Beschreibung:

Fitzherbert, Maria AN IMPORTANT CACHE OF PAPERS RELATING TO MRS FITZHERBERT AND GEORGE IV, IN THREE BUNDLES, COMPRISING: Bundle I: Three autograph letters signed by the Duke of Wellington, as executor to George IV, to Maria Fitzherbert, ON THE FATE OF LETTERS AND PAPERS EXCHANGED BETWEEN HER AND THE LATE KING NOW IN THE HANDS OF FITZHERBERT AND THE LATE KING’S ESTATE (“...daily experience shews us that no papers are safe; or likely to be exempt from Publication. They fall into the hands of Persons who have not the same feelings of delicacy about them as the original correspondents...”), 11 pages, 4to, 29 March to 4 May 1832; two documents in Wellington's hand originally enclosed with these letters, the first an extract from George IV's will, 3 pages, the second a memorandum suggesting that Mrs Fitzherbert and the King's executors “will deliver up to the other all papers and documents in the possession of either signed or written by Mrs Fitzherbert or ... by the late King ... excepting such as relate to a certain Mortgage or Security in the Hands of Mrs Fitzherbert on the Palace at Brighton. A list of the Papers retained ... will be given to the Executors.... In case any Papers ...shall ever appear, it is understood and agreed that both parties will consider and treat such papers as forgeries. The two Parties further agree that all the Papers ... shall be destroyed as soon as possible after delivery”, 3 pages, folio, with annotations in pencil; retained copies of two letters by Mrs Fitzherbert to Wellington, regretting the executors’ wish to burn the papers in their possession (“...they are generally of so Insignificant a nature with the exception of some of which I possess Copies that they cannot possibly be of any use or advantage to any one...”) and refusing to hand over the papers in her possession, 5 pages, 4to, Brighton, no date and 3 May 1832; memorandum outlining an alternative proposal for the disposal of the papers, stating that each side will destroy the papers in their own possession, and that those papers that Mrs Fitzherbert wishes to retain will be sealed in a chest “in the Bank of Messrs Coutts at the disposition of the Earl of Albemarle and of Lord Stourton. The seals not to be broken without the knowledge of the Duke of Wellington and Sir William Knighton”, with a list of the papers to be retained (including the marriage certificate, related letters and a will of the late King), with a subscription by Lord Stourton affirming his approval of the proposals, 3 pages, folio; three autograph letters signed by the Duke of Wellington, to the Earl of Albemarle, on the proposed deposit of these selected papers in Coutts Bank, 6 pages, 8vo, 3 April to 8 September 1833; [also with:] copy letters by George IV as Prince of Wales to Lord Euston and related documents concerning Minney Seymour, 7 pages, undated (paper watermarked 1802); “State of Miss [Minney] Seymours Fortune”, 2 pages, folio, undated (watermarked 1820); will of Maria Fitzherbert, signed by her, with seal and witness signatures, 3 pages, 22 December 1830; two later copies of the 1836 will of Maria Fitzherbert with codicils, paper watermarked 1837 and 1846 Bundle II: CORRESPONDENCE AND PAPERS OF GEORGE IV AS PRINCE OF WALES: three copy letters by the Prince to PITT THE YOUNGER concerning a meeting on the Prince’s finances (“...When I recollect the Conversation that passed between you & me yesterday I can not but be very much surprized at some Expressions that I understand have dropt from several of your Friends, not that I harbour the smallest doubt of your honour, but I think that some sort of an explanation upon that score is absolutely necessary...”), 4-10 May 1787, together with a related letter by Pitt to Lord Southampton, 29 April 1787; 5 letters to George, as Prince, including by Lord Cornwallis (on Indian affairs), Lord Leinster (on the Regency crisis), and Charles Nassau Thomas, on the Prince’s refusal to provide any supplies to Princess Caroline at