MONSIEUE LE COMTE DE WALSH DE SEEEANT

Monsieur Le Comte de Walsh, having confidence in your wisdom and in your zeal and affection for my service, I hâve chosen you to be of the number of persons who are to compose the General Assembly of Tours, and I write you this letter to tell you my intention that you shall go to Tours the 1 1 th of the month of August next, in order to assist at the said Assembly. On which I pray God that He may hâve you, Sir, Comte de Serrant, in His holy keepiug.

Written at Versailles the 20th July 1787. Louis.

The B^". de Breteuil.

[The French Eevolution having taken place in July 1789, the services of the Comte de Serrant, no longer available for his king by adoption, weve transferred to the reiguiug King of Great Britain, as appears from the following commission. Several other members of the Walsh family joined the new Irish Brigade,^ till on the restoration of the Bourbons they were able to return to France, and George iii.'s kind action in the matter was much appreciated by those coucerned. — Tk.]

MONSIEUE LE COMTE DE SEEEANT^

Whitehall, 30th Septber. 1784.

SiR, — The King, wishing to fulfil the intentions of the Irish Législature

' See Pedigree of Serrant. * [Letter in French.— Tk.]

100 A KOYALIST FAMILY

and to give to liis Catliolic subjects of this kingdom a prompt mark of his affection and confidence, lias detennined to restore the corps known heretofore under the name of the Irish Brigade, and as you were Colonel of one of the régiments of which it was composed, His Majesty lias given me orders to offer you in this new corps the sanie rank of Colonel tliat you held in the old regt.

The intention of His Majesty is, that this brigade shall be composed of four régiments, the command of three of which I hâve been ordered to offer to the Colonels (or to their représentatives) wlio commanded the three corps which composed the brigade, when it was in the service of His very Christian Majesty, and tliat of the fourth to Mr. O'Connell, formerly gênerai ofiicer in the service of France, and certainly well known to you and to ail the Irish gentlemen who hâve served in this corps.

It has also pleased His Majesty to détermine that ail the ofïicers, those of the staff as well as the others, excepting you. Monsieur le Comte, and the Duc de FitzJaraes, shall be taken from amongst those of his subjects who hâve been born in Ireland, and who hâve distinguished themselves by their services, in the same grades in the brigade, and that if there is a lack of officers (of wliich there is every appearance) to fill the inferior grades, they should be chosen from the families of gentlemen of the same religion, whose résidence has always been in Ireland.

The intention of His Majesty in addition is, that this brigade, the moment it is complète, should be put on the military strength of this kingdom or on that of Ireland, so that from that moment, the officers who hold appointments in them sliould take rank with the other officers of His Majesty's armies, and in case the corps should be reformed, they will hâve right to the last pay.

His Majesty will also receive the recommendations of the Colonels in the choice of officers, and especially when thèse recommendations are made in favour of those who hâve formerly served in the Irish Brigade. But the King will not permit that any pecuniary considération should be given to obtain any rank in the corps; and consequently as no oflicer, of whatever rank he may be, will hâve been permitted to pay anything for his position, he will not be permitted to sell it.

His Majesty has commanded me also to iuform you that he has determined that this corps shall be specially connected with the service of His Majesty's Colonies in the West Indies, or in such other possessions of His Majesty outside of his two kingdoms of Great Britain and of Ireland as he may be pleased to employ them, and that His Majesty will expect that every oflicer, of whatever rank he may be, who has the honour of having a brevet (commission) in this corps will hold himself indispensably obliged to go with his régiment to whatever part of the world it may be sent.

Without entering into greater détails on this subject, I will only add, on the

question of your titles as proprietory Colonel of one of the régiments of tlie old Irish Brigade, what it is very essential that I should recall to you, Monsieur le Comte, that the constitution of this country does not admit of any such property, considering, as you raust remember, that the funds for the military establishment are only grauted for the year, and therefore it eau only hâve an annual existence.

Still, although your position is only entrusted to you by the Législature for one year, the possession of it may be considered as assured to you, duriug your good conduct, a term which I cannot regard as of shorter duration than that of your life.

