Duc Louis de Crillon

Duc de Mahon. Fransk general.

• Gibraltar II, 1779-83
• Minorca II, 1782

MINORCA. ELEGANT AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED ('BB duc de Crillon') BY THE DUC DE CRILLON TO GENERAL [JAMES] MURRAY, in French, evidently written towards the end of or soon after the siege of Minorca in February 1782, acknowledging the receipt of the compliment with which Murray has honoured him, mentioning his own pardon by the King ('...the true reward lies in your having given it your seal of approval...'), informing him that the English Navy minister who was head of the Department for the Colonies [Welmore Ellis] has resigned [he ceased to be Treasurer of the Navy on 11 February 1782 when he was appointed secretary of state for America; like Sandwich and all other ministers Ellis resigned in March 1782 on the fall of Lord North's ministry] and that Lord 'Sanswich' [John Montagu, fourth Earl of Sandwich] will succeed him, and stating 'I have reflected upon how much this piece of news could be of interest to you, and to your gentlemen, and I shall endeavour always to please you in any way that lies within my power whenever the glory of the nation that I have the honour of serving does not oblige me to uphold that of being your opponent in the field...', 2 pages, small quarto, integral leaf with contemporary note 'Original from the Duc de Crillon to G[eneral]: Murray', slightly brown at head and down part of outer edge, Mahon [Minorca], 11 o'clock in the evening, [? February or March 1782]

Louis des Balbes de Berton de Crillon, Duc de Mahon (1717-1796) forced the capitulation of Minorca under the command of General James Murray in February 1782. The Earl of Sandwich did not succeed to the colonial office Ellis resigned and really ended his official service to the Crown in March 1782.

During the siege when De Crillon despaired of reducing Fort St. Philip he had offered Murray in October 1781 £1m to surrender. Murray spurned this with the words: 'When your brave ancestor was desired by his sovereign to assassinate the Duc de Guise, he returned the answer that you should have done when you were charged to assassinate the character of a man whose birth is as illustrious as your own or that of the Duc de Guise. I can have no further communication with you except in arms. If you have any humanity, pray send clothing for your unfortunate prisoners in my possession. Leave it at a distance to be taken for them, as I will admit of no contact for the future but such as is hostile to the most inveterate degree.' De Crillon replied: 'Your letter restores each of us to our place; it confirms the high opinion I always had of you. I accept your last proposal with pleasure.' The mutual respect between the two commanders is evident in the present letter.