1.
- Creator:
- Conway, Henry Seymour, 1721-1795
- Call Number:
- LWL Mss Vol. 83
- Image Count:
- 259
- Resource Type:
- unspecified
- Abstract:
- 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
- Found in:
- Lewis Walpole Library > Letter books of military correspondence, 1761 Apr 23-1764 Sep 19.