Manuscript, in multiple hands, of copies of several hundred letters from Conway to other military officials, including Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick and John Manners, Marquis of Granby, during his service as deputy to Granby, Commander of the British forces, in the Seven Years' War, as well as subordinate officers and members of the Commissary Office. Many of the letters concern routine problems of military life and discipline; he requests wagons for camp necessaries, clothing, and supplies of ammunition; deplores the lack of horses and harness, notes that subalterns have no tents in which to sleep, discusses convalescent and discharge pay, and complains that he has no directions where to send sick soldiers, nor hospital wagons in which to transport them. He also reports numerous instances of delinquency in the military, including theft and robbery in the Guards; and, on June 19, 1761, writes to Granby for permission to court-martial a deserter as an example to the other soldiers, "as scarce a day passes without some desertion from us." He also discusses personnel issues, including an appointment to the Commissariat; engages in numerous disagreements with Lieutenant Colonel Beckwith over administrative matters, and acknowledges orders from Granby and Prince Ferdinand for marching and troop formation, as well as gives his opinions on how best to do so. In other military correspondence, he requests Lord Frederick Cavendish to look for proper ground for encamping twelve battalions at Bergen; asks Major Baczko to procure all possible intelligence of the motions of the enemy; and thanks Major General George Townshend for his report on the roads
Description:
Henry Seymour Conway (1719-1795) was an army general and politician. He fought in the War of the Austrian Succession; served in Ireland during the Jacobite Rebellion, and in Germany during the Seven Years' War. He was successively promoted to major general in 1756 and to lieutenant general in 1759. Sitting in the House of Commons from 1741 to 1774 and from 1775 to 1784, Conway became a leading member of the opposition, opposing the King's action against John Wilkes regarding general warrants in 1763. In 1765, he became secretary of state for the southern department in Lord Rockingham's ministry, where he promoted a policy of reconciliation towards the American colonies. He supported the repeal of the Stamp Act in 1766, and opposed the taxation policies of Chancellor of the Exchequer Charles Townshend. He criticized British prosecution of the war with the American colonies and played an important part in the House of Commons' resolution against continuing the war. In 1747, he married Caroline Bruce, countess of Ailesbury (1721-1803), and had one child, Anne (1749-1828) Seymour Damer. His aunt Catherine was the wife of Sir Robert Walpole, and Conway maintained a lifelong friendship and correspondence with his cousin Horace Walpole., In English and French., Inside front cover of vol. 1: index., Pasted on front cover of vol. 2: piece of paper on which is written, "Marshal Conway, Military Letters from Germany 1761. 62. 63. His own Copies.", Binding: vol. 1: half vellum over colored-paper boards; vol. 2: quarter vellum over colored-paper boards; vol. 3: full vellum; vol. 4: half vellum over green-paper boards., and For further information, consult library staff.
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain. and Great Britain
Subject (Name):
Cavendish, Frederick, Lord, 1729-1803., Cockburn, James, Sir, 1723-1801., Conway, Henry Seymour, 1721-1795., De Cosne, Ruvigny., Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, 1721-1792., Granby, John Manners, Marquis of, 1721-1770., and Townshend, George Townshend, Marquis, 1724-1807.
