Letterbook

It contains the correspondence of Mr. Chas. Delafaye, Secy. to the Lords Justices with the Earl Stanhope during the King's absence at Hanover in the years 1719 and 1720. It presents nothing of the slightest importance but a few curious letters in the latter year touching the affairs of the South Sea Company. H."

Retained drafts and retained copies of letters, principally to James, Earl Stanhope, which originally accompanied minutes of the meetings of the Lords Justices and other enclosures (not present) sent to Stanhope in Hanover by Delafaye, Undersecretary of State.

The letters are mostly routine business correspondence, directing Stanhope's attention to various reports and items in the minutes. The letters dating from the last half of 1720 contain many references to the financial chaos, bank failures, and political difficulties created by the crash of the South Sea Company's stock in September, 1720.