“Devonport, July 26th, 1831.
“Sir,
“I have the honour to acknowledge your letter of the 24th, and to assure you that I feel most grateful for the flattering manner in which you are pleased to mention my services, and for your great kindness in recommending me to His Majesty, to fill the situation of Lieutenant Governor of Greenwich Hospital.
“As you have been pleased to enumerate the conditions attached to the acceptance of this office, I feel convinced you will expect that I should be guided in my decision by the view I take of them; and this induces me respectfully to decline the kind offer, as I cannot willingly give up the hope of active service and of future promotion.
“I am well aware how many there are of my brother officers, and those of distinguished reputation, who are candidates for employment; and how very few are the situations to which we are eligible; but I shall most cheerfully submit to your decision upon our respective claims, and should no opportunity offer for my being called into active service, I shall in my retirement have the comfort of feeling, that my professional life has been amply rewarded by the approbation it has received from His Majesty and the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.
“As I conceive that His Majesty was pleased to express his consent to my receiving the appointment, with a view to its being acceptable to me, I trust I shall not appear insensible to the high honour of his most gracious approbation in thus declining it; and I am the more confirmed in this assurance, from His Majesty’s having in his answer to my request for the appointment of Commissioner at Portsmouth, expressed himself in the following manner.
“‘I trust whenever His Majesty shall command a promotion of flag officers, I shall have the pleasure of seeing you become an Admiral, in that state of health which may enable you in that exalted rank to be of more service to your king and country.’
“I beg leave in conclusion to repeat how deeply and sincerely grateful I feel, for the approbation you have so kindly expressed upon my conduct; which under all circumstances will be a source of the greatest satisfaction, and which I hope to retain to the end of my days.
“I have, &c.
“J. BRENTON.”