Manuscripts, in a single hand, of Blagden's correspondence with Lord and Lady Palmerston. 71 letters are addressed to Lord Palmerston and 27 to Lady Palmerston. The letters discuss personal affairs, including the health of Lord Palmerston, his travels, and social news about acquaintances, especially of the marriage negotiations of Sir Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford, and of his daughter. Blagden also discusses political and military news, giving his correspondents extensive reports on the fighting at Madras and Seringapatam; the conclusion of a treaty between Sweden and Russia; and Dagobert Wurmser's actions against Napoleon Buonaparte in 1796. He also mentions sales of art collections, including those of the Duke of Orleans and the importation of an Egyptian statue to London, declaring that "the features of the countenance are sufficiently entire to assist in deciding the much-contested question, whether the acient Egyptians were Blacks," and comparing the statue to "our present negroes." Finally, the letters occasionally mention scientific matters and meetings of the Royal Society of London.
Description:
For information on the source of acquisition, consult the appropriate curator. and The letters are grouped into three packets, each of which is contained in a paper wrapper with Charles Blagden's name written on the front.
Subject (Geographic):
France--Foreign relations--Great Britain., Great Britain--Foreign relations--France., Great Britain--Politics and government--1760-1820., Great Britain--Social life and customs--18th century., India--History--British occupation, 1765-1947., and Śrīraṅgapaṭṭaṇa (India)
Subject (Name):
Blagden, Charles,--Sir,--1748-1820., Napoleon--I,--Emperor of the French,--1769-1821., Palmerston, Henry Temple,--2nd Viscount,--1739-1802., Palmerston, Mary (Mee) Temple,--Viscountess,--1754-1805., Rumford, Benjamin,--Graf von,--1753-1814., Tipu Sultan, Fath ʻAli,--Nawab of Mysore,--1753-1799., and Wurmser, Dagobert Sigmund,--graf von,--1724-1797.
Subject (Topic):
Art--Collectors and collecting. and Science--Great Britain--History--18th century.
"Joseph, neatly dressed as an avocat, takes an enormous step from the rail of a desk (right) on which his right toe is poised to a wall 'Map of Spain & Portugal' on a level with his shoulders, where his left toe touches 'Madrid'. His hands are raised above his head to clutch at a mass of fringed cushions on which is the crown of 'Spain', with a sceptre. On the wall is pinned a notice: 'Notary Public Bayonne'. Four clerks sit facing each other at the desk he has left, which has double slopes, divided by the low rail from which he steps. One asks: "Why Joseph wither art thou going"; he looks down answer: "Whither - but to fill my high destiny? And like my noble Brother Sway tne Sceptre of another." The other clerks say respectively: "But proverbs tell of many Slips, Between the tankard & the lips, And really I am apt to give, The proverb credit as I live" and "He must needs go whom the Devil drives and should it cost his Neck; Ownds! what a prodigious step for a Notary's clerk"."--British Museum online catalogue.
Description:
Title etched below image.
Publisher:
R. Ackermann, no. 101 Strand
Subject (Name):
Ackermann, Rudolph, 1764-1834, publisher., Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Joseph Bonaparte,--King of Spain,--1768-1844--Caricatures and cartoons., Napoleon--I,--Emperor of the French,--1769-1821., and Talleyrand-Périgord, Charles Maurice de,--prince de Bénévent,--1754-1838.
Scott's prose works and The miscellaneous prose works of Sir Walter Scott
Description:
"Edinburgh: printed by Ballantyne and Co., Paul's work."--Half title verso., Added title pages have title: The miscellaneous prose works of Sir Walter Scott, bart., followed by v. number and title of the work(s)., Bookplate: Ex libris Frederick Whiley Hilles. Imperfect: general t.p. bled in v. 6, 7, 9, and 16, with loss of imprint., Each volume has also special t.p. (printed), with the title of the work and imprint statement., Engraved title pages., and Engravings signed.
Subject (Geographic):
France--History.
Subject (Name):
Hilles, Frederick Whiley,--1900---Bookplate., Lewis, W. S.--(Wilmarth Sheldon),--1895-1979--Ms. notes., and Napoleon--I,--Emperor of the French,--1769-1821.