MARQUIS

[Lord Beresford [William Carr Beresford, 1st Viscount Beresford, 1st Marquis of Campo Maior], Commander in Chief of Portuguese army in Peninsular War.] Two copy letters to Duke of Wellington; apparent autograph draft of letter, 1809; one other item.

Author: 
Lord Beresford [William Carr Beresford (1768-1854), 1st Viscount Beresford, 1st Marquis of Campo Maior], Commander in Chief of the Portuguese army during the Peninsular War [Duke of Wellington]
Publication details: 
Copy Letters dated 16 March (Elvas) and 25 May 1812 (Fuente Guinaldo). Probable draft letter: 'Abranles July 4. 1809'. Other item 6 May 1809..
£250.00

Four interesting Peninsular War items, from a collection of Beresford material. In 1813 the Duke of Wellington described Beresford as ‘the ablest man I have yet seen in the army’. See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The four items are in good condition, lightly aged and worn (but see descriptions of Items One and Three), and folded for postage. ONE: Apparent Autograph Draft of Letter. ‘Abranles July 4. 1809’. 2pp, 4to. On laid Whatman paper. Reverse somewhat grubby with glue stains (from display in an album?) at foot of reverse of leaf.

[Bibliomania: ‘The Spendthrift Duke’, George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough, owner as Marquess of Blandford of the celebrated White Knights Library..] Autograph Letter Signed to London booksellers Smith & Elder. With frank.

Author: 
[Bibliomania, ‘The Spendthrift Duke of Marlborough’: George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough (1766-1840), styled Marquess of Blandford until 1817, extravagant book collector at White Knights
Publication details: 
24 November 1833; ‘Blenheim. Sunday.’ With frank and two postmarks.
£80.00

The purchase in 1821 by the 5th Duke of Marlborough, as Marquis of Blandford, of the Duke of Roxburghe’s copy of Valdarfer Boccaccio for £2260 caused a sensation, and was a high point of the bibliomania celebrated by Thomas Frognall Dibdin. His library at White Knights, also including the Bedford Missal, was legendary until its dispersal as a result of his extravagances. See the account of the duke in his father’s entry in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo.

[Lord Sligo [Howe Peter Browne, 2nd Marquis of Sligo], Governor of Jamaica.] Autograph Letter Signed with regard to payment for a theatre box 'for the remainder of the season'.

Author: 
Lord Sligo [Howe Peter Browne (1788-1845), 2nd Marquis of Sligo, previously Viscount Westport and Earl of Altamont], Anglo-Irish peer, Governor of Jamaica, abolitionist
Publication details: 
'Mansfield St [London] June 6th [1824?]'
£45.00

Sligo was appointed Governor of Jamaica in 1834. His efforts on behalf of the recently-emancipated slaves (including the financing of two schools) caused him to become unpopular with the plantation owners, and he was effectively ousted in 1836. 2pp, 12mo. Twenty-one lines of text. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Folded for postage. Small square of paper with engraving of the family crest laid down at the foot of the second page. Addressed to ‘My Dear Sir’ and signed ‘Sligo’. The Marquis’s handwriting is somewhat opaque.

[Lord Londonderry [Charles William Vane, 3rd Marquis of Londonderry], Anglo-Irish soldier and politician.] Autograph Letter Signed to cabinet minister Lord Fitzgerald, discussing Lord Brougham, General Cass, Afghanistan and other topics.

Author: 
Lord Londonderry [Charles William Vane, 3rd Marquis of Londonderry (1778-1854)], Anglo-Irish soldier and politician [Lord Fitzgerald [William Vesey-FitzGerald] (1783-1843), Tory politician]
Publication details: 
‘Hotel Beaune / Paris April 11 / 1843’.
£80.00

An unusually forthright communication for the period. See the two men’s entries in the Oxford DNB. At the time of writing, Fitzgerald was President of the Board of Control under Sir Robert Peel. 4pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and ruckled. Signed ‘Vane Londonderry’. Begins: ‘My Dear Ftizgerald / I had not an opportunity to thank you as I would in the H of Lords for all your kind attention to my wishes.

