Letters from Edward Walpole to William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire

This material is held atThe Devonshire Collection Archives, Chatsworth

  • Reference
    • GB 2495 CS1/245
  • Dates of Creation
    • 26 January 1738- 26 February 1742
  • Physical Description
    • 13 items

Scope and Content

These letters from Edward Walpole largely concern business arising in his role as Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, the 3rd Duke of Devonshire.

The letters include mention of: people to be paid; recommendations being made for post vacancies; letters from landowners and prominent people such as Mr Wingfield, Mr Plummer, Louisa Du Perse; news of events in England and Ireland; affairs in Parliament; decisions to be conveyed to commanders of regiments; messages for the Duke of Newcastle; the government of "Londonderry"; memorandums to settle with Sir Robert [Walpole]; military affairs; expenses; a bill concerning drawback taken off foreign linens; his apprehension of being up to the task of assisting the 3rd Duke in Ireland; the marriage of Sir Robert; his respects to the Duchess and Lady Caroline; pensions upon the Irish establishment; a proposal to stop enlisting abroad and the French minister's opposition to it; altering bills; mourning dress; petitions presented against the fishery bill; Sir Robert's budget and a proposal regarding paying off the bank £1 million; the King's orders and decisions; Neville and Heath's affair; a disagreement with Tennison; affairs requiring the 3rd Duke's input or acknowledgement and signature; Cope and Barrington's affair; Frontin and Parker's affair; the treasury and the commissioner of appeals; the case of Lord Santry and the Lord Justices' opinion about the case (CS1/245/7); the King giving away Irish regiments; Dalzell's regiment's removal to the West Indies and his replacement by Johnston; Mr Pulteney's speech in Parliament; a treaty with Spain; rumours about Lord Aug-Gitzroy; the health of Sir Robert; importation of English beer and consequences of it; the King's wish to reconcile with the Prince of Wales; the Prince's wish that Sir Robert should be removed; his affection for Lord Hartington; the health of the Bishop of "Derry"; the price of wool and the issues surrounding export and sales of wool and the Irish wool industry (CS1/245/12).

Administrative / Biographical History

Walpole, Edward 1706 - 1784 [2nd son of 1st Earl of Oxford; Secretary for Ireland; MP for Gt. Yarmouth]