The Duke of Montrose continues to stall Francis Raynes' hopes

Windsor, 10th Jan. 1816.

SIR,

I have received your letter of the 5th January. I informed you I was acquainted with the existing difficulty to your remuneration being obtained, namely—the difficulty of the Secretary of State to find a situation for you. This you do not seem to give credit to; but this I believe, and was convinced from the beginning, that to reward was the intention of Lord Sidmouth or he would not have said so. I shall again mention your name to his Lordship, and should have sent your letter to him, but that I thought the last part of it looked so like a threat, that I conceived it might do you an injury.

I remain, with esteem, Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

MONTROSE.

Capt. Raynes.

5th January 1816: Francis Raynes makes more desperate enquiries about his case

Having now heard nothing from the government about the possibility of a job or remuneration for his services during the Luddite disturbances for over 4 months, Francis Raynes wrote again to both the government and his former commanding officer on the same day:

Three months after [receiving the letter from Lord Sidmouth], hearing of the vacancy of a situation in the customs, and not willing to let my age become an additional difficulty in the way of remuneration, I immediately made application to the Secretary of the Treasury, and then, after waiting a considerable time longer, I once more addressed myself to the Duke of Montrose, and, likewise, to Mr. Arbuthnot. 

Fenton, 5th of January, 1816. 

SIR, 

I had the honor to address you a letter, dated 10th November, on the subject of a remuneration for my past services. I should not have taken such a liberty, had I not considered myself as having been referred to you by His Majesty’s Government. Not being honoured by a reply, I am led to infer that what I have suggested is unsuitable. 

I would not be thought troublesome or obtrusive, but, at the expiration of three years, it is natural I should wish the suspense I have been kept in terminated. 

It would, Sir, be a great relief to me, to be informed what my prospects from the Government are, and when, if ever, I may expect a realisation of them; for is, after such a lapse of time, a remuneration for acknowledged services, rendered, to use my Lord Sidmouth’s own expression, “at a very important period,” cannot be found in a country like this, all reasonable, all rational hope ought to cease. I have been compelled to throw up my commission, from feelings every one must understand, who knows the derision unfulfilled expectations ever excite; and very many other inconveniences I have been subjected to, which might have been avoided, had I not been led to expect, from Sir Thomas Maitland himself, an immediate acknowledgement. 

I am aware, Sir, that letter from individuals to men in exalted situations, are frequently thrown aside, as being too trivial to merit a reply: this I never found to be the case, when my services were required: and I trust my letters will not be classed with this description only when the reward of those services is the subject of them.  I have the honor to be, Sir, 

Respectfully, 

Your most obedient humble Servant, 

FRANCIS RAYNES. 

The Right Hon. Charles Arbuthnot, &c. &c. 

 

Fenton, 5th January, 1816. 

MY LORD DUKE, 

I regret I am again compelled to renew a subject which cannot be as unpleasant to your Grace, as it is painful to me; and I did flatter myself such circumstances might have arisen, as would have precluded me every again troubling your Grace on so worn out a theme. You have, my Lord, informed me, that you are acquainted with the existing difficulty of my remuneration being obtained. My knowledge of it, so far as to enable me to form some idea of its probable duration, would materially conduce to my interest; domestic reasons making it necessary I should not let pass an opportunity of forming a permanent establishment, unless I have a certainty very shortly of obtaining the reward for my services, but which, a much longer delay in the accomplishment, will render it of little importance to me. 

I do not, my Lord, means to fatigue you with a recapitulations of what I have so often urged. Your Grace is well acquainted with all the leading features of my case, as well as with the neglect I have experienced. Neglect I must call it, for, at the end of three years, I find myself but where Sir Thomas Maitland left me, save that I have in my possession many expression of favorable wishes. Can credulity go so far as to believe a country like this, after such a lapse of time, has nothing to bestow on acknowledged services, but favorable intentions? My services, at the time were thought of no ordinary nature, or I should not have been honoured by the marked attention I received from your Grace, in the camp at Manchester, at a period which Lord Sidmouth himself acknowledges was an important one, and which will long be remembered as critical by every inhabitant of that part of the country. 