[The man who built Cardiff: John Crichton-Stuart, 2nd Marquis of Bute.] Autograph Letter Signed, explaining restrictions he is placing on the recipient's permission to shoot on his land.

Author: 
The man who built Cardiff: John Crichton-Stuart, 2nd Marquis of Bute (1793-1848), styled Lord Mount Stuart between 1794 and 1814, Scottish aristocrat and industrialist
Publication details: 
?Mountstuart [Mount Stuart House, Isle of Bute] 21st Septr 1820?.
£60.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo. In fair condition, on lightly aged and spotted paper. Folded for postage. The recipient is not named. Signed ?Bute and Dumfries.? ?I should with pleasure have renewed to you a general permission to shoot upon my lands in Galloway, but having this year restricted other gentlemen in the neighbourhood on account of the condition of my muirs, [sic] I feel myself under the necessity of confining my permission to you within those which [match?] immediately with Mr Adair?s.?

[Lady Dufferin [Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava], Vicereine of India; Emily Faithfull] Autograph Letter Signed to 'Miss Faithful', regarding her celebrated fund to provide medical care for the women of India.

Author: 
Lady Dufferin [(1843?1936), Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava], Vicereine of India, wife of Frederic, 1st Marquis, Viceroy of India.
Publication details: 
?Rome June 13th.? [circa 1886?]
£120.00

See her entry, and that of her husband, in the Oxford DNB. Hers states: 'most memorably used her energies to found the National Association for Supplying Female Medical Aid to the Women of India, often known as the Countess of Dufferin Fund, in 1885.' 3pp, 12mo. Bifolium on grey paper. Addressed to ?Dear Miss Faithful? and signed ?H. Dufferin & Ava?. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded for postage. She thanks her for her ?kind note? and will be grateful for any help she can ?ever give with regard to my Fund?.

[Richard Wellesley, Marquis Wellesley, Governor-General of Bengal and elder brother of the Duke of Wellington; Ireland.] Autograph Copy of Signed Letter to the Home Secretary Henry Goulburn, recommending 'Mr. Duffy' to the Court of the King's Bench.

Author: 
Richard Wellesley (1760-1842), Marquis Wellesley, Governor-General of Bengal and elder brother of Duke of Wellington [Henry Goulburn (1784-1856), Tory Chancellor of the Exchequer and Home Secretary]
Publication details: 
No date or place.
£150.00

See the two men’s entries in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 4to. On gilt-edged wove paper. Aged and discoloured, with some nicking and creasing along edges and traces of previous mount on blank reverse. A copy by Wellesley himself. Addressed at bottom left to ‘Right Honble / Henry Goulburn / &c’. Reads: ‘My Dear Sir / Some time before I left Ireland I transmitted to Lord Duncannon, then holding the Seals of the Home Department, an official recommendation of the appointment of Mr. Duffy to the Office of F[?] of the Court of Kings Bench.

[Duc de Vincence [General Armand-Augustin Louis, 5th Marquis de Caulaincourt.] Autograph Letter Signed, in French, following the Congress of Châtillon and Treaty of Fontainebleau, asking Lord Aberdeen to deliver a letter to Viscount Castlereagh.

Author: 
Duc de Vincence [General Armand-Augustin Louis, 5th Marquis de Caulaincourt] (1773-1827), Napoleon’s head diplomat, Ambassador to Russia [Lord Aberdeen; Viscount Castlereagh; Treaty of Fontainebleau]
Vincennes
Publication details: 
‘Chatillon sur Seine / le 7. Mai 1814.’
£450.00
Vincennes

Something of an historic document. In February and March of 1814 Vincence had led the French delegation at the Congress of Châtillon peace conference, at which his counterpart was Lord Aberdeen, with the British Home Secretary Lord Castlereagh arriving partway through. On behalf of Napoleon, Vincence had led, with little success the subsequent negotiations with Russia, Prussia and Austria which resulted in Napoleon’s abdication and exile to Elba, by the signing of the Treaty of Fontainbleau, a month before the present letter, on 11 April 1814, which was ratified by Vincence.

