William Richard Hamilton

William Richard Hamilton (1777 - 1859), British diplomat, authentic, autographed dcoument (DS). This one page document, measures approximately 2" x 7" in size and is dated October 7, 1815. 

 The document is a receipt for £20,000 for foreign secret service to be applied under the direction of Viscount Castlereagh undoubtedly for continuing negotiations with France after the conclusion of the Vienna Congress in June 1815 to strengthen Britain’s positions on the Continent.

The receipt is signed by William Richard Hamilton, Castlereagh’s Under-Secretary of State, who was responsible for convincing the Bourbon government to restore art, stolen by the French army, to Italy. The money was to be used by Hamilton in the mode prescribed in the Civil List Act, whether or not this money was used in Hamilton’s negotiations over the stolen art is not known.

Castlereagh led Parliament as Foreign Secretary during the Napoleonic Wars and was responsible for the final confinement of Napoleon on St. Helena. He also represented Great Britain at the Congress of Vienna.

This document is crisply signed by Hamilton at the conclusion. It is in good to very good condition, with overall light toning partially affecting the signature. There are some scattered creases and one minor tear.