This series of letters from Henry Pelham to the 3rd Duke of Devonshire and his son Lord Hartington capture important political affairs relating to the Government of Great Britain and particularly to governing of Ireland, when the 3rd Duke had responsibility for this as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1737-1744) and whilst Lord Hartington was MP for Derbyshire and Master of the Horse. Henry Pelham had oversight of the Government primarily as Prime Minister of Great Britain (1743-1754). These letters cover the period in which Pelham was also MP for Sussex, Paymaster of the Forces (1720-1743), and then (as Prime Minister) was also the First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Leader of the House of Commons (174-1754).
The letters concern political affairs of the period with particular focus on: payment of the forces; troops from Ireland; the treatment of the Spaniards; the King's movements; post vacancies and recommendations; opening of the sessions and parliament; French fleets near the coast; war declared by France; military foreign affairs in Bohemia, Flanders, Dresden, Ostend, Willemstad and Antwerp; the Jacobite uprising of September 1745; the movements of the Jacobite Rebellion; breaking up roads in Derbyshire; St Clair's expedition; events at Cape Breton according to Duke D'Anville; tax on spirits in Holland; bad health of four regiments in Zealand; the siege of Bergen op Zoom; the French plan of peace; the Court of Vienna; vacant garters to be disposed of; vacant prebendary; subsidiary treaties; national debt; peerages; election of members of parliament; granting of the gold key.
Also included in these letters are mention of their respective families and people in their network of nobility and governing elites. Events mentioned include births, deaths and marriages.
Significant mention is made of: the King and the royal family; Mr Potter; Mr Townshend; Mr Legge, The Duke of Newcastle; Sir Robert Walpole; Lord Carteret and his wife Lady Catherine; Horace [Horatio] Walpole; Lord Scarborough; Mr Pulteney; the Duke of Richmond; Lord Duncannon; Mr Fowles; Lord Wilmington; Sandys; King of Prussia; Queen of Hungary; Roper Cavendish; Mr Perkins; Lord Burlington and the affair of the jointure for Lady Charlotte; Lord George Murray; the Pretender; General Cope; "Old Horace"; Marshal Wade; Lord Bedford; Lord Rutland; the Young Pretender; General Handasyde; Lord John Drummond; Charles Radcliffe Lord Derwentwater and the Young Pretender's alleged son; Mr Pitt; "Linky"; Lady Burlington; Sir John Ligonier; Mr Vernon; Msr Hucks; Jack White; Lord Lonsdale; King of Sardinia; Marshal Saxe; Lord Sandwich; Lord Chesterfield; Lord Herbert's brother and a duel with Lord Belfield; the King of France; General Hache; Prince Hesse Phillipshal; Old Cronstrom; Harry Fox; Marshal Battiani; Mr Gough; young Staniford; Mr Monson; Mr Heneage; Dr Newcome; Sir Watkin Williams; Lord George Cavendish; Dick Plummer; Lord Albemarle; Lord Granby; Lord Downe; Col. Yorke; Lord Lincoln and his daughter Catherine.