Park Lane, (London).—Is unable to comply with their wishes, as he is exercising his interest in favour of Lieutenant Hardy.
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Transcript
Park Lane, 20 Decr 1790
Gentlemen,
I have been favored with your Letter of the 18th, & beg Leave to assure You that it will at all times give me Pleasure to be able to forward your Wishes—
On the present Occasion it would be deceiving You to give You any Hopes—All the Interest I could make has been employed in Favor of Lieutenant Hardy whose long standing in the Navy & gallant Services, have deserved the Notice of his Country as much as the Service his Family have done to our Cause entitles him to our warmest Support; {1} yet I am still doubtful of Success.
The Claims which this young Man has on me, have superceded even the Ties of the nearest Connection, & have induced me to prefer his Interest even to that of my Brother in law Lieutenant P.. Rochfort, who is still an older Officer.
I am,
Gentlemen,
Your most obedient Servant,
J H D’Oyly
Messrs P. Clarke
Jr {2} Portmen of the | Corporation of Ipswich
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Dawson Turner has added at the foot in pencil, ‘Sir John Hadley D’Oyley† M P for Ipswich’.
{1} Or a comma. There is a hole in the paper here.
{2} Indistinct.
† Sic.