RIGBY, Peter

National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 628

Messrs. Pickering Brothers

Merchants, Liverpool

Oct 17 1819

Sir,

I beg you will be pleased to lay before his Lordship the Secretary of State for the Colonial Department the annexed list of families who are desirous of settling at the Cape of Good Hope and who wish to be permitted to receive the benefit of the bounty offered in the Colonial circular for a passage to that colony. I beg leave further to state that his Lordship did me the favor to post order for land to be assigned to me in Canada proportionate to my rank in His Majesty's Service but owing to my ill state of health in the spring I was obliged to postpone it. I have now to request you would be pleased to move his Lordship for permission to proceed to the Cape of Good Hope instead of Canada [with] a grant proportionate to my rank as in [the] former instance. The individuals in this list paying their own deposits are to enjoy the whole benefit of the land assigned to the others who have not the means of doing [so]. I have agreed to put a moderate portion of [tools] and implements of husbandry on the [ship?] and they are to receive half the produce of their industry and attention for the [period] of 7 years at the close of which they are to receive 25 acres of land on the terms mentioned in the Colonial circular. I trust this arrangement will meet his Lordship's approbation.

I have the honor to be Sir with the utmost respect

Your most obedient humble servant

P. RIGBY

PS I beg to forward a memorandum of my services in the Navy and copies of several letters which I have received in course of service of which I hope his Lordship will approve.

PR

Memorandum of the Services of Lieutenant Peter RIGBY

*by the Delegates during the Mutiny

[Transcriber's Notes: Many of these ships are featured in Ships of the Old Navy on

http://www.ageofnelson.org/MichaelPhillips/index.html The Amethyst under Captain AFFLECK was wrecked after striking the rocks in the Channel Islands and had to be beached at Alderney on 29 December 1795 to save the crew. Captain AFFLECK was found responsible for the loss at a court martial]

National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 632-637

[letters enclosed with above memorandum]

To Lieutenant Peter RIGBY

Commanding HMG Brig Urgent

Clyde Walmer Road

22 February 1807

Sir,

I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday detailing the particulars of your situation and proceedings in the gale of the 18^th and subsequent thereto, as well as the measures taken by you for the preservation and defence of the brig you command as well as of the Admetus Collier Brig which I have laid before his Lordship the Commander in Chief as reflecting great credit on yourself, your officers and crew and beg you will yourself accept and convey to them my thanks for the steadiness evinced on that occasion

Who remain Sir

Your very obedient and very humble servant

E.W.C.R. OWEN

To Lieutenant Peter RIGBY

Commanding HMB Urgent

Clyde Walmer Road

28 February 1807

Sir,

The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having (as well as the Commander in Chief) been pleased to express their approbation of your conduct during the late gale and subsequent thereto as well as for the safety of your own vessel as for that of the Admetus Collier Brig, it gives me great pleasure in communicating the same.

Who am Sir

Your very obedient and very humble servant

E.W.C.R. OWEN

To Captain PUGET commanding the advanced squadron

Copy to Peter PUGET

Cop to Lieutenant Peter RIGBY

Commanding His Majesty's Gun Brig Urgent off Copenhagen

Prince of Wales Copenhagen Roads

23 August 1807

Sir,

Having observed with great satisfaction the spirited conduct of the Sloops, Bombs, Armed Ships, Gun Brigs, Tenders and Boats under your directions which so gallantly opposed the Crown Battery, Block Ships, Prams and Gun Boats of the Enemy for so many hours this day, I have to desire you will accept on your own part and communicate to the commanders, officers and crews of the several ships, vessels and boats that were so arduously engaged my highest praise and approbation of the bravery and energy which was displayed by the whole squadron on that occasion.

I am Sir

Your most obedient humble servant

J. GAMBIER

To Lieutenant Peter RIGBY

Commanding His Majesty's Gun Brig Urgent

Goliath Yarmouth

October 29^th 1807

Sir,

In reply to your letter requesting my opinion of your services in command of the Urgent Gun Brig in the advanced squadron off Copenhagen, I have great pleasure in bearing testimony to your constant exertion in the several actions we had with the Crown Battery and Danish Flotilla and of your promptitude in executing my orders during the time you were placed under my directions on that service and beg also to state that I was particularly pleased with the manner in which the Urgent was placed on the 23rd August and the fire she kept up against the attack of the Enemy on that day.

I should be very happy to hear of your promotion and wishing you every success believe me to be, Sir

Your very faithful servant

Peter PUGET

A list of men's names who have voluntarily engaged to go with Lieutenant Peter RIGBY RN to the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa to settle on and bring into cultivation such land as may be assigned him by Secretary of State for the Colonial Department, all of whom being capable of daily labour.