[Louis Alexander Mountbatten [formerly Prince Louis Alexander of Battenberg], 1st Marquess of Milford Haven.] Autograph ‘Note for Secretary’, with monogram Signature ‘LB’, regarding to the ‘relative positions of “Iris” & “Phoebe”’.

Author: 
Louis Alexander Mountbatten [formerly Prince Louis Alexander of Battenberg], 1st Marquess of Milford Haven (1854-1921), First Sea Lord, German prince related by marriage to the British royal family
Publication details: 
No date or place.
£56.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. With mourning border. In fair condition, aged and worn, with remains of white 'star' wafer mounts adhering to the four corners. Beneath the underlined heading 'Note for Secretary' reads: 'The relative positions of Iris & Phoebe do not appear to agree in papers marked (2) and (4) in my letter. Please let me know which is right. / LB.' Presumably Iris and Phoebe were ships.

[Three Tory Statesmen, 1793.] Autograph Signatures of ‘Mornington’ [Marquis Wellesley, Wellington’s brother], ‘Bayham’ [Marquis Camden, Ireland connection] and ‘J. Th. Townshend’ [Viscount Sydney of St Leonards], on part of parliamentary document.

Author: 
Richard Colley Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley [as Earl of Mornington]; John Jeffreys Pratt, 1st Marquess Camden [as Viscount Bayham]; John Thomas Townshend, 2nd Viscount Sydney of St Leonards
Three Tory Statesmen, 1793.
Publication details: 
Dated at foot 'July 1793'.
£180.00
Three Tory Statesmen, 1793.

Richard Colley Wellesley (1760-1842), 1st Marquess Wellesley [as Earl of Mornington]; John Jeffreys Pratt (1759-1840), 1st Marquess Camden [as Viscount Bayham]; John Thomas Townshend (1764-1831), 2nd Viscount Sydney of St Leonards. See their entries in the Oxford DNB. On 5.5 x 15.5 cm strip extracted from a document, and laid down on 8 x 21.5 cm part of gilt-edged leaf from an album. In good condition, lightly aged on aged and creased mount. The signatures are written above one another: 'Mornington / Bayham / J. Th. Townshend'.

[Marie Descorches, French revolutionary diplomat, formerly Marquis d`Escorches de Sainte Croix.] Two communications as ‘Préfet du Département de la Drome’: a Secretarial Letter Signed by him to Mayor of ‘Commune de Propiac’, and printed decree.

Author: 
Marie Descorches [Marie Louis Henri Descorches] (1749-1830; Marquis d`Escorches de Sainte Croix), French soldier and revolutionary diplomat, Ambassador to Poland and Ottoman Empire, Prefect of Drôme
DESCORCHES
Publication details: 
Both on revolutionary letterheads. Secretarial letter: ‘Valence, le 20 frimaire, an 12 de la République française. [i.e. 12 December 1803]’ Printed decree: ‘Valence, le 7 brumaire, an 12 de la République française. [i.e. 30 October 1803]’
£180.00
DESCORCHES

The two items are on variations of the revolutionary letterhead of the Prefect of the Drôme Department, with oval medallion illustration of a seated liberty with a phrygian cap on a stick, forearm leaning on the fasces and the words ‘Libérté’ and ‘Égalité’. The printed decree is in good condition, lightly aged, with slight foxing and discoloration. The secretarial letter is in fair condition, with darker patches of discoloration.

[Thomas Osborne, 1st Duke of Leeds, or his son Admiral Peregrine Osborne, 2nd Duke of Leeds, as Marquis of Carmarthen.] Drawn note (cheque), signed ‘Carmarthen P:’, directing his banker Sir Francis Child to pay £100 to William Vernon.

