Autograph Letter Signed from Raleigh Trevelyan ('R. Trevelyan') to Robert Thorp of Alnwick, agent to the Duke of Northumberland, with signed autograph draft of letter by Thorp, and manuscript copies of four Trevelyan letters, and of a cheque.

Seven items, all in very good condition on lightly-aged paper. Trevelyan's idiosyncratic and hypochondriacal character comes through strongly in this correspondence, ostensibly concerned with his application to become a magistrate, but largely devoted to the state of his health. ONE and TWO. Manuscript copies of short letters from Trevelyan to Thorp and the Duke of Northumberland. Both dated 22 October 1832, and both 4to, 1 p. Requesting 'a Dedimus, as a commencing Magistrate'. THREE. Manuscript copy of letter from Trevelyan to Thorp. 23 October 1832; Netherwitton, Morpeth. 4to, 1 p. He is 'happy to say that we are of the one & same political opinion & feeling. I should therefore as a Magistrate confine my official co-operations to & with those who are of such opinion & feeling (for instance Sir C. Moule & Mr. Brandling)'. He could not co-operate with his 'adjoining, not neighbour, magistrate, Mr. Orde', for 'reasons too public, also in consequence of divers acts of domestic injustice & injuries done to me'. He discusses his application to become a magistrate ('I will endeavour to do my impartial best') and his health concerns. At the foot of the letter is the text of an intended newspaper 'Advertisement' Trevelyan would place if appointed a magistrate. FOUR. Manuscript copy of letter from Trevelyan to Thorp. 26 October 1832. 4to, 1 p. He feels 'the full force' of Trevelyan's 'liberal & friendly' letter. '[N]othing but the hostility of one neighbour & the lenient incapacity of another, wd. have induced me to act as a Magistrate to extirpate the offending source of Vagrants, Poachers, & our truly too local breakers of Peace & Houses'. Discusses at length his health, which was 'only hurt [...] very laboriously when a pupil of Richardson [Sir John Richardson (1771-1841)] by excessive privation of sleep; for often during day attg. his Office I had the evening loan (from pupils) of both Judge Dampiers & Baileys (then Counsel) MSS'. His friend the celebrated surgeon John Abernethy (1764-1831) told him 'the only cure was walking (not santering) & sudorific exercise, which with rising every morning at five when special Drudger in Chamber & by going to bed by 9 kept off every gouty or Spasmodic attack'. 'Abernethy's admonitory & Gymnastic diet' has repelled further attacks since he took up residence at Netherwitton. In a postscript informs Thorp that a legal friend has advised him not to be a magistrate until 'the expected change to be & better Ministers', and asks for the return of his letters. FIVE. Autograph Letter Signed from Trevelyan to Thorp. 31 October 1832. 4to, 2 pp. Thirty-three lines, closely and neatly written. Bifolium, addressed by Trevelyan on second leaf, with his broken wax seal and Morpeth postmark. He is sorry Thorp is 'indisposed by Asthma', and offers 'any thing [...] in the shape of game [...] Wd. you like a moor hare?' Since seeing the 'Duke [of Northumberland]' he has 'been only once to those moors where he so kindly allowed me to shoot', as his writing for the 'Journal' has 'pinn'd' him at home. As he is a member of the Pitt family he is signing his contributions 'with the component letters' P, I, T, T, on analogy with Addison's signing his Spectator essays 'CLIO'. He is sorry that his name was put to one of his essays by '

's foreman': 'it is as well to repudiate every still born or ugly bastard; & never to acknowledge a composition unless approved'. He is 'up every morning with the sun', and 'Yesterday I was three times wet through'; & when returned I bathed in cold water; & was wiped down (like a racer)'. He is 'really afraid of hereditary gout', which, when he had it at the age of fifteen, 'made the toes & fingers feel as inflicted by scalding water'. Describes his 'medicine' to combat the gout (broiled meat or game; porter or ale). He avoids 'the penetrating stupidity of late hours', and is 'up by 5, winter or summer'. He finds 'no poison so bad as the episcopal dinners, & licensed wines in

entertainments on the circuit, in the hosts, this may be accomted [sic] for each like the advice of supererogation from old women'. Ends with a Latin tag, which he hopes is not 'colloquially intrusive'. 'The carrier is going. Excuse my haste, & a bad pen.' SIX. Autograph signed corrected draft of Thorp's reply to Item Five. 3 November 1832. 4to, 1 p. Discusses his own diet, and declines Trevelyan's offer, 'as several of my friends are kind in sending me Game, I beg you will not rob yourself or your other friends by bestowing it upon me, unless when you have a great superabundance to spare'. He does not 'read much in the newspapers', but will look out for Trevelyan's contribution. Ends with the observation 'what is hereditary is not easily prevented'. SEVEN. Manuscript copy of 'Blank check [dated 23 October 1832] sent me by Mr. R. Trevelyan & which I retd to him 25th.'