A series of free frank covers, 1834-1840, largely to members of the Howard Gibbon family. Most bear the signature of the 12th Duke of Norfolk, his son the Earl of Surrey [later 13th Duke], and grandson Lord Fitzalan [later 14th Duke], though there are also signatures of Thomas Greene and Abel Rous Dottin. Matthew Charles Howard Gibbon, Edward Howard Gibbon, and Mary Eliza Howard Burt, née Gibbon, were the illegitimate children of Charles, 11th Duke of Norfolk, recognised and assisted by the ducal family.
As well as the free frank covers, there is also an envelope addressed to Rev. Edward Howard Gibbon, [1850s?], with the signature 'Beauchamp' on the bottom left, a part letter from Sir Robert Buxton of Shadwell Court, Thetford, presenting compliments to 'Mr Gibbon', 22 Jan. [no year], and the end of a letter from John Thomas Pelham, Bishop of Norwich, to E. H. Gibbon [1857 or later].
Signed by John [?] Damer, possibly Eames.
‘Μὴ φρονεῖν παρ’ ὅ δεῖ φρονεῖν, | Αλλὰ φρονεῖν εἰς τὸ σωφρονεῖν.’ (Romans, xii. 3.) Dated at Wittenberg. Numbered 159.
Curzon Street, (London).—Invites him to dinner.
(Dated Monday. Numbered 36.)
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Transcript
Curzon St. Monday.
Can you, & will you come & eat a Côtelette with us at the fireside on thursday next the 11th. at real seven Oclock?
M Berry
R.S.V.P.
[Superscription:] R. M. Milnes Esqre MP | 26 Pallmall
Richmond.—Invites him to dinner.
(Black-edged paper. Dated Tuesday evening, 18 May. Numbered 38.)
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Transcript
Richmond tues[da]y Eve[nin]g
18 May
Pray come & dine with us on thursday next at ½ past six & I will treat you with two very agreeable Women to dinner.
I am anxious to get another look of you before you are absorbed by office
M Berry
R.S.V.P.
Curzon Street, (London).—Invites him to dinner.
(Numbered 40.)
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Transcript
As we are very soon going a Maying, I should like to hear a little romance (which I can no longer make for myself) before I go—So pray come & dine with us on Wednesday next at real seven Oclock—
M Berry
Curzon St
11 April
R.S.V.P.
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Numbered ‘40’ in the top left-hand corner in pencil.
Richmond Hill.—Invites him to dinner.
(Dated Wednesday, 7 June. Numbered 37.)
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Transcript
Richmond hill Wed[nesda]y 7th June
If, as your note of the 8th tells me, that tho going to Yorkshire you shall be always on the road to Richmond, pray contrive to arrive there on tuesday next the 13th to dinner at seven Oclock, when I will shew you something more beautiful than our prospect
Much and sincerely Yrs {1}
M Berry
R.S.V.P.
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Numbered ‘37’ in the top left-hand corner in pencil.
{1} This line is indistinct.
Richmond.—Invites him to dinner.
(Dated Tuesday, 2 June. Numbered 41.)
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Transcript
If it were possible to suppose that “a Man of Wit & Pleasure about town” could come down to a Country dinner with two old Women, I should propose your dining with us on Saturday next a† ½ past six—
M Berry
Richmond
tuesday
2d June
R.S.V.P.
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Numbered ‘41’ in the top left-hand corner in pencil.
Richmond.—Invites him to dinner.
(Dated Sunday evening, 30 May. Numbered 39.)
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Transcript
Will Res publica allow you to come & dine with us on thursday next 3 June at ½ past six O clock?
M Berry
R.S.V.P.
Richmond
Sun[da]y Eve[nin]g
30th May
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Numbered ‘39’ in the top left-hand corner in pencil.
Headed ‘Air: Quand Biron voulut danser.’ First line: ‘Voici le Pas-de-Calais’.
Signed by James Silk Buckingham (member) and James Alexander Silk Buckingham (secretary).
(Undated. The catalogue referred to in the notice was issued in 1862.)
Curzon Street, (London).—Is unable to see him before he goes to Paris or write him an introductory letter to Mrs Graham.
(Dated Friday, 4 Dec. Numbered 34.)
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Transcript
Curzon St Friday 4 Dec[embe]r
I am sorry not to be able to see you before you go to Paris, & not at present in a state of mind to write you such an introductory letter, as I should wish, to Mrs Graham—But you will find many persons at Paris who will introduce you to her, & when you return, I hope I shall be able to profit by your account of your intercourse with her, & with your view of the present curious state of the public mind at Paris—I am always very sincerely y[ou]rs
M Berry
Curzon Street, (London).—Sends a message to introduce him to Mrs Graham.
(Black-edged paper. Dated Monday, 14 Dec. Numbered 35.)
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Transcript
Curzon St Mond[a]y 14 Dec[embe]r
I was much obliged to you for your note from Boulogne, & shall be made more obliged to you if you will write to me from Paris—As it is a country I am not a stranger to I shall understand you à demi mot—
If you are not already introduced to Mrs Graham, which I have no doubt is the case—Shew her the lines I have written on the other side of this Sheet, {1} & I think you will need no other introduction—
Pray do not let the agréemens† of Paris detain you too long from your friends in London among whom I hope you will always reckon—
M Berry
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{1} i.e. the other half of the folded sheet, which was presumably torn off and given to Mrs Graham.
† Sic.
Robert Kitcheman, one of the ordinary messengers of the Queen’s Chamber, asks for an allowance of 26s. 8d. for riding at the command of the Lord High Treasurer (the Marquess of Winchester) from the Treasurer’s place at London to ‘Pesnell’ (Peasenhall) in Suffolk to deliver a writ to Sir Owen Hopton, sheriff of Suffolk and Norfolk, and for returning to London ‘with like hast’. Kitcheman asks for an allowance for his charges and pains to be rated by the Treasurer at 2s. 8d. a day and paid by one of the tellers of the Receipt at Westminster. ‘I was out in this Jorney the space of x Dayes.’
(Marked ‘fiat All[ocatum]’, and signed by the Marquess of Winchester.)
(Engraved by Topham from a drawing by Rhodes.)
(The date of the ascent is mistakenly given as 1828.)
Acknowledges the receipt of six payments, amounting to ten guineas, for making additions to his Statute Law Common-plac’d, for a second edition.
(Six receipts on one sheet, dated 8 Dec. 1719, 19 Dec. 1719, 2 Jan. 1720, 18 Jan. 1720, 26 Jan. 1720, and 6 Feb. 1720.)