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Apologies if I'm resurrecting an old thread/brekaing any rules. I just transcribed an old letter and in looking for more information, stumbled across this thread. In the offchance that it helps someone else later on in a similar vein, I thought I would post it.

The letter was sent to Lord Tweedmouth, First Lord of the Admiralty in 1906.

"Dear Lord Tweedmouth,

I do not know whether you remember meeting at Lord Rosebery's, but at least you will know my name - & may know some of my books.

I write to thank you for nominating my second son to an Osborne cadetship. I did not write before the nomination, but being an author and by the ready pen, I cannot refrain from doing so after. There is one happy boy in this Family today!

Considered officially, doubtless this is all wrong, but still I wrote "The Raiders" and may be pardoned for doing a little raiding on my "cubs" account.

My eldest boy is Philip, aged 15 nearly, is the best seaman of the household, and crazy to enter the Navy. He was too old before we got back from abroad to enter for Osborne. I applied for permission to send him to Dartmouth under the old regulations, but he was too young for that! He fell between the stools.

He is so determined to be a sailor that he has written through one of our Swedish friends to the King of Sweden asking for a chance in the Swedish Navy. But his mother is desolated that he might have to fight against his own country. So I had to promise to write (though, I fear, quite uselessly) to you to see if in any way he could qualify. He is we think quite brilliant on naval subjects, is strong, 5 ft 11 at 14 1/2 and determined to enter even a South American Navy rather than none at all! It is something of a sin to let a boy with so obvious a call to a profession miss it for the asking - even the importunate asking.

I fear it is quite impossible. But I know you will understand that I write quite personally and "under correction", without the least intention of giving trouble.

Alternatively, there is, I believe still an examination for the Marine Artillery in June 1908 for which Philip would not be too late.

I have just two boys, and we are so fierce on the Navy in this house that, if possible, you should have them both.

With much respect,
I am Dear Lord Tweedmouth,
faithfully yours,
S.R. Crockett"