Oh dear, Precedence! Coming by fascinating little details.

Writing is difficult in Summer...not only does the fine weather call me outside, but the laptop gets hot and then I get likewise...
Otherwise, Sequel coming along very well. I had to do some research into a subject about which I knew little - the British Army - the East India Company - so that various references I make will be accurate. Isn't it difficult to get to that one tiny little detail...then exultation when you find it, buried.
The novel is set in a particular time period - 1796-7.
A minor character who is a self-important name-dropper is giving me all kinds of challenges. References to men in power who he claims to have influence with have to be accurate as to their availability at that time! I  had Lord Cornwallis writing from India when he was in fact back in England in 1797.
http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org is a tremendous help and it has little bios that are interesting and anecdotal.
MINOR PLOT SPOILER: This character is also about to become a knight. Lo and Behold, a wonderful resource was an actual book, all online, 'the Knights of England'  This gentleman is hoping he will be dubbed along with Horatio Nelson, who I have found out, received a great honour in June 1797.
But best of all, the book below inspired me. It lists a dilemma that society had when somebody was 'gazetted' i.e. named in the Gazette, but not yet invested. Where to seat him at table?
http://www.archive.org/stream/knightsofengland01shawuoft/knightsofengland01shawuoft_djvu.txt

To my delight, you can view the old Gazettes from the period online. Yes, newspapers, in full, with the fancy 'f' they used for 's' and all. There are lists of military officers, lists of society members, and a great deal of Bankruptcy notices. They are quite hard to read even when magnified, but you get the feeling that you can be right back there in 1797. Mr. Palmer, perhaps, liked to read the Bankruptcy Notices!