I cannot, my Lord, help owning that may mind is sore and irritated by the treatment I have received. I do not wish to give up expectations; but the folly of much longer entertaining them, can only be equalled by resigning them, without justifying myself to the world for every having formed them. 

I have the honor to be, 

With the utmost respect, 

Your Grace’s most obedient and humble Serv. 

FRANCIS RAYNES. 

His Grace the Duke of Montrose, K. G. &c.

21st July 1815: The Duke of Montrose accepts Francis Raynes' resignation

Buchanan, near Dumbarton, 21st July, 1815.

SIR,

I received your letter of the 11th July, and really did not feel myself hurt at your expression, and only thought hat you were going to injure yourself from talking about publishing, which, if you did, might prevent, I feared, those rewards which I expected, and do expect, as the acknowledgement of your good services. What I have communicate to you, was from friendly motives to you, through the whole of the business; and, from an apprehension that not being capable of understanding the difficulty a minister had, in finding an opportunity of serving you, and that you conceived Lord Sidmouth was not sincere in his desire of serving you. With regard to your resignation, I must now accept it, and consider the regiment loses much in withdrawing your zeal and experience from  it; and I beg to return you my thanks for your services, in the name of the Prince Regent, on behalf of His Majesty.

With great esteem, I remain, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,

MONTROSE.

[To] Capt. Raynes.

11th July 1815: Francis Raynes reiterates his desire to resign to the Duke of Montrose

July 11th, 1815.

MY LORD DUKE,

I had the honor to receive your Grace’s letter of the 6th inst. and have to regret that any expressions in mine of the 3d, should have appeared to your Grace, either hasty, or as intended to wound your Grace’s feelings, than which, nothing could be more distant from my wish or intent. In addressing your Grace on the subject of remuneration for my services, I have ever used the freedom of a suitor to his avowed patron; and when I reflect upon the confidence given me by Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Maitland, in the assurance of your Grace’s patronage, I did hope you would so far feel my situation, under the procrastination of hopes long encouraged, that any unguarded expression, or such as might bear an unfavourable construction, would meet your Grace’s most lenient consideration.

I beg leave to assure your Grace, that my sentiments remain unaltered; and that, however futile my hopes may have been, I shall ever gratefully acknowledge your Grace’s kind endeavours on my behalf.---Convinced that your Grace would wish to prevent discussion in the regiment, and anxious on my part, to avoid being accessory thereto, I have again to request your Grace will do me the favour to accept my resignation; nor can I doubt your Grace’s delicacy of feeling will appreciate mine, in wishing to keep aloof from that derision, which has already arisen thence from unrequited services.        I have the honor to be,

Most respectfully,
Your Grace’s obedient humble Servant,

FRANCIS RAYNES.

[To] His Grace the Duke of Montrose, &c.

6th July 1815: The Duke of Montrose sends a stinging reply to Francis Raynes' threat

London, 6th July, 1815.

SIR,

I have just received your letter, and think you have written hastily, and, therefore, till you confirm it, will not understand that you threaten an appeal to the public. Under this impression, I shall not even accept your resignation till I hear again from you and beg leave to state that my communications which I have made to you, of the applications I have made to obtain for you, reward for your services, I considered as done confidentially; and that you have not any consent of mine, to make any communication that has passed through me to you public.

This letter is written entirely on your account, as an appeal to the public would only destroy the obligation ministers may feel to reward your services, and, in my opinion, be very injurious to you in all respects.

I remain, Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

MONTROSE.

[To] Capt. Raynes.

3rd July 1815: Francis Raynes offers his resignation with a threat to publicise his case

3d July, 1815.

MY LORD DUKE,

Absence from home prevented my receiving your Grace’s favour of the 24th ult. Till this moment.

