"I was one of five selected candidates out of more than 100 applicants for the office of Chief Constable of Wilts, and attained a similar position when candidate for Chief Constable of Beds- (signed) H.M. Dyer"
MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,
THE office of Chief Constable of the County of Wilts having become vacant, I am anxious to present myself as a Candidate for the appointment.
I entered Her Majesty's Navy upwards of twenty-two years ago, from which time to the present I have served almost continuously; and the accompanying Testimonials will, I trust, prove that I have, during that period, succeeded in securing the approbation of the officers under whom I have been employed.
I have the honour to hold the Baltic Medal, the Medal of the National Lifeboat Society, and the Gold Medal of the Tayleur Society of Ireland; the latter presented to me by the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, the Earl of Carlisle, upon the quarter-deck of H.M.S. Ajax, "for gallant conduct in saving life "from shipwreck at Kingstown, in 1861."
I have for three years held the appointment of Naval Superintendent of Fisheries upon the West Coast of Scotland; subsequently I received an appointment as Inspecting Commander of the Coast Guard in the Skibbereen Division, co. Cork. In each of these appointments the duties I have been called upon to perform have been, in some degree, similar to those required of an Officer commanding a Police Force, as prevention of crime and detection of offenders, have been quite as imperative duties devolving upon me, as the discipline and disposition of the body of men under my command.
If, after doing me the favour to read the Copies of Testimonials affixed to this, you should honour me with your confidence sufficiently to elect me the Chief Constable of the County Police, I beg to assure you that my best energies and most active endeavours, shall be constantly used to carry out the very responsible and important duties of the office with efficiency, and at the same time with economy.
I have only to add that I was born at Albury, in the county of Surrey, in the year 1832; that I am the son of Captain George S. Dyer, R.N., and a nephew of Captain Meredith, R.N., your late Chief Constable.
I hope to make an early opportunity of waiting upon the Magistracy, when I shall be ready to offer any further statements which may be required; and, in the meantime, beg to subscribe myself,
My Lords and Gentlemen,
Your most obedient servant,
HUGH McN. DYER,
Commander R.N.
CASTLE TOWNSEND, CO. CORK,
January, 1870.
MY DEAR DYER, - I have great pleasure in bearing my testimony to the invariable satisfaction which your conduct gave the considerable period you were under my command, and most sincerely do I wish you may be successful in obtaining the appointment you desire. I am very confident that if zeal, temper, high principle, intelligence and assiduity be the qualifications required, you possess them, and will discharge the duties of your position with credit to yourself and advantage to the public.
Very sincerely yours,
HOUSTON STEWART, Admiral.
To Commander HUGH McN. DYER, R.N.
MY DEAR DYER, -I can with great truth say that you were a very smart young officer, and a great help to me on may occasions when I was in command of the Vengeance, and it would give me great satisfaction to see your active and intelligent mind employed for the benefit of your Service and country.
Believe me, dear Dyer, sincerely yours,
HARDWICKE.
Commander DYER, R.N.
I have great pleasure in bearing testimony to the high character of Commander Hugh McNeile Dyer, who served for several years under my command, and whose temper and judgment fully qualify him for any civil or other appointment.
H.R. YELVERTON, Vice-Admiral.
This is to certify that Captain Dyer served on board H.M.S. Modeste under my command for upwards of two years, and I willingly bear testimony to his conduct as a gentleman and his efficiency as an officer, and consider he can safely be intrusted with any appointment requiring energy, zeal, and tact.
W. COMPTON, Rear-Admiral.
MY DEAR DYER. - During the few months I had the pleasure of having you under my command, I was in every way impressed with your steady, correct, and zealous conduct as an officer, and feel sure that you will do credit to any appointment you may be seeking.
Yours very sincerely,
W. KING HALL
MY DEAR SIR, - It affords us much pleasure to give you our evidence regarding the manner in which you executed your duties as Naval Superintendent of Fisheries on the West Coast of Scotland.
The bulk of the fishermen of the lower portion of Loch Fyne inhabit the villages of Tarbert, Ardrishaig, and Lochgilphead, on our properties.
The intricate and highly unsatisfactory state of the laws relating to herring fishing made your task a most difficult one, and higher testimony cannot be given to the tact, good judgment, and firmness displayed by you, than the statement of the simple fact that you gained the confidence and commanded the respect of all with whom your duties brought you in contact, magistracy and fishermen alike. We trust our evidence may be of use to you in competing for a Chief Constableship. Your duties here were of a police nature, and far more difficult ones than you are likely to encounter elsewhere.
We remain, very truly yours,
ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, J.P. and D.L., of Achandarroch,
COLIN G. CAMPBELL, of Stonefield, J.P. and D.L., and Convener
of Commissioners of Supply for the County of Argyll.
MY DEAR CAPTAIN DYER, - I need not say to you how highly I appreciated your work at Loch Fyne, where your activity put an end to our fishermen's violation of the laws, yet made you their friend, so that they have not ceased to regret your having left the station; but I think it may help you towards any kind of employment in which responsibility is demanded, to say that the Fishing Company that there was then every prospect of inaugurating in Loch Fyne to secure a better return to, and elevate the lives and work, of the herring fishermen, only broke down by your being called to another quarter, and being unable to be put in charge of it.
Most truly yours,
ALEXANDER EWING,
Bishop of Argyll and the Isles.
DEAR DYER, - Hearing that you are trying to obtain a civil appointment, I can only tell you that I shall be much gratified to know that you have been successful. Your conduct and ability as an officer when under my command, made me entertain the highest opinion of you, and which I know is shared by those officers under whom you have subsequently served.
Yours faithfully,
ARTHUR CUMMING, Captain.
To Commander HUGH DYER.
Commander Hugh McNeile Dyer served under my command in H.M. Ships Modeste and Indus. I have much pleasure in stating that I considered him to be an officer of high character, in whom I placed every confidence. I believe him to be what I found him, a zealous, trustworthy, and intelligent officer of real merit, and I only regret he does not obtain what he deserves, employment and promotion to Post rank.
W. HOUSTON STEWART.
I hereby certify that Commander Hugh McNeile Dyer, R.N., held the appointment from the Admiralty of Naval Superintendent of the Fisheries upon the West Coast of Scotland, in communication with, and under directions from, the Board of Fisheries, Edinburgh, from May 1863 to May 1866; that for that period he was in command of H.M.S. Jackal, specially attached to the Board for fishery duty, for the purpose of upholding the Fishery Laws and maintaining order among a large body of fishermen difficult to control, excited by rivalry, and ready on slight provocation to fall into brawls; and that his services were rendered with activity and good judgment, were of great use, and gave entire satisfaction to the Honourable Commissioners.
B.F. PRIMROSE, Secretary.
MY DEAR SIR, - As I hear you are about to become a candidate for the office of Chief Constable in an English county, I have great pleasure in bearing testimony to your good character and abilities as far as my recent acquaintance enables me to judge. You were placed here in a somewhat difficult position from the excited disputes as to the so-called "trawling," added to the ordinary differences and excesses, amongst successful and unsuccessful fishermen, not at the best of times a particularly law-abiding people.
As a proprietor and a magistrate in the immediate vicinity of what I may call your principal station, I could not but have heard of it if you had not carried out the business you had in charge without laxity, but at the same time in a moderate and forbearing spirit. were you a candidate for the office of Chief Constable in this county, I should feel no hestitation in supporting you.
Yours very truly,
J.P. ORDE.
Captain HUGH DYER, R.N.
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