Author: 
Thomas Osborne (1632-1712), 1st Duke of Leeds, or his son Admiral Peregrine Osborne (1659-1729), 2nd Duke of Leeds [Viscount Osborne, Earl of Danby, Marquis of Carmarthen] [Sir Francis Child the elder
Publication details: 
'Febry. ye 9th. 1693/4'.
£600.00

See the entries on the two Dukes in the Oxford DNB, as well as that of Sir Francis Child the elder. Both Dukes are significant; the first was a leading Tory politician and one of the ‘immortal seven’ who invited William of Orange to England, and the second was a naval adviser to Peter the Great of Russia. The present item is signed ‘Carmarthan P:’, which would seem to suggest it is the signature of the 2nd Duke, Peregrine Osborne, but the Oxford DNB states that he became Marquis of Carmarthen a few months after the present item, on his father being made Duke of Leeds on 4 May 1694.

[?Billy Blue?: Admiral Sir William Cornwallis, as Commander-in-Chief of the East Indies Station.] Manuscript Copy of letter to Philip Stephens, Secretary to the Admiralty, suggesting five ?additional Lieutenants?.

Author: 
Sir William Cornwallis (1744-1819), distinguished Royal Navy admiral, nicknamed ?Billy Blue?, brother of the Marquis of Cornwallis [Sir Philip Stephens (1723-1809), Secretary to the Admiralty]
Publication details: 
?Crown [i.e. HMS Crown], in Santa Cruz Bay. / Teneriffe 12th March 1789 -?.
£100.00

See his entry, and that of the recipient, in the Oxford DNB. 3pp, foolscap 8vo. Laid-paper bifolium with ?I TAYLOR? Britannia watermark. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice into a packet. Reverse of second leaf docketed: ?12 March / Copy / to Philip Stephens Esqr / Duplicate - left at Santa Cruz / Triplicate. sent by the shop from Port Praya Bay 24th. March 89.? See the ODNB: ?When his brother Earl Cornwallis was appointed governor-general of Bengal, Cornwallis was sent out as commodore and commander-in-chief in the East Indies in October 1788?.

[Lord Curzon [George Nathaniel Curzon, 1st Marquis Curzon of Kedleston], Conservative statesman and Viceroy of India.] Autograph Letter Signed [to Mr Campbell], declining an invitation as he will not be taking 'any part in public affairs' that summer

Author: 
Lord Curzon [George Nathaniel Curzon, 1st Marquis Curzon of Kedleston] (1859-1925), Conservative statesman, Viceroy of India
Publication details: 
Undated, but after 1895, and probably written early in 1922. On letterhead of The Priory, Reigate.
£65.00

See his long and sympathetic entry by David Gilmour in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Curzon acquired the Priory at Reigate after his marriage in 1895, and the letter probably dates from around March to July 1922, when, according to the Oxford DNB, ‘he was laid low by a combination of phlebitis, thrombosis, and lymphangitis which kept him out of action for five months’. 4pp, 12mo. On bifolium. Written in pencil. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with slight spotting at foot of first page. One central fold for postage.

[‘A very nice little collection’: the 2nd Marquis of Hastings boasts about his picture collection.] Autograph Letter Signed regarding ‘the entry in the Leicester registry’ and a picture sent to him by the recipient.

Author: 
Marquis of Hastings [George Rawdon Hastings (1808-1844), 2nd Marquess of Hastings, 3rd Earl of Moira, 3rd Baron Rawdon], British peer and courtier [Donnington Park, Leicestershire]
Publication details: 
‘Donnington Park / Novr. 5th / 1836.’
£56.00

See the entry in the Oxford DNB for his father the 1st Marquis. 2pp, 12mo. On the first leaf of a bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and discoloured, with thin strip of glue from previous mount on reverse of second leaf. The recipient is not named, and he signs ‘Hastings’. The letter begins: ‘Dear Sir, / I made the necessary enquiries as to the entry in the Leicester registry (through a friend of our clergyman) & enclose his reply [not present] - I fear it is not what you wished for.’ He might get ‘more satisfactory information’ if the recipient can give a ‘better clue to go by’.

