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Louis Casamajor, Consuls Daniel Bayley, Henry Savage Yeames, Francis Kienitz

Id: 0035
Category: Letter
Language: English
Archive: The National Archives - Foreign Office
Collection: FO: Records created or inherited by the Foreign Office
Reference: FO 65
Folder: FO 65/115 1818
Dispatch date: 17-07-1818
Dispatcher: Henry Savage Yeames (Grand Vizier)
Recipient: Castlereagh Viscount (The Right Honorable Lord)

Abstract:

•    Επιστολή του προξένου της Βρετανίας στην Οδησσό Henry Savage Yeames (Οδησσός, 17 Ιουλίου 1818) προς τον The Right Honorable Lord Viscount Castlereagh, one of His Majesty’s Principal Secretaries of State for the Department of Foreign Affairs στο Λονδίνο, με την οποία μεταξύ άλλων τον ενημερώνει για την απόφασή του, για λόγους υγείας, να παραιτηθεί από την θέση του Γενικού Προξένου των ρωσικών λιμανιών στην Μαύρη Θάλασσα και ζητά  την άδεια του Υπουργού επί των Εξωτερικών Castlereagh τόσο για την αποδοχή της παραίτησής του όσο και για τον διορισμό στην θέση του του μεγαλύερου υιού του, James Yeames. Ο Henry Savage Yeames σημειώνει πως βρίσκεται στην υπηρεσία του προξένου από την εποχή του πρώτου διορισμού του, στις 22 Ιουνίου 1803, με εξαιρεση τις περιόδους πολιτικών γεγονότων [αναφέρεται στην πολεμική σύγκρουση Ρωσίας-Αγγλίας 1807-1812]. Τονίζει πως θα ήθελε να του δοθεί μία αποζημίωση για τις υπηρεσίες του σημειώνοντας, πως δεν του δόθηκε ποτέ μισθός και αυτό σήμαινε μεγάλες δυσκολίες στην εκτέλεση των καθηκόντων του, έναντι των άλλων προξένων των ευρωπαϊκών χωρών που λάμβαναν μισθό. Τέλος, τονίζει την αναγκαιότητα διορισμού του υιού του και σημειώνει την μεγάλη αύξηση του όγκου εργασίας του προξενείου μετά το γεγονός της απόκτησης των Ιονίων Νήσων αλλά και λόγω της αυξανόμενης παρουσίας μαλτέζικων σκαφών στην Οδησσό, ενώ θεωρεί πως με την αναμενόμενη ανακήρυξη της Οδησσού σε ελεύθερο λιμένα, το εμπόριό της θα αυξηθεί σημαντικότατα, όπως και εν γένει το εμπόριο στην Μαύρη Θάλασσα.
Συγκεκριμένα γράφει στην επιστολή του ο Henry Savage Yeames:
My Lord,
In soliciting Your Lordship’s acquiescence to a measure which effects the succession to the Office I now hold, I trust, for the reasons submitted, the application will be considered wholly free from impropriety and that I may rely on your Lordship’s consent.
I was nominated as the Consul General of the Russian Ports in the Black Sea on the 22 June 1803, and with the exception of periods when political causes impeded, I have exclusively devoted myself to the faithful discharge of the duties attached to the Office, and which for the last four years have been considerable.
My state of health for some months has been extremely precarious, and I should feel great happiness in tendering my resignation, provided I could obtain Your Lordship’s approval to the nomination of my eldest son James Yeames, who has been several years resident in this country and who is in every respect competent to the situation.
Your Lordships is aware that no salary has been allowed me, and from the annual return of emoluments, it will be seen that there are by no means adequate to the support of my official character, and but for other resources, it is impossible, to hold the situation on an equal footing of respectably with the consuls of the other European powers, who have fixed incomes from their respective governments.
I have frequently made representations of the inadequacy of my income, without effect; but after a service of fifteen years, and from a declining state of health, I cannot but again urge the request, that Your Lordship will grant me some remuneration, as I can most positively and truly state, the charges and expenses incident to the consulship have far exceeded the emoluments.
In support of this application I beg to observe that the accession of the Ionian Islands, and the increased number of shipping belonging to Malta, has greatly augmented the duties of the situation.
I shall be prepared to give to Your Lordship testimonials of the character and competency of my son, to undertake the charge, and as it is probable the commerce of the Black Sea, will be increased, and Odessa particularly, from the projected establishment of a free port, I venture to solicit Your Lordship’s early attention to my request, that I may have the satisfaction of resigning to my son, an office, which I cannot much longer hope to fill with adequate ability and satisfaction.
I have the honor to be […]
Henry Savage Yeames



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