Were it possible I could misapprehend your Grace’s expression in respect to the barrack appointment, your letter would excite no surprise; but when I reflect that your Grace stated to me, that my Lord Liverpool had assented me to such appointment in my favour, preferable to some the reduced officers, I am precluded drawing any equivocal inference. I most perfectly accord with your Grace’s opinion, “in what is to be done, and what is eventually accomplished,” as the experience of the last two years and a half has fully taught me. Yet I would be loathe to think so uncharitably of the Earl of Liverpool or Lord Sidmouth, as to suppose they would trifle with the feeling of an individual under such circumstances; and I am to believe they would not presume to make your Grace an instrument in the furtherance of hopes which were not intended to be realised.

Your Grace will have perceived throughout, that emolument alone was not my object; but that an honourable appointment should await my services. If His Majesty’s ministers will admit my being allowed the temporary rank of Captain, and the requirement of such, it might readily relieve them from the difficulty which has so often been suggested.

Should this proposition be rejected, without a suitable remuneration, I must request your Grace will be pleased to accept my resignation; for I should not feel happy to do duty in the Stirlingshire, under existing circumstances.

It is fortunate that I have preserved every document relative to that service; and I cannot entertain a doubt that the General Officers under whom I had the honor to serve, will bear amply testimony thereof; and however reluctant I may be to make my case known to the public, yet, on retiring from the service, I feel it a duty I owe myself and my family.

I have the honor to be,
Most respectfully,
Your Grace’s obedient and humble Servant,

FRANCIS RAYNES

[To] His Grace the Duke of Montrose, &c.

24th June 1815: The Duke of Montrose tells Francis Raynes he has misunderstood an offer of employment

On Tuesday the 20th June 1815, the Duke of Montrose had written to Franics Raynes, inviting him to call at his residence in Grosvenor Square on any morning after 11.00 a.m. Raynes duly called on him shortly afterwards, and later recorded his thoughts about the meeting, which he followed with a copy of the Duke's next letter to him of Saturday 24th June:

The purport of the visit thus desired by the Duke, was for his Grace to inform me he had seen Lord Liverpool and Sidmouth, and it was their intention to give me the appointment of a Barrack-master. This, though far different from what, in the first instance, I had been led to expect, nevertheless, from the difficulties which had been thrown in the way of giving me any thing, I thought it best to accept. The propriety of thanking Lord Sidmouth, was suggested by the Duke; which I did, sending a copy of the letter to his Grace.

London, 24th June, 1815.

SIR,

I have received your letter, and a copy of that sent to Lord Sidmouth, which is very proper; but I must observe, that Lord Sidmouth has only applied in your favour, and that I stated to you, the difficulties of obtaining the situation of Barrack-Master, from the just pretensions of old Barrack-Masters, deprived of their appointments by the peace establishment, &c. That you may obtain your reward, I earnestly wish, and so, I believe, does Lord Sidmouth; though there always a great difference, in my opinion, in what is to be done, and what is actually accomplished.

I remain, with esteem, Sir,
Your’s, &c.
MONTROSE.

[To] Captain Raynes.

5th June 1815: The Duke of Montrose replies to Francis Raynes

Grosvenor-Square, 5th June, 1815.

SIR,

I have received your letter, and regret very much that some method has not been contrived to remunerate your acknowledged services; though I knew the difficulty, and I thought I knew the intention and desire of Lord Sidmouth to find the opportunity. I shall again mention the subject to Lord Sidmouth; but will not make myself responsible for its producing any effect. The letter you allude to, from Captain Campbell, originates in the intimation I have received, that the militia will be again called out, which makes it the duty of the officers having charge of the militia, to inform themselves what officers propose again to join the regiment, on its being ordered to assemble, and to endeavour to fill the places properly, if possible, of those whose convenience it does not suit to again join the regiment, which is my own case. Feeling that my health would not allow me to take the field, should the services of the militia be called for in Ireland or elsewhere, in that manner, I have , therefore, appointed Colonel Russel to succeed me in the command.

I remain, with esteem, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
MONTROSE.

[To] Capt. Raynes.

The Duke of Montrose will be glad to see Captain Raynes, any morning about eleven o’clock, in Grosvenor Square.