[The Marquis of Lansdowne, as Lord Henry Petty.] Autograph Note in the third person, arranging a meeting in Downing Street with ‘Mr Gray’. With the recipient’s note of what passed at the meeting.

Author: 
Marquess of Lansdowne [Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780-1863), known as Lord Henry Petty 1784 -1809], Whig Home Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer, and connoisseur
Publication details: 
29 September 1806. No place.
£45.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged, with several creases on folding into packet, one of which has a short closed tear to the edge. Minor traces of mount on reverse. Reads: ‘Lord Henry Petty will be obliged to Mr Gray, if he can make it convenient to call in Downing Street to-morrow at 2 oClock. / September 29th. 1806.’ Minuted by recipient on reverse: ‘29. Sept. 1806 / Lord Hy. Petty. / To be with His Ldp tomorrow. / 30th. went & recd. Instructions to work out the appointmt. of One Messenger to attend the Chancellor, whose allowce is to be 4s. P diem.’

[Louisa Cornwallis, Marchioness Cornwallis.] Her Autograph Signature and votes for candidates for the Adult Orphan Institution, on its printed ‘Polling Paper for the Election of Three Contributary Wards’.

Author: 
Louisa Cornwallis [née Gordon] (1776-1850), Marchioness Cornwallis, wife of Charles Cornwallis, 2nd Marquis Cornwallis, daughter of 4th Duke of Gordon [The Adult Orphan Institution, London]
Publication details: 
Marchioness's vote on 25 November 1842. Election date 14 December 1842. At the House of the Adult Orphan Institution, St. Andrew’s Place, Regent’s Park [London].
£50.00

2pp, 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged, with slight damage at head from breaking of the wafer, and small spike hole at centre. Addressed on reverse to ‘Most Noble / Marchioness Cornwallis / 12 Park Crescent’. The printed statement beside this has been completed in manuscript to show that the Marchioness has twelve votes. The other side of the leaf is headed: ‘Polling Paper / For the Electio of Three Contributary Wards, / On Wednesday, December 14th, 1842, / Between the hours of Two and Four o’Clock, / At the House of the Adult Orphan Institution, / St.

[1st Duke of Westminster [Henry Lupus Grosvenor, as Marquis of Westminster.] Secretarial Hand, Signed in Autograph, granting his assent to a Major of the 1st Lancashire Engineer Volunteers, for the regiment to join ‘The New Brighton Parade’.

Author: 
1st Duke of Westminster [Hugh Lupus Grosvenor] (1825-1899) [Viscount Belgrave, 1831-45; Earl Grosvenor, 1845-69; Marquess of Westminster, 1869-74], landowner, politician and racehorse owner
Publication details: 
‘Motcombe House, / Shaftesbury, / Sept 5th. 1867.’
£45.00

The founder of the greatest of London’s ‘Great Estates’. See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 4to. In good condition, on light-grey paper, with thin neat strip of windowpane mount adhering to edges. Folded three times for postage. Good firm signature ‘Westminster’, and with the name of the recipient neatly cut away: ‘Major <...> / 1st Lancashire Eng[ee]r. Vol[un]t[ee]rs.

[Marquess Camden [John Jeffreys Pratt, 1st Marquis Camden], Tory politician.] Autograph Letter Signed reminding the recipient of his offer to send him a sketch of Holwood House.

