To his Lordship, the Right Honourable Earl of Gleve, Gleve House, London

[The beginning of the letter is missing and has probably been passed around in the family. The following was written on a seperate sheet. A facsimile can be found here.]]

Dear Sir,

there is another matter for which I hope to engage your help. As the circumstances are somewhat delicate, I must beg you to keep the contents private for the moment.

A friend of mine and especially William's from our school days has become quite estranged from his paternal grandfather. I cannot in honour disclose the name he is using now or his present location, for which I beg you will forgive me. The disagreement at the root of this estrangement originated in my friend's wish to join active cavalry service, which his grandfather opposed. As you will likely have guessed already, he prevailed, but at the cost of severing all connections abruptly and completely. However, he still bears his relative a good deal of affection, and to complicate the matter, he is his grandfather's next living relative and will upon his death inherit the title of the Earl of Parham.

As the situation does neither of them credit and weights quite heavily on my friends mind, he would wish to reconcile with his grandfather. As he has no close relatives in England, who could act on his behalf, and is at present not at liberty to return to England, I have engaged to ask for your help, as both your aquintance with the earl and your skill as a diplomate will be needed to bring this matter to a happy solution.

If you would attempt to find out what stance the earl takes now over his heir's continuing military career and (if he is agreeable to this point) even meditate a return to amicable relations, you may be certain of my friend's eternal graditude. He is serving honourably and with some distinction, and has sofar kept all connections with the earldom of Parham a secret. If his grandfather desires to know, you may assure him that he is quite well and has sofar not suffered any major injuries.

Should his Lordship wish to send a letter to his grandson, he might address it to my hands, and I will engage to have it safely conveyed to the intended recipient.

Sir, I am aware that I rely heavily on your good nature to ask you to attempt such an awkward task, but please rest assured that it never will be a thankless one.

I remain more than ever your grateful son,

Edward

[In a different hand, the style and writing clearly different to Torrington's the next few words were written:]

Mylord, please let me add my own words of gratitude - whatever the outcome might be, I will always remain your most obedient servant. If you are able to, please tell my grandfather my best wishes for his health.

[The letter remained without signature but for a small mark where the author had nearly begun to sign his name. When the last part was written, it was not done in haste and more of the time the quill spent held above the paper, than riding across it. There was even a small ink stain to bear witness of that.]