I write to Sir Thomas Fremantle, now Commander-in-Chief of Mediterranean no less. I congratulate him on his new command. And I do desire him a favour, as my cousin will benefit from a cruise on his 74-gun man-o-war for her health:

I have now a request to make to you, which I shall feel much gratified if you can comply with. You are aware that my Cousin Charlotte Shipley & her family are in Minorca, or Majorca. I believe the latter. Her health is very failing & bad, & she is convinced that a Month’s cruize would set her up. Now my dear Fremantle have you any means of letting any one of the Vessels under your command, take her, her husband & a little girl, 8 years old, a cruize any where, for that period, not before the 1^st week in May an account of the cold which will be too severe for her cough. M^r Shipley would lay in his own stock, wine &c which would remove any delicacy you might have in proposing this to any of your Captains, & it might be the saving of the poor woman. Should you be able to manage it, the Ship need only water for a couple of days, either at Palma or [?] & the Shipleys if they had notice, could be sure to be there ready to embark. Excuse my mentioning this request, which I am sure that you will comply with if you can, & reject without ceremony if you cannot.

Fremantle has his flag aboard HMS Rochfort. 

Chandos Buckingham