This series of letters written from Thomas Pelham-Holles concerns political affairs and is largely written to the 3rd Duke of Devonshire and his son the Marquess of Hartington during the period in which the 3rd Duke and then later Lord Hartington were Lord Lieutenants of Ireland. The political affairs covered include: those of the royal family; the declaration of war on Spain and the battles at sea that followed; the Jacobite rising; and matters that arose in the government of Ireland.
The two letters to William Cavendish, 2nd Duke of Devonshire (from c. 1713 and 1725) concern: the general elections of 1713 and the need to persuade Sir Harry Peachy to step down in order to have a chance of winning a seat; Sir Robert Walpole insisting the Welsh judge's place must go to a member of the House of Commons; orders from Hanover to remove the Duke of Roxburghe; disturbances in Scotland from the Jacobites; quiet on the foreign affairs front; compliments to Horace on how he has handled the French; Lord Townshend's planned alliance.
The first letter to the 3rd Duke of Devonshire from Pelham-Holles (CS1/182/1) concerns the announcement from the King that the Prince of Wales has been ordered to leave St James's Palace owing to his behaviour about concealing the pregnancy of the Princess and her delivery of a daughter; included with this letter are copies of the letters sent from the King to the Prince of Wales concerning the orders (CS1/182/1A & CS1/182/1B).
The other letters from Pelham-Holles to the 3rd Duke concern: the Prince and Princess relocating to Kew; the King signing all commissions except Lord Primrose's which he did not agree to; a commission that the King has signed for the Duke but not sent since and now lost and forgotten all about it; the Queen being glad of the commission; John Delawar having Lord Westmorland's troop of guards which Lord Montagu had for a week;
commissions signed; affairs with the Black Flagg; the Dean of St Patrick; the Prince and Princess of Wales at Kew, taking the Duke of Norfolk's house in town and Childen in the country; Lady Torrington, Lady Effingham and Jimmy Pelham leaving Claremont; news in the Gazette of the Prince's visit to the city; the whereabouts of various people including his brother, the Duke's brother, friends at court; "Bumper"; Lord Cholmondeley, Lord Manson, Lord Rockingham; Lord Rockingham's new position as a Lord of the Bedchamber; Lord Albermarle's position as Governor of Virginia; Lord H[artfort]'s position as governor of Port Mahon and the marquis de Montandre position governing Guernsey; Wainwright's wish for the Duke's grace and favour; his compliment to the Primate [of Ireland];
his request that the 3rd Duke include his recommendations for the army in his public letters to Lord Newcastle so that he does not have to leave his private letters from the 3rd Duke with the King; his two draught answers for the King, one that mentioned Parliament's comments on the marriage of the Prince of Wales and the birth of the Princess, and one that did not mention this which he was willing to sign; the people's opinion of what the King has done regarding the Prince of Wales; merchants and something new made by the Spaniards; the merchants' petitions that have been presented to the King and the council which will result in strong representations to Spain by the government in support of the merchants; fine sport stag hunting on Epsom Downs;
the death of the Queen and Newcastle's memorial to her; the King's grieving; Sir Robert Walpole's visits to the King; the King's dependence on Walpole as friend and minister; Newcastle's two conversations with the King since the death of the Queen; the King's concern for the Duke of Devonshire for whom the Queen held high regard; the Queen's dying wish that the government and Sir Robert go on with their administration;
a reply to the 3rd Duke's query about mourning for the Queen in Ireland; wishes for a happy conclusion to the session in Ireland shortly; the Queen's funeral; the Lords looking on the business of the House of Commons; not having seen Lord Grafton to pass on the 3rd Duke's request;
two certificates enclosed that the 3rd Duke has requested, signed by the clerk of the Parliament; a request that the 3rd Duke only makes use of the certificates privately in case the Lords show objection to the clerk certifying their privileges; summoning friends to Parliament in case the opposition should raise "the great affair" again this session which they could win with a greater majority;
his inclination that the few recommendations in the army the King has rejected he may be persuaded to accept when the 3rd Duke comes in person; a peerage for Mr Rich[ipit]; his congratulations on the conclusion of the session in Ireland; the Spanish depredations to come before the House of Commons and the great resentment building against Spain; his and Sir Robert's request for his help in a matter concerning [De Lafage?];
James Letton's pardon; the commissions signed; Middleton's regiment being given to Col. Pulteney; many promotions of marshals and other general officers; matters concerning the admiralty such as manning fleets and appointing a commander; Vernon possibly to be made vice admiral; requesting a favour that the Dean Stone be able to swap the Deanery of Deny with the vacant Deanery of Downe; the Duke and Princess at Claremont; compliments from Lady Duncannon;