Author: 
John Jeffreys Pratt, 1st Marquis Camden [Marquess Camden; formerly Viscount Bayham and 2nd Earl Camden] (1759-1840), Tory politician
Camden
Publication details: 
25 July 1824. Holderness House [London].
£45.00
Camden

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The present item is not in the best of condition: it is aged and creased (including dog-eared corner on which the signature ‘Camden’ is written), with contemporary repair to two long tears by the laying down on the blank reverse of strips from a contemporary manuscript. Docketed on the otherwise blank second leaf: ‘25th July 1824 / Marquis Camden’.

[Lady Salisbury, wife of the Prime Minister.] Autograph Letter Signed to Charlotte Mary Yonge, discussing ‘the original casket letters’ of Mary Queen of Scots found by Dr Brewer at Hatfield House.

Author: 
Lady Salisbury, wife of Prime Minister the Marquis of Salisbury [Georgina Caroline Gascoyne-Cecil [née Alderson] (1826-1899), Marchioness of Salisbury; Charlotte Mary Yonge (1823-1901), author]
Publication details: 
10 September [circa 1882]. From Castel du Parc, Royat-les-Bains, Clermont Ferrand, Puy de Dome, France; on cancelled Hatfield House letterhead.
£150.00

See her own entry in the Oxford DNB, as a ‘political wife’, and that of Yonge, whose ‘Unknown to History: A Story of the Captivity of Mary of Scotland’ was published in 1882. 3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. Signed ‘G Salisbury’ and addressed to ‘Miss Yonge’. In good condition, with negligible remnants of windowpane mount adhering at edges. ‘One of the original casket letters was found at Hatfield some years ago by Dr Brewer who was then looking over the papers on behalf of the Record Office to which he belonged - Also a copy of another - of the same date.

[Charles Henry Alexander Paget, 6th Marquis of Anglesey, soldier and courtier.] Autograph Letter Signed (‘Anglesey’), thanking A. C. Cox for offering ‘the Commissions in the name of the Marquess of Anglesey’.

Author: 
Marquis of Anglesey [Charles Henry Alexander Paget, 6th Marquis of Anglesey (1885-1947)], Lord Chamberlain to Queen Mary, soldier with Royal Horse Guards, courtier and landowner, patron of Rex Whistle
Publication details: 
26 January 1937; on letterhead of Plas Newydd, Llanfairpwll, Isle of Anglesey, with stamp ‘GUARDS 2 / RECEIVED’.
£38.00

2pp, 12mo. In good condition, folded once. Headed by him ‘Guards & Cavalry’. He is obliged to Cox for his ‘courtesy in offering me the Commissions in the name of the Marquess of Anglesey’, and will be ‘very grateful for them and they will be with all the family papers of which there are a great many & well cared for & catalogued’.

[6th Marquis of Donegall, as President of the Nation Federation of Jazz Organisations. On behalf of.] Autograph Signature to circular to the Kent County Army Cadet Force, offering tickets for the 1951 jazz concert at the Royal Festival Hall.

Author: 
[6th Marquis of Donegall] Edward Arthur Donald St George Hamilton Chichester, 6th Marquess of Donegall (1903-1975), President of the Nation Federation of Jazz Organisations [W. P. MacQueen Pope]
Publication details: 
31 May 1951. On letterhead of Kent County Army Cadet Force Welfare, 16 Hyde Park Gate, London.
£120.00

A nice piece of ephemera, associated with a landmark concert in the history of British popular music. 1p, 8vo. Twenty-three-line typed circular, with perforated order slip for tickets at end. In fair condition, lightly aged. Signed ‘Donegall’ and with autograph address to ‘Dear Mac Queen Pope’ (i.e. the theatre historian W. P. MacQueen Pope). The circular begins: ‘I am writing to you because H. R. H.

[Ren? Louiche Desfontaines, Professor of Botany at the Jardin des Plantes.] Autograph Letter Signed (?Desfontaines?) [to the negotiator of the Louisiana Purchase, the Marquis of Barb?-Marbois], thanking him for his ?Histoire de la Louisiane?.

