Papers of Dorothy Bentinck, Duchess of Portland (1750-1794) in the Portland (Welbeck) Collection

The collection consists entirely of letters, most of which relate to the years immediately before and after Dorothy Cavendish's marriage to the 3rd Duke of Portland in 1766. The duke is the most prolific correspondent, although Lady Frances Scott and members of the Cavendish family also feature strongly.

Dorothy Bentinck, Duchess of Portland (1750-1794), was the only daughter of William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire. She married William Henry Cavendish Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland, in 1766.

The letters are arranged alphabetically by correspondent, in chronological sequence. Unless stated otherwise, the letters are to Dorothy, Duchess of Portland.

Accessible to all registered readers.

Copyright in all Finding Aids belongs to the University of Nottingham. In the Reading Room, King's Meadow Campus: Typescript Catalogue, 8 pp At the National Register of Archives, London: Typescript Catalogue, 8 pp On the World Wide Web: Catalogue accessible from the website for Manuscripts and Special Collections, Manuscripts Online Catalogue. Catalogue also available online through The National Archives Access to Archives (A2A) web site.

Identification of copyright holders of unpublished material is often difficult. Permission to make any published use of any material from the collection must be sought in advance in writing from the Keeper of Manuscripts and Special Collections (email mss-library@nottingham.ac.uk). Photocopies and photographic copies can be supplied for educational use and private study purposes only, depending on the condition of the documents.

These papers constitute part of the Portland (Welbeck) Collection (GB 0159 Pw) and were received from the 7th Duke of Portland in the first deposit from Welbeck Abbey in 1949. By the Duke's express wish the family archives were divided between The University of Nottingham (political and family correspondence); Nottinghamshire Archives Office (Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Northumberland estate papers); British Library (Harley family papers); Hampshire Record Office (papers relating to the Dukes' Hampshire estate) and the Bodleian Library (Civil War papers of Reverend John Nalson). The entire Portland archive from Welbeck was accepted by the state in lieu of estate duty in 1986.

Letters to her husband William, 3rd Duke of Portland: (Reference GB 159 Pw F 10,525-10,766)