These letters are written to the 3rd Duke of Devonshire and Lord Hartington from fellow politician, Henry Fox, during his role as Secretary at War (1747-1755) and Secretary of State for the Southern Department (1755-1756) and Leader of the House of Commons (1755-1756). The letters concern foreign and domestic political affairs of the day and include reference to the military, including post holders and vacancies in the forces, as well as government, court and Irish political affairs. He also mentions personal news from nobility and other individuals known in the elite power network that formed the running of the state and crown in this ten-year period.
Much of Fox's letters concerns his own conversations and decisions surrounding his career and Lord Hartington's. These letters also cover his growing friendship with the 3rd Duke (especially whilst Lord Hartington was in Ireland as Lord Lieutenant) and some aspects of the demise of his relationship with the Duke of Newcastle.
In his letters to Lord Hartington (which he begins "My Dear Lord" and often signs off "Adieu") he mentions:
The Jacobite Rebellion 1745
the Jacobite rebels seizing Carlisle Castle and anticipating their next move South or towards Newcastle; his anticipation that the rebels will die of famine or at the sword or return to the Highlands;
Political affairs
a motion debated at the House of Commons; writing to Ingram about Ashridge and beating Lord Foley; a matter concerning E. Powlett's settlement and title; the 3rd Duke's recommendation of Captain Bagshaw for a majority;
possible changes in post holders in government and court; new post-holders; application on behalf of Lord Marlborough for a post; redistribution of troops; smuggling duty of some troops; Duke of Bedford not wishing to change posts; his fear of the mischief he'd cause as Secretary of State and his wish to decline the post; a matter concerning Lord Lincoln, Mr Stone, the Duke of Devonshire and the Duke of Newcastle; making Lord Hartington's visit to the Lord Chancellor more formal and in the Duke of Devonshire's name; Fox's plans to manipulate a situation with the Lord Chancellor; a matter concerning Arundel; his favour with "The Duke" (Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland); Lady Yarmouth speaking to Lord Hartington on a matter concerning Fox; an account of Pitt's impressive speech in the House of Commons on the Deleval petition and Sir Thomas Robinson speaking in the House; Pitt's opinion in the House of Jacobitism; Whiggism; Old Horace; Nugent's speech; Horace working to establish a scheme of Lord Bolingbroke's; Lord Poulet's request an account of what passed in Lord Hillsborough's garden concerning Mr Ellis, the Duke of Newcastle and Murray (CS1/330/33); Duke of Newcastle and Lord Chancellor ill at Leicester House; political gossip from Lord Waldgrave concerning the Duke of Newcastle's intentions for Mr Pitt at Leicester House and his attempt to push Fox down (CS1/330/45); the King's disagreeable situation (CS1/330/50); Lord Granville's scheme concerning Pitt; Lord Rothes's request; Captain Gore; an official invitation to send letters to be laid before the King to Fox as new Secretary of State for the Southern Department; official letters acknowledging appointments to posts approved by the King;
Foreign affairs
The French at Berge op Zoom; the subsidiary treaty; Sir E Hawke ordered to Torbay with 16 ships; the war with France and Boscaven; decision about French troops in America; Braddock's defeat in Ohio and those killed in the battle including Irish names (CS1/330/51); threat of invasion from France; receiving a horrible account from Lisbon; purchasing of the beef bought by Lord Hartington; an account of the earthquake at Lisbon and the King's intention to come to the aid of the Portuguese and send beef to Portugal.