notice that he has carried out the 3rd Duke's commands except the solicitor general's appointment and one cornet's commission to be done next week; Mr Stone's belief that Mr Boews is not yet made attorney; Irish Parliament and the bill concerning wool; stopping and searching of French ships by Haddock; [his wife] Lady Katherine's difficult delivery of a baby girl;
his correspondence delayed by his business relating to the declaration of war [with Spain]; French arms in all the ports as a protective measure and to cause alarm rather than posing a real danger; the declaration of war needed to prevent some disputes with naval ships and to show the Government were in earnest; the 3rd Duke's brother's accident in which his collar bone broke; his request that the 3rd Duke sign a blank proxy;
his apologies for using an amanuensis instead of writing his own hand; his uncertainty about answers regarding the 3rd Duke's questions surrounding Irish governance; Sir Marmaduke Wyville's scruple of stopping and opening letters at the posthouse; taking up suspected persons; putting laws in execution against the Popish priests in Ireland; the 3rd Duke's care and diligence in dealing with the matter of an anonymous letter to Mr Walpole and lack of suspicion of Lord Chief Baron Marlay; permission from the King for the 3rd Duke to prosecute the person who wrote the letter signed Pa. Bussie; Admiral Haddock's capture of a ship [belonging to Guipuzcoan Company of Caracas] now brought to Portsmouth and a report of another taken by Captain Wilmington; the death of D[ ] of Manchester and the political consequences;
the attorney general's opinion of the stopping and opening of letters at the post office in Ireland which he believes should only be done with a warrant from the Secretary of State; an enclosed warrant for the Postmaster General's use under the direction of the 3rd Duke; Lord Lieutenant of Ireland gaining the same powers as Secretary of State in England; the King's view that it is not for the Lord Lieutenant to promote laws against popish priests but to be led by the will of the Irish Parliament in that respect;
filling up of dates of commissions to be settled by the 3rd Duke and the war office; Mr Legge's letter about ordnance; exhausted stock meaning the 3rd Duke cannot be furnished with more; sending a copy of the gazette which provides an account of the taking of Porto bello [1739] and the positive consequences of the capture for success in the West Indies and the war; bills to be debated in Parliament; the late Duke of Ormond's arrival in Madrid; the Pretender's son; encampment in Ga[...]a;
his congratulations on the success of the session in Ireland despite attempts to disturb it; the 3rd Duke's brother not being surprised or sorry at "the first intelligence about his black friend" but a little hard of faith as to the last publication sent over; parliament debating the state of the nation; Lord Reynolds to be made Baron of the Exchequer; recommending Baron Wainwright to be made chief baron or chief justice;
his thanks for the 3rd Duke's kindness to Dean Stone; hopes of bringing Dean Stone onto the bench after the death of the bishop; a report of the Spanish fleet sailed from Cadiz;
a request that the 3rd Duke consider Sir Thomas Pendegress for the Governor of Galway who would have the protestant cause at heart in a very papist area; a recommendation of Mr Albbins for some ecclesiastical orders; foreign affairs growing worse in France, Germany and Sweden;
a letter from Mr Stone about approving the order that Capt George Junes should not go and the company should go without a captain; Bishop of Kilmare wishing to be recommended for the archbishopric of Tuam; expecting the return of the King from Hanover; foreign affairs still being in a bad way; the 3rd Duke being asked to take care of Mrs Spence;
his condolences on the death of the 3rd Duke's son Lord James Cavendish; delay in his one commission in the army due to Mr Potter; the Bishop of Kilmare being happy to accept the archbishopric of Tuam on the terms proposed; his respect for the Primate [of Ireland] and his willingness to adhere to his wishes; the whereabouts of the Duke of Grafton and Lord and Lady Euston; Lord Anson's expedition and the possible loss of a ship; affairs in Germany and the Great Duke's army of 40,000 men; the King of Prussia being tired of his new friends and returning to old ones; Spanish troops sailing from Barcelona and toward Marseille by bad weather; sending reinforcements to Mr Haddock;
his opinion that Dr Cheney should have the Deanery of Lincoln; the chaplain abroad applying to Lord Carleton; expecting Lord Stair who keeps the garrison at Menorca; the conclusion of the treaty with the King of Sardinia and Queen of Hungary;
his request to Lord Carleton that the Lord Chancellor of Ireland be made a peer as requested by the 3rd Duke; his proposal to make Dr Akin, Dean of Ely, an Irish bishop; his proposal to make Dr Newcome Dean of Ely and Dr Cheyney Dean of Lincoln; his proposal to make Lord Fitzwilliam's friend, Dean of Peterborough; his considerations around dean and bishopric vacancies and who to appoint; the campaign abroad being over and the army relocating to Flanders; hearing terrible accounts which may have bad consequences for the winter campaign; an update on their brothers;
