This group of papers comprises letters, bills and lists written by and relating to Charlotte, Marchioness of Hartington. The letters are written to Lady Hartington's mother Lady Burlington and her fiancé and then husband William Cavendish, Lord Hartington. She wrote the letters from aged nine until a couple of years before she died of smallpox in 1754.
To her mother she writes concerning: the supper menu; dining with her parents; writing to Mr Kent; Lady Bell opening the letter, to see how Lord Burlington was; Lady Betty Germain and Lord Boyle sending post; John shooting the [stern]; her father's health; preparing her mourning clothes; Miss Anderson's marriage and enquiry about pockets; dressing out for Lady Caroline's christening; her anticipation of her mother coming to Chiswick; a description of the large numbers of people in London; "Zelle"; visiting Lady Kildare at Holland House; Lord Clinton's [worna] fever; a cribbage party at Tunbridge with Mrs Kemp and others; a message from "Cann" to his "old Granny"; her pleasure that the Burlingtons are coming to Tunbridge Wells; the very hot weather; their journey in bad weather; white silk from Miss Anderson; Miss Mostyn; Lady Dorothy's ill-health from teething; Mr Garrick bothering her whilst she is writing; mistakes made by her servant Poll including her Chesterfield race dress being at Londesborough; Lady Rachel's wish for a work bag; dinner guests at Chatsworth; her request that Mr Garrick be asked to beat Poll [for her mistakes]; Booth Ferry'; sitting 28 to dinner on the last public day at Chatsworth.
To her father she writes concerning: a letter to Mr Wood, Mr Kent's presence at her assembly night; the chain pump at the spring; her mother's guinea fowls; Lady Burlington purchasing a mare; riding the mare around the hen yard and making "Mr Kentino" [William Kent] laugh; company including Mr Pope, Mr Arbuthnot, Mr P, Mr Blount, Mrs Broxholme and Miss Arbuthnot; dining at Dowager Countess of Burlington's; her upcoming birthday; Mr Bruneval and Lady Burlington discussing ale and wine.
To her fiancé and husband, Lord Hartington, who she sometimes refers to as "Dearest jewel", she writes concerning: shooting hares at Londesborough; the Duchess of Leeds's birth to a boy; Mun. Anderson being killed; eating plovers eggs; going to the drawing room; her company including Mrs Garrick, Lady Burlington, Lady Caroline, Lady Bur, the Duchess of Richmond, Lady Mary Churchill; a visit to Ranlagh; going to Chiswick; "not being afraid of Spirits"; a £50 bank note each from Lady Burlington; "Little Cann" liking Bath; the melancholic environment in the house at Bath; request for a fresh box of lozenges; drinking the waters at Tunbridge; their cribbage games; requesting Nanny Blackburn to help George out; a description of "Cann"; her pleasure at the prospect of him joining them in Tunbridge; the hot weather; "Cann"'s heat rash; enquiring after her daughter Dorothy's health and the 3rd Duke's; the windy weather making her "excessively stupid"; the dryness of Sir Thomas Robinson's company for Lord Hartington; dinner guests at Londesborough; her birthday gown to be made by Mr Hinchcliff; Stevens sprucing up her chair; opening a letter to him by mistake; her lottery ticket coming up; asking when to sell her blank tickets; compliments from the Burlingtons "Zelle" and Miss Rich; Mrs Millier and the groom losing their way; news of the Duchess of Chandos having a daughter and the princess to be a godmother; news of Lady Middlesex being pregnant and Lady Kildare having a son; Mr Fox winning £10,000.
To her father-in-law, the 3rd Duke, she writes concerning her thanks for a watch he gave her.
This material also includes:
- a poem from Alexander Pope to Lady Charlotte Boyle "on her birthday" (CS1/282/0);
- a list of pieces of furniture and furnishing, c. 1754 (CS1/282/25);
- a bill for lessons and music books from A. Scola, 1740-1746 (CS1/282/26);
- bills for accessories, jewellery and clothes bought, 1745-1747 (CS1.282/27-29).