Political affairs concerning the government of Ireland from 1755
[Speeches?] enclosed to Lord Hartington; a disagreement about troops being recalled or lessened despite reducing their own troops; troops to go to Ashborne; ordnance supplies; the behaviour of the Speaker and Primate according to a letter from Lord Kildare; discourse between the Speaker and Lord Hartington; the good character of Lord Kildare; meeting with someone, unnamed; recommendation for Mr Grevil; the King's pleasure with Lord Hartington; the advice from Mr Ponsonby; Sir H Cavendish and Lord Newport concerning Lord Hartington staying in Ireland rather than returning to England and calling parliament earlier as justification for the decision to the Lord Justices (CS1/330/37); his advice for Lord Hartington not to be seen publically to be too intimate with the Primate; his belief that the Duke of Newcastle and Chancellor will attempt to save the Duke of Dorset's honour over Hartington's; the need to force the Primate out of the government of Ireland; the Duke of Devonshire's concern that Lord Hartington and not the Duke of Newcastle should be making decisions about the administration of Ireland directly with the King; appointing justices; request for leave for Mr Waldgrave from Lady Betty Waldgrave; the Duke of Newcastle concealing Lord Hartington's letters for not wishing to mention Ireland; Lord Kildare and the matter of removing the Speaker and not making the Primate a Lord Justice; his letter to Lord Hillsborough; rumours of war from Ireland; Lady Caroline's letters from Lady Kildare concerning political matters; Pitt and most of the House of Commons opposing the Russian subsidy and the King's anxiety over this; his new appointment in the cabinet and Sir Thomas Robinson's reversion to his former post; Lord Hartington's draft speech; a deputy in Ireland; the Primate's behaviour; letter to Lord Shelburne; the Duke of Bedford's thoughts on "Pitt's government"; Mr Perry's behaviour and the Princess's reputation; recommendation letters
Personal affairs and news from mutual acquaintances
The death of Frazer; his compliments to Old Horace, the Duke of Devonshire and Lady Hartington; Lord Frederick's leave signed off; Lady Caroline being inoculated in town; his anxiety (CS1/330/11); Dr Newcome being made prebend at Windsor; a "habeas corpus" granted at Holcomb to bring Lady Mary Coke before the King's Bench concerning Lord Coke's behaviour endangering her health (CS1/330/13); assistance and advice from Arundel regarding a matter; Lady Hillsborough's wish to see the gardens at Chiswick; Mrs Ellis miscarrying at Liege; the death of Lord Albemarle and his family's inheritance, his estate and his various posts to be distributed; Lord Monfort's death by suicide and his son's poor behaviour in Poland; his visits to and conversations with the Duke of Devonshire and his perception that the Duke is proud of his son, Lord Hartington; his willingness to write to Lord Hartington on any matter he knows of that Lord H may have wish to know about; his good opinion of Ellis; his poor opinion of the Duke of Newcastle and the Chancellor as two dishonest men (CS1/330/38); Sir William Yonge dying; Lord Hartington's hawks; his request to borrow Lord Hartington's house until he's found his own whilst Lord H is away in Ireland; the 3rd Duke being extremely ill.
In his letters to the 3rd Duke of Devonshire he writes concerning: Captain Bagshaw and the King not wishing to give him a majority despite the Duke's recommendation because he has lost a leg; the King being unlikely to grant pensions in Ireland (CS1/330/29); keeping Lord Kildare's letter concerning the Speaker a secret (CS1/33/34); his opinion of Mr Malone (CS1/330/40); Sir E Hawke being ordered to Torbay with 16 ships; (CS1/330/46); the progress of war with France and Russian subsidies (CS1/330/48); Lord Kildare siding with Lord Hartington and being firm with the Speaker etc. about agreeing to terms proposed (CS1/330/59); the King's agitation over the subsidy treaties being met with opposition (CS1/330/66); the change in roles in cabinet.
Also included in this series of letters are copy letters and memoranda presumably enclosed to Lord Hartington or the 3rd Duke by Henry Fox. These include:
- a copy letter from Henry Fox to the Duke of Newcastle, concerning his wish to decline the position of Secretary of State and keep his current role (CS1/330/17);
- a memorandum of a conversation between Mr Stone and Mr Fox, 29 August 1754;
- a copy letter extract to Lord Kildare, 15 March 1755;
- a list of those killed near Menghela, Ohio, July 1755 (CS1/330/52);
- an account of Baddock's defeat at Ohio, by Henry Gladwin (CS1/330/53);
- a copy of Minutes of the meeting of the Treasury Board at Newcastle House, concerning shipping supplies to Lisbon (CS1/330/83).