Olinthus Gregory, Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, to William Wilberforce, 29 August 1820.

Royal Military Academy

Woolwich.  August 29. 1820.  

Dear Sir,

         You must, I fear, have thought it very extraordinary that I should suffer so many weeks to elapse without acquainting you with the result of my application for the situation of Public Examiner at Addiscombe.  But when I state that my silence has been occasioned by a series of domestic anxieties, only just terminated, I am persuaded you will pardon my silence.  During the last eleven weeks I have had almost incessant solicitude in consequence of scarlet fever in my family.  Mrs. Gregory, my four children, and two of my servants, have had it, some of them very alarmingly.  Through the goodness of God, however, all are spared to me; and I am now in hopes this sad disorder will go no farther among us.

         Soon after I last addressed you, I spent two days in London for the purpose of calling upon so many of the Directors of the East India Company [f.234v] as were there in Town. Those whom I then saw, received me very kindly, and generally stated their views with considerable frankness.  I found, or thought I found, it was exceedingly probable I should obtain the appointment, provided they could not meet with a military officer who had the requisite qualifications.  Yet their reasons for preferring a military man appeared to me so cogent, that I immediately concluded they would appoint one; and I returned to Woolwich with a determination to wait the event, without giving my friends any farther trouble. Shortly afterwards I learnt that Sir Howard Douglass was recommended to the Directors by the Duke of York: and after a few weeks, the Chairman returned to me my papers, announcing that they had given the appointment to Sir Howard.  This Gentleman was a neighbour of mine here 17 years ago.  He is a deserving officer, though but a mediocre mathematician.  As he has just lost a valuable situation at Farnham, and has a large family, I really rejoice that the Directors have appointed him.  Nor is there, in truth, so much disinterestedness in this, as might seem to be the case: for my circumstances and prospects [f.235r] in this Institution are so much changed during the last three months, that I am not sure I should now take the Addiscombe situation, if the Directors were to offer it to me.

         My original determination to offer myself as candidate, however, has been productive of much gratification; since it has enabled me to ascertain how many are the kind and valued friends who are anxious to serve me, and with what promptitude and warmth they are ready to exert themselves. On looking over some of the papers which are returned to me, while I feel grateful for the strong testimonials of my friends, I cannot but regret that I am not more deserving of them.

         Pray, my dear Sir, accept my heartfelt acknowledgments for your prompt and much valued exertions and advice on this occasion: and believe me, with much esteem and gratitude,

                                 Your obliged Servant,

                                             Olinthus Gregory

Text: MSS. Wilberforce, d. 13, fols. 234-35, Bodleian Library, Oxford.