Author: 
Ren? Louiche Desfontaines (1750-1833), French botanist, Professor of Botany at the Jardin des Plantes [Fran?ois, Marquis de Barb?-Marbois (1745-1837), French negotiator of Louisiana Purchase]
Publication details: 
Erroneously dated ?paris 21 decembre 1888? [1829?].
£180.00

The letter is addressed to ?Monsieur Le marquis?, and the recipient is undoubtedly Barb?-Marbois. The letter presumably dates from 1829, the year of publication of Barb?-Marbois?s ?Histoire de la Louisiane?. The other work referred to, ?Le Complot d?Arnold et de Sir Henry Clinton contre les Etats-Unis?, was published in 1816.

[‘Mademoiselle Rachel’ [Elisabeth Félix], celebrated French actress.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Rachel') to ‘Madame Goreau’, about getting the Comte de Noailles or Marquis of Normanby to help in getting fabrics for costumes to Paris from London.

Author: 
‘Mademoiselle Rachel’ [Elisabeth Félix] (1821-1858), French actress of Jewish extraction, mistress of Napoleon III and others [Comte de Noailles; Marquis of Normanby]
Publication details: 
7 October 1847; no place [Paris?].
£120.00

2pp, 12mo. On first leaf of bifolium. Folded three times. In fair good condition, lightly browned. 36 lines, sloping upwards and written in an untidy hand, which renders the following report somewhat tentative. Signed ‘Rachel’. In French. She has been so busy since the resumption of the ‘théâtre français’ that she is only now able to tackle the need to get her ‘étoffes’. She reports that the ‘Comte de Noailles’ is in London, and asks the recipient, who also appears to be there, to go again to the embassy to ask him to send by two or three packets what she needs to make ‘mes robes’.

[Philippe de Courcillon, Marquis de Dangeau.] Vellum Certificate, Signed as Grand Master, admitting Jacques Giraud de Moucy into the Ordre de Notre-Dame du Mont-Carmel et de St. Lazare de Jerusalem. With Signed Note by Louis-Marie Pidou de Saint-Olon

Author: 
Philippe de Courcillon, Marquis de Dangeau (1638-1720) [Louis-Marie Pidou de Saint-Olon (1637-1717), Bishop of Baghdad; Jacques Giraud de Moucy; Ordre de Notre-Dame de Mont-Carmel; Louis XIV]
Publication details: 
[Ordre de Notre-Dame du Mont-Carmel et de Saint Lazare de Jérusalem.] Paris, 16 July 1700.
£250.00

See A. de Marcy's 'Liste des Chevaliers' (1875), which reproduces from the registers the notice of the admission into the order on 16 July 1700 of 'Jacques Giraud de Moucy, cy-devant mousquetaire, commandant des gardes de S. A. R. Madame la duchesse d'Orléans'. On a 37 x 51 cm piece of vellum, folded three times into a 30 x 12.5 cm packet. In good condition, clean and crisp.

[Lord Bathurst, Tory politician.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Bathurst') [to the agent of the Marquis Wellesley, elder brother of the Duke of Wellington], regarding a dispute over the fittings to be left behind on quitting Apsley House.

Author: 
Henry Bathurst (1762-1834), 3rd Earl Bathurst [Lord Bathurst], Tory Foreign Secretary, friend and supporter of Pitt the Younger [Lord Wellesley; Duke of Wellington; Apsley House, Piccadilly, Mayfair]
Publication details: 
Piccadilly [London]. 22 September [1807].
£300.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The present item dates from 1807, the year in which Bathurst sold the celebrated Apsley House ('No. 1 London') to the Duke of Wellington's brother the Marquis Wellesley, who sold it on to the Duke ten years later. It is now the Wellington Museum. This item casts an interesting light on the initial sale. 2pp, 4to. Thirty-four lines of text. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded four times. He is disappointed that the unnamed male recipient (presumably Wellesley's agent) has not called on him.