I hâve now set before you ail the circumstances which hâve appeared to me necessary to enable you to décide if you can accept His Majesty's gracions offers ; I hâve only to add, that if after mature délibération it appears to you more fittiug not to avail yourself of it, His Majesty's natural goodness will incline him to interpret the motives which hâve decided you in the most favourable manuer for you ; and I can even assure you that eveu iu the case of your accepting the proposai I am entrusted to niake to you, that when the war is finished, or even during its continuance, if you hâve a mind to leave His Majesty's service and to return to that of His very Christian Majesty, you will find the King disposed to grant you your ' congé ' and to consider this step with his accustomed goodness.

I cannot doubt but what you will hâve the goodness to inform the ofïicers of the brigade, who hâve had the honour to serve under your orders, about the King's intentions regardiug them, according to the form and the conditions which I bave specified to you above, and that you will also be pleased to recommend them to assemble themselves, as soon as possible, at some suitable place from which they can conveniently repair to Ireland and put themselves into a condition to perform the duties which will be required of them on the part of the King.

I need hardly say that in the case of your deciding to accept the proposai which His Majesty bas authorised me to make to you, there will not be a moment to lose before coming hère, in order to regulate ail that relates to the raising of the corps as promptly as possible.

It only remains for me to beg you to be assured that I esteem myself very fortunate to bave been authorised to give you this unequivocal testimony of the good opinion and of the esteem of the King.

I hâve the honour to be, Monsieur le Comte, your very humble and very obedient servant, Poetland.

Palace of St. James, Ist Octuber 1794. — Brevet (Commission) of Colonel of Infantry (in the Irish Brigade) to Anthony Walsh, Comte de Serrant, in the uame of Kiug George m., under the signature of the Duke of Portland.^ George the Third, by the grâce of God, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c., to our trusty and well beloved Anthony Count Walsh de Serrant, greeting : we, reposing especial trust and confidence in your loyalty, courage and good conduct, do, by thèse présents constitute and appoint you to be Colonel of a régiment of foot forming part of the corps known by the name of the Irish Brigade, and likewise to be Captaiu of a company in our said régiment. You are therefore to take our said régiment as Colonel and the said company as Captain into your care and charge, and duly to exercise as well the oSicers as soldiers thereof in arms, and to use your best endeavours to keep them in good order and discipline ; and we do hère command them to obey you as their colonel and captain respectively ; and you are to observe and foUow such orders and directions, from time to time, as you shall receive from us, or any other your superior officer, according to the rules and discipline of war, in pursuance of the trust we hereby repose in you.

Given at our Court of St. James's, the first day of October 1 794, in the thirty-fourth year of our reign.

By His Majesty's command, Portland.

Entered in the Secretary Office, Gaspbr Lek.

Entered in the ' Must. Ci^ Master Gen'^ Office,' W. Handcock, depy. q'. M^ Genl.

(For) Anthony Count Walsh de Serrant, Colonel of a regt. of Foot.

MONSIEUE LE COMTE DE SEREANT

Weymouth, 30th Jngiist 1797.^ Sir, — I hâve received hère your letter of the 20th current, as well as the copy of the letter of the Duke of Portland, with regard to the formation of the Irish brigade, and I hasten to inform you that after the very unfavourable report which General Abercromby gave of the 2nd liegiment of this brigade at the time of its arrivai at the Isles,* I found myself under the necessity of ordering that it should be transferred to Jamaica, there to be ' drafté ' (drafted) into the 3d Eegiment ; but at the same time I informed the Earl of Balcarres that it depended on him to draft whichever of the two régiments be judged best after the inspection which was to be made, and the state in which they were

' [The heading of the Commission is given - [In French. — Tr.]

in French, in the work, the Commission follows ^ ' Antilles,' i.e. West Indies.

in English.— Tr.]

respectively found. Now the 3rd Eegiment having been sent to St. Domingue, Lord Balcarres received orders to send the second there also, and Lieut.-General Seincoe was required to exécute the measure which had been dictated to Milord Balcarres, giviug him the same liberty. He was also ordered to fiU up the vacancies in the régiment which received the drafts by placin" in it the reorganised officers, so that the major of the second régiment would be placed in the same grade in the third (which is the appointment for which you recommend Captain O'Shielt) ; but in the case of this last régiment beiiig reformed. instead of the second, the appointment in question would not be filled.

The time which has elapsed since thèse orders were given has certainly decided the exécution of them, and although I cannot but regret the inconvenience and the disagreeables which must naturally resuit therefrom to so many iudividuals, it is impossible for me in the future to change the arrangements which His Majesty has been pleased to make définitive.