Subject (Topic):
Military administration, Military camps, Military discipline, Seven Years' War, 1756-1763, Militia, and Politics and government
Collection, in a single hand, of 61 letters from Henry Seymour-Conway to his brother, Lord Francis Seymour-Conway, in which he discusses military, political, and social news between 1744 and 1784. The collection contains discussion of his military service in the Netherlands in the 1740s, including a detailed description of battle against the French in a letter dated June 30, 1743; he also mentions his campaign in Germany during the Seven Years' War, including his altercation with Col. Beckwith, his irritation with a commission he has been given, and news of a peace treaty between Austria and Prussia. In 1744 he discusses the practicality of buying a regiment, asks his brother for help raising the money, and offers to sell his own South Sea stock. He writes several letters from Dublin Castle reporting on Irish politics, including some movements in the House of Lords regarding "papists." In England, he complains about prime minister George Grenville's uncivil and unjust treatment of him and defends his decision in the affair of the Britannic Legion and in the John Wilkes affair which led to his dismissal from court and military office in 1764. Conway also occasionally mentions American affairs, including one letter in 1766 which reports the repeal of the Stamp Act, and another in 1774 in which he expresses pleasure on hearing that violent measures in America had been rejected for the present. Numerous letters make reference to friends and family, including his wife Lady Ailesbury and Conway's close friend Horace Walpole, who offers financial assistance after Conway's dismissal; becomes ill in 1765; and visits Conway after Conway's retirement in 1784
Description:
Henry Seymour Conway (1719-1795) was an army general and politician. He fought in the War of the Austrian Succession; served in Ireland during the Jacobite Rebellion, and in Germany during the Seven Years' War. He was successively promoted to major general in 1756 and to lieutenant general in 1759. Sitting in the House of Commons from 1741 to 1774 and from 1775 to 1784, Conway became a leading member of the opposition, opposing the King's action against John Wilkes regarding general warrants in 1763. In 1765, he became secretary of state for the southern department in Lord Rockingham's ministry, where he promoted a policy of reconciliation towards the American colonies. He supported the repeal of the Stamp Act in 1766, and opposed the taxation policies of Chancellor of the Exchequer Charles Townshend. He criticized British prosecution of the war with the American colonies and played an important part in the House of Commons' resolution against continuing the war. In 1747, he married Caroline Bruce, countess of Ailesbury (1721-1803), and had one child, Anne Seymour Damer (1749-1828). His aunt Catherine was the wife of Sir Robert Walpole, and Conway maintained a lifelong friendship and correspondence with his cousin Horace Walpole., Francis Seymour-Conway, first marquess of Hertford (1718-1794) and older brother of Henry Seymour Conway, was a courtier and politician. He became a lord of the bedchamber in 1757 and was sworn to the privy council in 1763. He served as ambassador to France 1763-5, lord lieutenant of Ireland 1765-6, lord chamberlain 1766-1782 and again in 1783. He was also lord lieutenant of Warwickshire from 1757 until his death. From 1766-1782, he was a friend and confidant to George III. Hertford supported Lord North's administration and the war in America, in which three of his sons served, and voted against Shelburne's peace preliminaries in February 1783. He was also influential in Irish politics, owning extensive estates in County Antrim, and serving a term as lord lieutenant in 1765-6., In English., The manuscript is accompanied by typed transcription., Pasted into letter of Aug 22, 1744: printed and handwritten note about Cadivor ap Gwaethvord, Lord of Cardigan Iscoed., Laid in with letter of August 11, 1748: list of contents of manuscript., Laid in with letter of May 11, 1764: newspaper clipping from Gazetteer, dated May 9, 1764, concerning Conway's dismissal., Vol. 2 with original binding, now housed separately. Binding: half red morocco over marbled boards. Written on cover: The Conway Correspondence. Pasted inside front cover: bookplate with Order of the Garter. Laid in with the covers are a pencilled floor plan and a page from a journal listing the numbers of foot soldiers and naval ships and guns in Europe, North America, Africa, East and West Indies, and the Mediterranean., and Binding for volume 2 shelved separately. For further information, consult library staff.
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain., Great Britain, United States., Ireland, and United States
Subject (Name):
Conway, Henry Seymour, 1721-1795., Grenville, George, 1712-1770., Hertford, Francis Seymour-Conway, Marquess of, 1718-1794., Walpole, Horace, 1717-1797., Wilkes, John, 1725-1797., Great Britain. Parliament., and Ireland. Parliament.