[George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough ('the Profligate Duke'), bibliophile.] Autograph Note of Admittance to 'Blenheim Palace and Gardens', signed 'Marlborough', for 'Dr. Cotton', i.e. Rev. Dr Horace Salusbury Cotton, Ordinary of Newgate

Author: 
George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough ['the Profligate Duke'] (1766-1840), until 1817 styled Marquis of Blandford, bibliophile [Horace Salusbury Cotton (c.1774-1846), Ordinary of Newgate]
Publication details: 
No date or place.
£100.00

The Duke was Winston Churchill's great-great-grandfather. His library at Whiteknights Park was celebrated, and his purchase of the Valdarfer Boccaccio at the 1811 Roxburghe sale was the spur to the formation of the Roxburghe Club. Like the Duke, Cotton was a notable collector of books and autographs. He was generally considered a faintly-ridiculous figure, and condemned men were said to die 'with Cotton in their ears'. 1p, 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged. Folded once. Reads 'Admit Dr.

[Lord Curzon [George Nathaniel Curzon, 1st Marquis Curzon of Kedleston]; Lord Milner [Alfred Milner, 1st Viscount Milner]; Claud Lovat Fraser.] Leaf from an autograph album, carrying signatures of 'Curzon of Kedleston', 'Milner' and 'Lovat Fraser.'

Author: 
Lord Curzon [George Nathaniel Curzon, 1st Marquis Curzon of Kedleston], Conservative statesman, Viceroy of India; Alfred Milner, 1st Viscount Milner; Claude Lovat Fraser, artist
Publication details: 
No place or date. [Before Lovat Fraser's death in 1921.]
£65.00

On both sides of 16 x 12.5 cm leaf, with rounded edges, torn from an autograph album. In good condition, lightly aged and creased. Firmly and elegantly written on one side, just over the centre: 'Lovat Fraser.' Towards the head of the other side, in a large somewhat untidy hand, with intermittent underlining: 'Curzon of Kedleston'. Beneath this: 'Milner'. No other writing on either side.

[Lord Salsibury, Conservative Prime Minister.] Autograph Letter in the third person to 'Mr. Macirone', regarding 'Canon Fremantle's letter'.

Author: 
Lord Salisbury [Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil (1830-1903), 3rd Marquess of Salisbury], Conservative Prime Minister on three occasions [William Henry Fremantle, Dean of Ripon; Maeirone]
Publication details: 
19 November 1894. On letterhead of Hatfield House, Hatfield, Herts.
£35.00

2pp, 12mo. In fair condition, aged and lightly stained. Folded once. Headed by Salisbury 'Private'. The letter begins: 'Lord Salisbury presents his compliments to Mr. Macirone, & is much obliged to him for his letter, & for the very apposite quotations to which he calls Lord Salisbury's attention.' Salisbury does not consider 'Canon Fremantle's letter' worth answering, 'especially as the Bishop of London appears to entertain a similar opinion'.

[Castlereagh; F.W.R. Stewart, 4th Marquess of Londonderry, as Viscount Castlereagh, rake and Tory politician.] Autograph Note Signed ('Castlereagh') regarding his presentation of petitions 'for the Abolition of Church Patronage in Scotland'.

Author: 
Frederick William Robert Stewart, 4th Marquess of Londonderry (1805-1872), styled Viscount Castlereagh 1822-1854, Anglo-Irish nobleman, rake and Tory politician
Publication details: 
'H. of Cs. [i.e. House of Commons] | Thursday.' No date, but on paper with 1840 watermark.
£56.00

For information on Castlereagh, who in his rakish youth was known as ‘Cas’ or ‘Young Rapid’, see his entry in the History of Parliament. In 1833 he is said to have sired a child by the celebrated actress Madame Vestris, leading Lady Holland to comment that he was 'enchanted at his feat’. Queen Victoria considered him unfit for any serious responsibility. He inherited the family trait of mental instability (Lord John Russell commenting that‘he talks, but does not seem mad’) and spent his last years incarcerated. 1p, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged.

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