transporting Irish corps to England; the King's approval for securing Lord Barrymore's papers at his house in Ireland in order to search for any papers which may show him to be against the King's government; Lord Duncannon's intelligence that there are two Dutch ships at Cork with provisions detained by the embargo which would likely be persuaded to go to Admiral Matthew's aid should the provisions on board be purchased; an account from Mr Matthews at Port Mahon about having to make port due to his damaged ship; the need for provisions by Mr Matthews; the King's permission for the 3rd Duke to return to England unless he sees cause to be in Ireland longer;
laying the 3rd Duke's letters before the King (CS1/182/27); the King's approval of the Deputy Lieutenants for Derby; an account of the Jacobite rebels taking Edinburgh whilst Sir John Cope's troops were in Dunbar; the second embarkation of Dutch troops arriving at Gravesend; the mobilisation of troops in the north of England under Huske, Cope and Wentworth to defend the country against the rebels; regiments to embark at Williamstadt in Flanders expected imminently;
the King's approbation of the three Deputy Lieutenants for Derby; the defeat of Cope's troops by the rebels necessitating a change in plan involving Marshal Wade commanding the troops to march against the rebels; a list of the various regiments to join and march under Wade amounting to around 10,000 men; HRH the Duke standing by for instructions; wishes to Lord Hartington on his new employment;
an update on the mobilisation of Wade's troops against the Jacobite rebels;
the 3rd Duke's successful meeting at Derby; troops raised in Derbyshire being commanded by Lord Hartington and Sir Nathaniel Curzon; a new higher warrant to empower the 3rd Duke to raise regiments and appoint colonels and lieutenants etc; an update on the rebels at Edinburgh; Sir John Cope and Brigadier Fowkes's orders to return to London for an enquiry of their conduct; capture of a Spanish ship heading to Scotland with provisions; privateers that have sailed from Dunkirk with provisions for Scotland and possibly the Pretender's son aboard; regiments from Williamstadt to embark at Newcastle; French army going into winter quarters; western side of the country unprotected from potential French attack; information about Mr Lochart of Carnwarth, aid to the Pretender; Irish brigade marching towards Dunkirk in order to embark for England;
a request from the King for the troops in Derbyshire to resist the rebels' progress should they march beyond Cumberland where they and the Pretender's son are currently;
a group debate on assisting the Dutch; proposals being made by Mr Pitt concerning augmenting the navy; the King seeming very weary at the thought of carrying on against the King of Prussia; negative consequences of a long war against Prussia; his thoughts that putting an end the rebellion as soon as possible is vital but in the meantime any other political affairs must be left alone as much as possible; a visit from the Duke's brother;
enclosed information about the Duke of Norfolk's house at Worksop containing a quantity of arms; a possible search to be carried out on the orders of the Duke by the High Sheriff of Nottingham, Mr Dunstan, according the information that has been given; no update from Marshal Wade on his progress since he started marching; the surrender of Carlisle castle to the rebels; accounts from France that they are supporting the Pretender; update from Dunkirk regarding the rebellion; Mr Wade at Hexham and he thinks the rebels may come into Yorkshire;
the King's thanks for the 3rd Duke's regular accounts of the motions of the rebels; the handling of the rebels at Derby and its likely prevention of the rebels reaching London; the expectation of an embarkation in the south and hopes that the vessels posted along the coast may intercept; their good provision of ships to defend the country against the rebels but the poor number of men (about 6,000) on land around London; plans to increase the number of men on foot; the need to send men into Scotland in order to stop the rebels being in total control there; Hessian troops being called to Edinburgh; the poor state of foreign affairs including the distress of the Dutch due to the English recalling troops; the Queen of Hungary recalling troops from the Rhine in order to pursue her Chimerical Project against the King of Prussia; strange behaviour of Mr Pitt in parliament; the Duke of Bedford and Lord Gower remaining united with them; his request for the 3rd Duke to return to London now that the rebels are clear of Derbyshire and going back to Scotland; his instruction to the 3rd Duke to deal with Mr Heathcote;
Lord Hartington's letters to Pelham-Holles; asking the 3rd Duke's approval of his letter to Lord Hartington enclosing the one to Lord Holderness (CS1/182/43);
his thanks for letting him peruse a letter of the 3rd Duke's and congratulating him on his success; a letter of his enclosed from Lord Hartington to the 3rd Duke.