Subject (Topic):
Military administration, Seven Years' War, 1756-1763, Stamp act, 1765, Court and courtiers, Foreign relations, Militia, Politics and government, and Social life and customs
"Three outgoing ministers are being knocked off their seats by their successors. The ministers are or have been seated on stones resembling mile-stones, engraved with the title of their office. They are all in profile to the left, facing their successors. Sandwich (centre), on a stone inscribed "First Lo--d of the Adm--ty", is being knocked backwards by Admiral Keppel, his successor, who threatens him with clenched fists, saying, "Strike your false Colours". Sandwich is saying "That broadside has broke my Bowsprit". From his pocket falls a small paper, "List of the navy". Round his waist is a rope with a broken end, the other end of which is still attached to an anchor which lies on the ground beside him, inscribed "Rotten for want of care". Lord North (right), very short and fat, is being knocked backwards by Fox, who has a fox's head. His stone is inscribed "Prime Minis--r"; he says, "O Reynard if I fall I shall burst". Fox says to him, "Buss Constable". By this stone He two bars inscribed "Soap" and a cask inscribed "12 Shilling Small Beer", to indicate the taxes recently proposed by North, see BMSat 5964, &c. To the left Lord Amherst, in general's uniform and wearing spurred top-boots, is seated on the stone inscribed "[Gen]eral of al[l] the Land Forces". Conway stands opposite him, threatening him with his fists and saying, "That Staff shall be mine". Amherst says, "Where's my reserved courage--oh-- its in my breeches". In the foreground (left) sits Britannia, her shield beside her, holding her spear and stretching out an arm towards Keppel. She says Britons strike home."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Tack about is fair play and Lord Sandwich drove from his moorings
Description:
Title from item. and Date of publication from British Museum catalogue.
Publisher:
Sold by W. Humphrey no. 227 Strand
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain and England
Subject (Name):
Sandwich, John Montagu, Earl of, 1718-1792., Keppel, Augustus Keppel, Viscount, 1725-1786., Amherst, Jeffery Amherst, Baron, 1717-1797., North, Frederick, Lord, 1732-1792., Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806., and Conway, Henry Seymour, 1721-1795.
Subject (Topic):
Britannia (Symbolic character), Politics and government, Fighting, and Clothing & dress
Depicts a fox (Charles James Fox) hanging from a gibbet around which dance members of the Conway family, headed by a blindfolded General Conway who is led by the nose by Shelburne. The Conways are all depicted as rats, with the exception of General Conway and his brother Lord Hertford. Shelburne is shown Janus-like with two faces, his own and that of the Devil. Refers to the resignation of Fox after Shelburne's appointment and Conway's support of the latter. A sequel to British Museum satire 5966
Description:
Title from item., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., and Temporary local subject terms: Hon. Edward Conway, Cannon of Christ Church, 1757-1785 -- Ministries: fall of Rockingham's ministry --Literature: allusion to Little Red Riding Hood -- Conway family as rats -- Mottoes: sic transit gloria mund.
Publisher:
Pubd. August 2d, 1782, by E. D'Achery, St. James's Street
Subject (Name):
Hertford, Francis Seymour Conway, Marquess of, 1719-1794, Conway, Henry Seymour, 1721-1795, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, and Lansdowne, William Petty, Marquis of, 1737-1805
Subject (Topic):
Rats, Foxes, Blindfolds, Gallows, Devil, and Dance
"The late ministers and the new Ministry spitting cannon-balls at each other, the former from a partly ruined castle ..." (--British Museum catalogue). Several of the ministers are recognizable, including, from the Opposition on the left, Burke, Conway, and Dunning, and in the castle the King, Archibishop Markham, Germain, and Cornwall
Description:
Title from item. and Sheet trimmed within plate mark at top.
Publisher:
Pubd. May 1st, 1782 by J. Barrow, sold by E. Rich at the little Print Shop faceing Anderton's Coffee House, Fleet Street, and at Mr. Turners frame maker and print seller, No. 40, Snow hill
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain
Subject (Name):
Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797., Markham, William, 1719-1807., George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820., and Conway, Henry Seymour, 1721-1795.
