In his letters Cheyney writes a lot on the topic of the Duchess of Devonshire's separation from the family, following her son Lord Hartington's choice of Lady Charlotte Boyle as a bride and the Duchess's disapproval of the match.
Topics of letters to the 3rd Duke include: his difficult journey; the benefit of the 3rd Duke's recommendation in his favour; his hope that all will end well if the Bishop of Sarum is not unreasonable; Dr Barton's suggestion that the Bishop of Sarum will want to negotiate on what he is asking and Cheyney's willingness to compromise; his suitability for the role he is requesting; his hope to be discharged from Mr Edmund's troublesome affair;
his thanks for an application the 3rd Duke wrote to Sir Robert Walpole; Dr Pearce kissing the King's hand for the deanery; no clarity on what will happen to the Deanery of Wells; the Deanery of Norwich becoming vacant; the news in the papers of Lord Duncannon arriving; his congratualtions on the wedding [of the Duke's daughter Caroline Cavendish to William Ponsonby, 2nd Earl of Bessborough];
his promise to inform the 3rd Duke about the Duchess's movements; the news that the Duchess has left to go to Cheyney's house at Chilbolton after growing tired of being where she was; his anticipation that the Duchess will soon grow tired of the solitude where she is; the Duchess's intentions to visit Lady Abercorne after midsummer and visits from the Bishop of Kildare and one or both Mrs Hoskinses; Cheyney's suggestion that it may be possible for the 3rd Duke to attempt to vist the Duchess where she is in the hopes of resolving their separation; his uncertainty about the whereabouts of Lord Herbert and a letter about Holt, the nomination of Mr H. Jones and consulting Mr Middleton and informing Dr Maurice, Dean of Bangor;
the Duchess's visit to London and her intention to stay at Mrs Finch's house and possibly Lady A's at Witham; his conferences with the Bishop of Kildare and his understanding from the Duchess that she is forbidden to return home; his naive hope that the Duke and Duchess meeting face-to-face may resolve their separation and she quietly return home; his sense that matters are not healed concerning the Duchess and Lord Hartington's new alliance [to Charlotte Boyle and the Burlingtons]; a person recommended by Lord Powis that will prove accountable to Mr Middleton and have the government's interests at heart;
In his letters to Lord Hartington Cheyney writes concerning: his hope to see Lord Hartington in Lincoln; Lord Burlington's passing through Newark and stopping to look at building work in Lincoln; his anticipation for Lord Hartington returning northwards; the races likely to be fairly empty on account of smallpox being rife; his offer of hospitality to Lord Hartington; his reflection on Lord Hartington's confession that unhappy family altercations [possibly relating to his mother's rejection of his choice of Charlotte Boyle for a spouse] have a tendency to make him angry at the world in general; his advice to Lord Hartington to be careful of his low mood around his friends and to try and control it where he can as it will have negative consequences for him most of all;
his wish for Lord Monson to know he has all the service and assistance that Cheyney is able to give him; his letter to Mr Burnard to tell him he supports Lord Monson in all future elections; a conference with Mr Penton regarding the election; a print of honour with regard to Powlet; a meeting with Monsieur Jenquiere and the opinion of his subordinate officers that they are not well used by not being allowed to return to France upon their parole; Mr Pelham's trouble with Dobson;
his gladness to receive a favourable account of Lady Rachel's health despite not knowing of her miscarrying and other ailments; his own bad cold and sore throat keeping him at home; not having much contact with the Duchess since being confined to Winton; his plans to visit London after Easter and not yet being in a position to name a date to see the 3rd Duke but it likely being in the summer season; his gladness at Mr Lowth accepting the offer of Lord Hartington's employment of going abroad with the young Lords (CS1/203/5);
the separation of the Duke and Duchess and a meeting face-to-face at Devonshire House to which he is not party to details but his hopes that it may be the beginning of a family resolution and his intention to learn more when he sees the Duchess at Chilbolton; his assumption that the Duchess is spending summer at Chilbolton because Lord and Lady Burlington will be at Chatsworth; his hopes to see Lord Hartington soon; his wish that Lord Hartington lives long so as to be able to enjoy Chatsworth;
his visit to Chatsworth and subsequent return to Winton where he hopes to carry out as few avocations as possible; his concern for Lord Hartington; his gladness at what Lord Hartington had achieved for Dr Newcombe; his disppointment of not seeing Lord Hartington whilst at Chatsworth and his assumtion that they shall have to meet in London; his intention to set out for London earlier in case he should stop at Newmarket or Chiswick for play;
the Duchess mentioning Lord Hartington (for the first time in recent times) to him in relation to his lack of letters to Lord Hartington; his lack of subject matter to write about to Lord Hartington as most that interests him has vanished from Cheyney's daily existence; his visit into Hussley to take his leave of Mr Bath; his concern for Lady Hartington after news reports of her ill health and her intention to travel to Bath with Lord Burlington to recover; his wish that Winchester lay more in the road so he may have more of a chance of seeing Lord Hartington; Mr Gardiner giving his lodgings to Mr Legge; his request for Lord Hartington to send a few franks to Mr Gardnier's house on Albermarle Street;
his impression that he last parted from the 3rd Duke under his displeasure, despite his actions only being well-meaning; his acceptance of Lord Hartington's request for Cheyney to procure two whips; his question of whether to send the whips to Lord Hartington's house on Albermarle Street; his assumption that the Duchess is also angry with him, having received no correspondence from her save for two line from Chatsworth to notify him she had arrived; his uncertainty about the cause of the uneasiness with members of the Devonshire family; his enquiry about when Lord Hartington's brothers are due to return as the Bishop of Winchester wishes to confer on him the archdeaconry of Winton;
staying with Dr Barton in Oxford; Lord Portsmouth's account of the Duke of Rutland's conduct in Derbyshire confirmed by the Duchess; his acceptance of one lottery ticket from Lord Hartington; congratulating Lord Hartington on his new office and his pleasure at hearing Lady Hartington is well again;
his wishes to Lord Hartington, despite not seeing each other for some time; his advice to seek comfort from those who have experienced the same loss as he and lean on the support of those who care for his welfare as well as letting time be a healer [relating the the death of his wife Charlotte];
his recommendation of Dr Kelly of Christchurch as a candidate for the vacant office of King's professorship of physic in Oxford; his wish for their correspondence not to end; his acknowledgement of the papers' report of the return of Lord Frederick; his business keeping church courts that is keeping him away from home; his bad cough and cold (CS1/203/14).