The letters to William Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington concern:
sending Lord Hartington's letter to the King; information about the chaplain attending the King at Hanover; his condolences for Lord Hartington's loss and the Duke of Grafton; Mr Rook's son;
his, Lord Ashburnham and Lord Waldegrave's congratulations to Lord and Lady Hartington on the birth of their son;
explaining the protocol around the residentiary of St Paul's and preferments and Dr Newcome and Dr Terrick;
the residentiary of St Paul's given to Dr Terrick and the vacant canonry to Dr Newcome by the King; recommendations made by other people to fill the vacant posts which he turned down saying he had promised Lord Hartington's recommendations; further rumination on the many recommendations he received for the vacant posts;
orders for Lord Hartington to kiss the King's hand and arrangements for the event;
his promise to do everything in his power to assist Lord Hartington where it is useful to the King and government; Lord Hartington's conversation with the principal persons of Bell's party; Lord Hartington's handling of the Primate of Ireland; his wish for Lord Hartington to inform him of Lord Bessborough and Mr Ponsonby's way of thinking; affairs in Ireland; private conferences with which he is satisfied; requesting Lord Hartington's advice; foreign affairs concerning North America; Lord Hartington's friend in Spain; the Lord Duke's visit to Claremont;
wishing Lord Hartington congratulations in his present scheme and a calm and easy administration to come; reference to the enclosed copy of a letter to Lord Holderness (CS1/182/42); the point with which Pelham-Holles disagreed on the topic of Lord Hartington's recommendations for Ireland regarding not making the Speaker one of the Lord Justices;
his regret that quiet and reconciliation [in Ireland] now seem unlikely and that Lord Hartington's return to England will be delayed (CS1/182/45); the behaviour of the Speaker and Mr Malone; the King's orders deserted by Sir J Robinson; matter concerning the Lord Chancellor and Lord Hartington staying in Ireland and his opinions on the matter; not mentioning the affair of the Speaker and Lord Hartington remaining in Ireland to the Duke of Dorset; requesting Lord Hartington's opinion on the matter;
the reply he received from Lord Holderness of the King's initial approval for the Speaker being restored to his former position as Chancellor of the Exchequer and resistance to this proposal; Colonel Conway being able to explain the Primate's position; passing on Lord Hartington's proposal about Lord Molesworth to the King; Mr Gardiner's dangerous state of health; encouraging Lord Cholmondeley to formally apply for a vacancy when it comes;
his concern that Lord Hartington feels Pelham-Holles has been wanting in friendship towards him; his attempt to reassure Lord Hartington he has his interests in mind; his clarification of what they had agreed regarding the Speaker; his slight difference in opinion not intended to mean the King should not adhere to Lord Hartington's recommendations; his great respect for the Primate; pleading Lord Hartington not to be angry and consider how he has in fact always been at his service;
meeting with Col. Conway and hoping to persuade him of his commitment to Lord Hartington's administration, as he cannot persuade Lord Hartington himself; the issue of the Primate not being made a Lord Justice and his wish to be recommended to the King; a request that if Lord Hartington can see a solution to which the King would agree, to write it to Pelham-Holles who will push for it as much as he is able; foreign affairs remaining much the same, but something needing to be done before Parliament meets;
his agreeing with Lord Hartington's scheme for appointing a Lord Deputy; his opinion of how to execute this scheme and who to inform first; consideration of who would fill the post including mention of Lord Strafford and Lord Sandys; his opinion that a war with France seems inevitable; foreign affairs of France and America; a confidential plan of war on the continent sent to the King; his requesting the King to come over immediately by formal letter; request to Lord Hartington to keep the contents of this letter a secret;
