Details
GEORGE III (1738-1820) & OTHERS
A collection of 48 manuscript letters, receipts and intelligence reports (numbered 1-50 in pencil), the majority designated 'private' or 'secret', relating to the maintenance of Lord North's ministry and the French and American stance in the American War of Independence, the majority sent to or through the agency of JOHN ROBINSON in the decade 1773-83, bound in a 19th-century folio album of straight-grained citron morocco, upper cover titled in gilt: 'Holograph Letters, Documents &c. of George III and others in reference to the Secret Service', including:
GEORGE III. An equivocal one page letter [1], 13 lines, 4to, to his brother, the 'Duke of Gloucester 28th May 1773', unsigned, on his marriage to Lady Waldegrave ('If the Duke is on any account, desirous of being married a second time His Majesty will comply with his request ... But, as his Majesty entertains no doubt of the truth of the former marriage He certainly does not desire that the Duke should be married again, much less, will he require or order it'); a 1p. letter [2], 13 lines, 4to, Oct. 7 1774, unsigned, with Royal seal, to John Robinson on Wilkes ('Had the City affairs been managed with as much activity prior to Mr. Robinson's being in office as he does the Court of Aldermen would not have been composed of a Majority favourable to so disgraceful a Member as Mr. Wilkes'); a 1p. letter [3}, 16 lines, 4to, 17 Septr. 1777, to John Robinson, authorising him to look into the private affairs of Lord North ('my curiosity is grounded on real affection for Lord North ... no one shall ever know from whence I have obtained my intelligence'); two letters [4 and 5], 1¼pp., 22 lines, and 1p., 14 lines, 4to, unsigned, dated 'Windsor Castle Sept. 6th 1780' and 'Windsor Castle Sepr. 22nd 1780', to Robinson on measures to defeat the Opposition ('There cannot be the smallest doubt that driving Sir Laurence Dundas out of the Orkneys is a very desirable object' 'It is very extraordinary that Mr. Fox should have so large a majority unless composed of very bad votes'); a 1p. letter [6], 24 lines, 4to, 'Windsor August 7th 1782', signed, to Lord North, following the death of Lord Rockingham, requesting his support in the formation of a new ministry though in retirement; [7] a 1p. letter [7], 20 lines, signed, 'Kew Sept. 23rd 1784', to Robinson, on his inability to repay a debt of #23,000 to Henry Drummond and Lord North's unwillingness to assist; a 1p. letter [8], 20 lines, 4to, 'Windsor Nov. 1st 1784', signed with monogram, to Robinson, on his repayment of this debt which convinces him of 'Lord North's ingratitude'; 4 receipts [9, 10, 11, 12] made out to Robinson for secret service payments, in one instance as much as Four Thousand Pounds, 'out of the Revenue of our Duchy of Cornwall', signed with the Royal monogram and counter-signed by North -- JOHN MONTAGU, 4TH EARL OF SANDWICH (4). 3 a.l.s. [13, 14, 15] to Lord North through Robinson's agency, the first 3pp., 4to, 'Hampton Court Aug: 17th 1777', fearing he is to be sacrificed to 'Lord Germaine's intrigues' and claiming a say in 'the land part of the American War which has been at least as injudiciously administered as the naval arrangement'; the second 2¼pp., 4to, 'Blackheath Sept: 14th 1779', emphasising the need for Lord North to take firmer action on American affairs ('his majesty recommends spirited, firm and decided measures ... for our mutual safety we ought well to understand each other'); the third, 'Blackheath, Sept: 14th 1779' concerning the means of defending Jersey and Guernsey against a possible invasion with criticisms of Admiral Barrington ('a dark, troublesome, & impracticable man') -- FREDERICK NORTH, 2ND EARL OF GUILFORD. 2 a.l.s. [18 and 19] to Robinson, 'Waldershare Oct 25 1776' and 'Waldershare Oct: 25 1779', the first 4pp., 4to, seeking to know whether the report of Lord Carlisle being in Town 'is true or false' and stating the difficulties of compromising an election -- NATHANIEL PARKER FORTH (Government agent in Paris). 3 a.l.s. [20, 22, 23] a.l.s. to North, the first 5pp., 4to, 'Paris July 1777'. He requires more funds ('I cannot live on less than a hundred guineas a month'), he enjoys the confidence of the French minister, De Maurepas, and others, and has been assured that the mood of the French is 'pacific'. -- EDWARD THURLOW, 1ST BARON THURLOW. A 3½pp. a.l.s [26], , [Bath] 'Septr. 1780', to Robinson, enquiring: 'We are told here that the Bishop of Winchester is dying. I have some curisoity to know what arrangement is to follow upon that' -- CHARLES JAMES FOX. A 1p. a.l.s [30] with 3 integral blanks, 4to, 'Picadilly Sunday Night' [5 Nov 1775]', to Robinson, taking him up on his promise 'to do all in your power to expedite my election'