Subject (Topic):
Politics and government, Cannon balls, Bombardment, and Forts & fortifications
In the aftermath of the crisis of early 1783, the past and future ministers are depicted at a table competing for their share in the government. Foremost among them are Fox and North, seated at the top of the table to the left of the King who offers them a loaf signed "Secretary of State." They both hold on to the loaf signed "Treasury," while Lord Shelburne, seated to the King's right, is now empty-handed. In the lower right corner of the image, two dogs identified as "Pay Office Clerks," attempt to sneak away with bags of money, an allusion to Burke's reinstatement of two clerks accused of malversation before his return to the office of paymaster-general and "George III presides at a rectangular table at which sit past and prospective ministers, grasping at the loaves and fishes which lie on the table. On the left side of the table and on the king's right sit Shelburne and his supporters, on the opposite side sit those who have ousted them. The king sits in an ornate chair; on his right sits Shelburne putting his arm on the shoulder of Dunning, who sits on his other side. Shelburne says "I must submit! - may it prove Poison to them say I". Dunning answers "Never mind my Lord - give them rope enough, and they will hang themselves". The king turns to Fox and North, who sit on his left hand, and says, pointing to the table, "pray help your selves Gentlemen". Fox, who has a fox's head, has seized a loaf in each hand, saying "An't please your Maj------ty I'll have these for me & my friends". The loaf under his left hand is inscribed "Treasury"; North, who sits on Fox's left, says, "hold Charley, that's more then comes to your Share". The other two on the right side of the table are Keppel and Burke. Keppel, who is next North, puts his right hand on a loaf; in his left he holds a fish from whose mouth go lines attached to two other fish and another loaf; he is saying "I'm fond of Sea fish". A naval officer opposite him hugs a loaf and grasps the tail of one of the fish on Keppel's line. He is identified in a contemporary hand as Palliser, but is more probably Lord Howe, who was First Lord of the Admiralty from 29 Jan. 1782 (after Keppel's resignation) till 8 April, when he was replaced by Keppel. He is in "profil perdu" but his figure and a black eyebrow suggest Howe. On Keppel's left, and at the right corner of the table, sits Burke grasping a loaf in his right hand, a fish in his left. He is saying "Rhetorick is of no use here! tis catch that catch can". In the foreground (right), at Burke's side, two dogs laden with money-bags are running off to the right. Over them is inscribe "Pay Office Clerks" and (smaller) "Fulham". On the money-bag of one is "£200.000", on that of the other "£100.000". Burke became paymaster-general under Rockingham, resigned office with Fox on Shelburne's appointment, and was again (on 7 April) to become paymaster. On returning to office he reinstated two clerks, Powell and Bembridge, who had recently been dismissed by Barré for malversation, for which he was attacked in parliament on 24 April and 19 May 1783. 'Parl. Hist', xxiii, pp. 900 ff; Wraxall, 'Memoirs', 1884, iii. 77-86. [Possibly the dogs were added in a later issue of the print, as they seem to refer to the scandal over Powell and Bembridge. Powell committed suicide, Bembridge was tried and sentenced.] Opposite Burke, at the near left corner of the table, sits Conway, the Commander-in-Chief, in general's uniform, grasping a fish in one hand, a lobster in the other. He is saying, "I fear they'll not leave me one poor lobster". He had disappointed Fox by not resigning on Shelburne's appointment, he did not however lose office till after the dissolution of Parliament in 1784, when he resigned. In the centre of the table are three unclaimed loaves, the one nearest the king is inscribed "Secretary of State".--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title from item., Possiblly by Topham., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Reissue of no. 6195 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, with a verse from Shakespeare's "Othello" added under the title.
Publisher:
Pub by E. Achery March 24, 1783, St James Street
Subject (Geographic):
England
Subject (Name):
George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820., Lansdowne, William Petty, Marquis of, 1737-1805., Dunning, John, Baron Ashburton, 1731-1783., Howe, Richard Howe, Earl, 1726-1799., Conway, Henry Seymour, 1721-1795., Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806., North, Frederick, Lord, 1732-1792., Keppel, Augustus Keppel, Viscount, 1725-1786., and Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797.
