LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF YORK TO CAPT. COOK. SIR, Horse Guards, March 9, 1825. THE Commander-in-Chief having received from the Court of Directors of the East India Company, and from LieutenantColonel Fearon of the 31st Regiment, reports of the circum. stances attending the destruction by fire, on the 1st instant, of the Honourable East India Company's ship Kent, I am directed by his Royal Highness to assure you of the high sense which his Royal Highness will not cease to entertain for the meritorious zeal and promptitude with which you came to the assistance of the ship Kent, under circumstances so critical and trying; and of the exemplary, gallant, and persevering exertions made by yourself and those acting under your di rection, to which, under providence, his Majesty and the country are indebted for the preservation of so many valuable lives. His Royal Highness having understood from the Agents of the ship Cambria, that you are about to proceed on your voyage, has felt anxious not to lose any time in conveying to you his sincere thanks for the services which you have rendered to the officers and soldiers of his Majesty's 31st regiment, and to their wives and children, upon this melancholy occasion. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge your letter of the 9th inst. conveying to me the sentiments his Royal Highness the Commander in-Chief has been pleased to entertain, in consequence of the services I have been enabled to render (by the interposition of a Divine Providence) to the sufferers on board the Honourable East India Company's ship Kent, at the period of her conflagration. Permit me, Sir, most respectfully to state, that, next to the heartfelt satisfaction I experienced at having had the opportunity of being useful in the cause of humanity, I value the approbation his Royal Highness has done me the honour so graciously to express; and I beg leave to request, that you will have the kindness to tender to his Royal Highness my most humble, but very sincere thanks, for this distinguished mark of his condescension and goodness, rendered still more valuable to me in noticing those under my command, by whom I was so ably assisted. With the greatest respect, I have the honour to be, Your very obedient humble Servant, To Sir Herbert Taylor, Bart, &c. &c. LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY AT WAR. SIR, War-Office, March 30. THE Secretary at war having taken into consideration the resolution passed at the Board of the Anglo-Mexican Association on the 8th inst. relative to the important services rendered by Captain Cook and the crew of the Cambria, to the Kent East Indiaman, whereby 557 persons were saved from the wreck of the latter vessel, I am directed to acquaint you, that his Lordship will authorise the sum of L.580 to be granted to the master, mates, and other persons on board the Cambria, in the under-mentioned proportions, Captain Cook stating to this office to whom he would wish the same to be issued. I am, at the same time, to state, that Lord Palmerston feels the greatest satisfaction in offering to the Captain and his crew this acknowledgment, for their humane and meritorious exertions in rescuing so many persons from the fate, which, without the assistance of the Cambria, would have been inevitable. To the master L.150, mate L.50, acting second mate L.30, crew, nine men, each L.10, L.90; miners, 26 men, each L.10, L.260; making in all L.580. I am, Your most obedient humble Servant, (Signed). W. MERRY. FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE HON. EAST INDIA COMPANY TO THE AGENTS FOR THE SHIP CAMBRIA. In reference to your communication of yesterday, I am in, : structed to acquaint you, that the Court of Directors of the East India Company have resolved, that as agents to the owners of the ship Cambria, and to Captain Cook, you be paid the under-mentioned sums, in compensation for the losses and expenses occasioned to them by the assistance rendered to the passengers and ship's company of the Kent East Indiaman, viz. On account of the Captain For payment of bill for provisions, &c. L.287, 11 0 For diet, &c. of the passengers. 287 10 50: On account of the owners For demurrage, &C.-~~~ Warrants for the sums above mentioned are now payable to you at the treasury in this house; also, warrants for the fol. lowing sums, which the Court have resolved to present to Captain Cook, his officers, passengers, and crew, and regarding which a communication has been this day addressed to Captain Cook, viz. The Court have also authorised their agent at Falmouth to present the ten persons proceeding in the capacity of miners of a superior class with such cabin stores as may contribute to their comfort and convenience during their intended voyage, to the extent of L.100. 1 am, GENTLEMEN, Your most obedient humble Servant, (Signed) J. DART, Secretary. The Royal Exchange Assurance have also paid to Messrs. Dobson and Baker L.50 as a present to Captain Cook, and L.50 to be divided among his officers and crew. The Roval Humane Society have awarded to Captain Cook an Honorary Medallion. The Subscribers to Lloyd's voted the sum of L.100 to Capt. Cook for saving the lives of the officers and soldiers of the 31st Regiment, and the crew of the Kent East Indiaman. The Underwriters at Liverpool have also shown their accustomed liberality on this occasion. LETTER TO THE COMMITTEE OF THE INHABITANTS OF FALMOUTH. GENTLEMEN, Falmouth, March 16, 1825. In tracing the various links in that ample chain of mercy and bounty with which it has pleased a gracious Providence to surround the numerous individuals lately rescued from the destruction of the Honourable Company's ship Kent, we, the Lieutenant-Colonel commanding, and Officers belonging to the Right Wing of the 31st Regiment, cannot but reflect with unceasing gratitude on the beneficence of that arrangement, whereby ourselves and our gallant men, after the awful and |