Clue 14
Shellback's work = a leisure pursuit / activity done by a sailor (shellback being a name for a sailor who has crossed the Equator)
on shellbacks starting from scratch = these words are describing the activity / leisure pursuit.
scratch as in 'engraving' on shells, ivory, bone etc
if you have not heard of the word, then go to this Site -
http://www.spri.cam.ac.uk/~jw129/scrimshaw.htm l
Clue 82
as Muffet says is an anagram -
An able opponent or a = is the anagram (devastated)
Despot = the answer (a name of a despot), which s also a game.
The Despot was a frenchman - he had many battles with Wellington, before spending time on the Islands of Elba and St Helena.
Good Luck