Westall to Byron

Letter from Richard Westall to Lord Byron Jan 11 1814 from Upper Charlotte Street:

My Lord,
Mr Dallas called upon me today with your Lordships commands respecting the portrait which I had the honor (sic) of painting for you: to your lordships wishes upon this subjct, I can of course, urge no objection, save only such as arises from my repugnance to seeing the work with which I have taken considerable pains engraved in any other than the best manner. I intended yesterday to have written to your Lordship entreating your permission to have the picture engraved of a large size and under my own direction; and I still hope, that this is a request with which your Lordship will condescend to comply. I have the honor to be with the highest respect,
My Lord
Your Lordships much obliged & most obedient sert

R Westall

To the Rt Honble Lord Byron

Letter at John Murray's.

Wreck Reef

There are three accounts of the wrecking of two vessels off the North East Coast of Australia outside the official account by Captain Matthew Flinders.
They are:
1. 'Naufragia' by John Stanier Clarke in 2 volumes published in 1806. William Westall's description is in Vol II pp 385-8.
2. 'Captain Flinders' Explorations and Adventures' by Robert Thynne publised by James Hogg , undated. Probably early 20th century. This presents John Aken's experience.
3. 'My Love Must Wait' a romantic historical novel by Ernestine Hill, pubished by Angus & Robertson, Sydney April 1949 edition. Her imagined scenario p 274

Genealogical findings

It is now clear that the father of Richard and William Westall, Benjamin Westall's first wife was not Mary Ayton as was thought, but Mary Wymer. They were married at St John the Baptist Church, Lakenham, Norfolk on 24 September 1761. Mary Wymer was born in Norwich in 1738 and baptised at St James, Clerkenwell on 27 June 1738. A portrait of R. Wymer by Richard Westall was exhibited at the RA in 1817 (239). This is probably his mother's uncle and brother of George Wymer, her father who married Mary Emerson. The Wymers were from Reepham, Richard's birthplace and were Attorneys. It is likely Richard began his career with the Wymer's. He is known to have been 'placed for some time with an attorney' before moving to London. There is known to be a family link with the Ayton's as Richard referred to William Ayton as his 'hereditary friend', but the Mary Ayton born in 1738 was not Benjamin's wife. We now know the birth name of the artists paternal grandmother, Sarah. It is Sarah Ireland and she married Benjamin Westall (1696-1772) at St Peter's Hungate, Norwich on 16 June 1720. It is probable that Sarah was from the Ireland family who were acquainted with William Hogarth. There also likely to be family links with William HenryIreland who claimed to have a manuscript by Shakespeare entitled 'Vortigern' which was performed on a London stage before being denounced as a forgery. Ireland admitted as much shortly afterwards. This probable link with Hogarth could explain why Richard left Norwich for London and became an engraver on silver, which was Hogarth's first occuppation.