Lord Palmerston Signed 1813 War Office Letter — Prince Regent’s Orders Concerning Military Pay

Original manuscript letter signed “Palmerston,” dated War Office, April 13, 1813, addressed to Fraser, Esq., concerning outstanding military pay warrants and the settlement of regimental accounts.

Writing as Secretary at War, the future British prime minister conveys the Prince Regent’s instructions, issued in the name and on behalf of King George III. Following a report from the Paymaster General that clearing warrants had not been executed, the recipient is directed to explain his reasons for declining to act and to provide separate financial statements for each regiment under his agency.

Palmerston further instructs that disputed charges potentially falling upon a paymaster or agent must be submitted separately for special consideration.

Marginal annotations identify militia and fencible corps and accounting periods dating back to the 1790s. A contemporary docket on the reverse summarizes the correspondence.

Two written pages on a folded sheet, with a bold Palmerston signature and contemporary administrative annotations. An interesting record of British military finance during the Napoleonic Wars.

Condition: Age toning, scattered spotting, intersecting folds, short fold splits, and a conspicuous hole with surrounding discoloration in the upper blank margin, visible through the folded leaves. Text and signature remain clearly legible. See photographs.