I beg you to accept the assurances of my esteem, and I am, Sir, your very affectionate Feedeeik.i

The Comte Walsh de Serrant.

DECEEE BY NABOLEON I.

Napoléon, by the grâce of God, Emperor of the Erench, King of Italy, Protector of the Confédération of the Ehine, Mediator of the Swiss Confédération, to ail présent and to corne, greeting.

By the thirteenth article of the first Statute of the first March 1808 we hâve reserved to ourselves the faculty of granting titles as we might judge proper to such of our subjects as hâve distinguished themselves by services rendered to the State and to us. The knowledge we hâve of the zeal and fidelity which our dear and loved Mr. Walsh-Serrant has manifested for our service has determined us to employ this faculty in his faveur. With this view we bave by our decree of the 15th April 1810 named our dear and loved Mr. Walsh-Serrant, Count of our Empire.

In conséquence and by virtue of this decree, the said Mr. Walsh-Serrant ' s'étant retiré par devant ' ^ our Cousin the Prince Arch-Chancellor of the Empire, in order to obtain from our faveur the letters patent necessary to enable him to enjoy his title, we bave by thèse présents, signed by our hand, conferred and do confer on our dear and loved Anthony-Joseph-Philippe Walsh-Serrant, président of the Electoral Collège of Finisterre, born at Cadiz the 17 Janr. 1746, the title of Count of our Empire, under the dénomination of Comte de Serrant. The said title will be transmissible to his direct descent, legitimate,

' [Duke of York and Albany, brother of ^ [Apparently meaning, 'having resigned uU

Kings George iv. and WUliam iv., sons of former claims in présence of.' — Tb.] George m. — ïe.]

natural or adoptive, from maie to maie by order of primogeniture, after he bas conformed bimself to tbe régulations contained in tbe 6tb article of Ist Marcb 1808.

We permit tbe said Mr. Walsh-Serrant to call bimself and qualify bimself Comte de Serrant, in ail acts and contracts, as well in law as outside. We will tbat be sbould be everywbere recoguised in tbe said quality, tbat be sbould enjoy tbe bonours attacbed to tbis title, after be bas taken tbe oath prescribed in article 37 of our Second Statute, before bira or those delegated by us for tbe purpose, and tliat be sbould carry iu every place tbe armoriai bearings sucb as tbey are figured in thèse présents. Quarterly — On tbe Ist, tbe arms of tbe Counts présidents of tbe électoral Collèges ; 2d, argent, a cbevron engrailed gules between tbree pheons points upwards notcbed sable, two in chief, oue in point ; 3rd, argent a saltier gules ; 4th, azuré charged witb a fess partly argent partly cules ; for liveries tbe colours of tbe sbield.

We cbarge our Cousin, tbe Prince Arcb-Cbancellor of tbe Empire, to give communication of tbese présents to tbe Senate, and to bave tbem transcribed on bis registers. For sucb is our good pleasure. And in order tbat it may be a tbing firm and stable always, (we also charge) our Cousin, tbe Prince Arcb- Cbancellor of tbe Empire, to give communication of tbese présents to the Senate, for sucb is our good pleasure. And in order tbat it may be a tbing firm and stable for ever, our Cousin, the Prince Arcb-Cbancellor of tbe Empire, bas had attacbed [' apposer '] by our orders our great seal, in présence of tbe Council of tbe Seal of Titles.

Given at our palace of St. Cloud, the 2d Sepber. tbe year of grâce 1810.

Napoléon.

Sealed tbe 7tb Sepber. 1810.

The Prince Arcb-Chancellor of the Empire, Cambacérès.

(On tbe back) Transcribed on tbe registers of the Senate, the 28th Sepber. 1810. The Chancellor of tbe Senate,

(Seal hanging in red wax on .silk ribbons.) Dk LaplaCE.

MONSIEUE LE COMTE DE SEEEANT

London, the Uth Odober 1814.

I send you back. Sir, tbe Memoir wliicb you sent to me witb the ' apostille ' [a note or recommendation on a document] which you wisb. I shall feel a real satisfaction if it can procure for you the advancement in the service which you deserve so well by tbe zeal and dévotion to tbe cause of H. M. which you bave testified since I bave had the pleasure of having you with me : Believe, Sir, in tbe sincère affection and friendship which I bave devoted to you.