reaffirming his duty to Lord Hartington via Col. Conway; reconfirming his belief that Lord Hartington's scheme for a Deputy for Ireland is a good one that should be executed and that he will assist in any way possible to ensure this; approval of Mr Clements succeeding [L]ulu Gardiner and Mr Burton succeeding Mr Clements; news that Mr Mal[ita] has a mind to be Secretary of State; complaining that the Duke of Devonshire does not seem satisfied with him regarding Mr Stone not writing to his [master] as Pelham-Holles had promised; his account of what he did regarding Mr Stone and the Primate and his incapability of deceiving Lord Hartington; Mr Stone's not being Pelham-Holles's fault; his endeavour to get Lady Molesworth's pension as soon as possible; description of discourse with Manwell and his honest nature; printed papers from Ireland against Lord G. Sackville; the replacement of the counc[ellor] of the revenue with Mr Hill; his request that some provision is made for Mr Bendrier but without his name being mentioned in association with it; request for Lord Hartington to send his proxy as usual; an account of the unfortunate behaviour near Ohio involving officers; the thought that American business must be done by Americans and why this is not the case; the appointment of a Commander in Chief; better treatment of the American troops; the Spanish King honouring his friendship with the British nation and the Queen of Hungary and King of Sardinia; beginning negotiations with the King of Prussia; confidential plans involving the Lord Chancellor, House of Commons and Mr Pitt; countenance in the Treasury; nobody to replace the Chancellor of the Exchequer except Sir G. Lee; his letter written to the Primate;
the late arrival of the King in good health and approving all of Lord Hartington's recent recommendations; the Primate's request not to be made one of the Lord Justices on Lord Hartington leaving Ireland; directions to Lord Hartington to do as he sees fit in a way that won't make the King look bad or as if he is involved; a warrant from the King for Lord Hartington to reinstate the Speaker as Chancellor of the Exchequer and ensuring proper provision is made for Mr Hill to be willing to leave the post; the King agreeing to Lady Molesworth's pension; backlash against measures that may be brought before Parliament concerning the Hessian and [Russian] subsidies and how these affect other matters on the continent; needing to come to a more thorough agreement with Mr Fox and the Lord Chancellor; Mr Fox appointing Lord Granville; the fact that it is not practicable for the country to support a war on the continent; his long discussion with Mr Fox and Lord Waldegrave;
his and Fox's determination to get along; the Prussian treaty that is not yet made and may not be; Mr Fox attempting the persuade the King of the useful preventative measure of the treaty; the Duke of Devonshire's difference of opinion about the treaty; prevailing upon the King to send a minister to Berlin; requesting Lord Hartington's assistance with the Duke of Devonshire; Mr Fox being Secretary of State replacing Sir Robinson who will be Master of the Wardrobe again and Lord Barrington will be Secretary at War; a pension for Sir Robinson on the Irish establishment;
the King's suggestions for amendments to an address written by Lord Hartington;
word from Sir Wilmot that the messenger is ready to set out with the treasury warrants; his commitment to obeying Lord Hartington's commands; Lord Cholmondeley being ready to do what is to be done by him;
request for Lord Hartington to make Maxwell's father a peer; the King's request that Lord Hartington send all the English Members of Parliament that would vote for the subsidies;
Old Horace's peerage at the end of the session (CS1/182/60); his intentions to come over [to Ireland];
the Chancellor becoming a viscount and Mr Ludlow a peer; the late arrangement having the desired effect; the proceedings in parliament; the Duke of Devonshire's declining health;
melancholy reason for sending a messenger; grief and concern for an extensive loss; debate between Mr Fox and Mr Pitt; many vacancies about to be created; hopes of bringing in Doddington; his view that Egmont must have the Irish vacancy etc.; requesting Lord Hartington's thoughts about the vacancies and how they might best be filled; wishing to settle the appointments before Christmas.
There are also a number of letters from an earlier period and some written to other people. These include:
- a letter from the Duke of Newcastle to Lady Burlington in which he writes of his pleasure that he may have anything in Tunbridge Wells of use to her and for her to take command of the park as she wishes, 19 July 1739 (CS1/182/11);
-a copy letter from the Duke of Devonshire to Robert Darcy, 4th Earl of Holderness concerning Lord Hartington and the 3rd Duke's actions to restore the peace and tranquillity of Ireland, and Lord Hartington's recommendation to restore the Speaker to his post as Chancellor of the Exchequer, 23 May 1755;
- copy of an account of the battle of Toulon written by Monsieur De Court in Alicante, 1744 (CS1/182/25);
- notes and extracts of letters from Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle to Robert Darcy, 4th Earl of Holderness and William Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington, 1755 (CS1/182/47).