Title from British Museum catalogue., Publication date based on the beginning of Chatham's administration, July 30, 1766., Sheet trimmed within plate mark resulting in loss of title., Three columns of verse below image: The monkey Scot no more shall boast, 'tis he at C-t who rules the roast ..., Temporary local subject terms: Emblems: thistle and white rose of Stuarts -- Royal crown -- Emblems: jack boot as Lord Bute -- Pictures amplifying subject -- British Lion -- Ministries: Pitt's ministry, 1766., and Mounted to 33 x 49 cm.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Name):
George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820, Augusta, Princess of Wales, 1719-1772, Bute, John Stuart, Earl of, 1713-1792, Conway, Henry Seymour, 1721-1795, Grafton, Augustus Henry Fitzroy, Duke of, 1735-1811, Portland, William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, Duke of, 1738-1809, Pitt, William, Earl of Chatham, 1708-1778, Camden, Charles Pratt, Earl, 1714-1794, Beckford, William, 1709-1770, and Temple, Richard Grenville-Temple, Earl, 1711-1779
Subject (Topic):
Cats, Dogs, Fireplaces, Monkeys, National emblems, British, and Scotland
Title from item., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Temporary local subject terms: Britannia (Symbolic character) -- Tools: pickaxe -- Emblems: Privy Seal -- Lighting: candle extinguisher -- Crowns: earl's coronet -- Ministries: Pitt's ministry, 1766 -- Allusion to William Henry Cavendish-Bentick, the Duke of Portland -- Allusion to Charles Townshend, 1725-1767 -- Ghosts., and Mounted to 32 x 48 cm.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Name):
Augusta, Princess of Wales, 1719-1772, Bute, John Stuart, Earl of, 1713-1792, Camden, Charles Pratt, Earl, 1714-1794, Conway, Henry Seymour, 1721-1795, Grafton, Augustus Henry Fitzroy, Duke of, 1735-1811, Townshend, Charles, 1725-1767, Pitt, William, Earl of Chatham, 1708-1778, Northington, Robert Henley, Earl of, 1708?-1772, Granby, John Manners, Marquis of, 1721-1770, Allen, Ralph, 1694-1764, Marlborough, Sarah Jennings Churchill, Duchess of, 1660-1744, and Pynsent, William, Sir 1680 or 81-1765
Title etched at top of image., Printmaker and publication date from the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum., Sheet partially trimmed within plate mark., Cf. No. 4140 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 4., and Temporary local subject terms: Repeal of the Stamp Act, 1766 -- Warehouses -- Merchant ships -- Skulls: skulls of the rebels of 1715 and 1745 -- Bible: burial service -- Clergy: bishops -- Stamps upon black flags -- Child's coffin -- Cargoes: bales and boxes -- Bank of Thames -- Tombs -- Boats: lighter -- House of Lords: votes on repeal of Stamp Act, 1766 -- Allusion to America -- Lawyers' briefs -- Dogs -- American trade -- Scotch appeals -- Weepers: Bute wearing a weeper -- Catches: funeral anthem -- Mottoes: semper eadem.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Name):
Scott, James, 1733-1814, Norton, Fletcher, 1716-1789, Rosslyn, Alexander Wedderburn, Earl of, 1733-1805, Grenville, George, 1712-1770, Bute, John Stuart, Earl of, 1713-1792, Bedford, John Russell, Duke of, 1710-1771, Temple, Richard Grenville-Temple, Earl, 1711-1779, Sandwich, John Montagu, Earl of, 1718-1792, Rockingham, Charles Watson-Wentworth, Marquis of, 1730-1782, Conway, Henry Seymour, 1721-1795, Grafton, Augustus Henry Fitzroy, Duke of, 1735-1811, and Halifax, George Montagu-Dunk, Earl of, 1716-1771
