Correspondence, 1742-1762.

ArchivalResource

Grenville, George, 1712-1770. Correspondence, 1742-1762.

Correspondence, 1742-1762.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/702186223

Vol. 1 contains 37 letters dated between 1742-1748, many between Grenville and his brothers Thomas, a naval captain, and Richard, later Earl Temple, a politician. In one letter, Thomas writes of having taken a rich prize from the West Indies, and describes his difficulties in obtaining legal clearance to take a Portuguese prize bound for Cadiz. Elsewhere, Grenville mentions his attempts to carry the Turnpike Act into execution; the death of Alexander Pope; the siege of Coni; and rebellion in Scotland. A letter from Admiral Anson reports the death of Thomas Grenville; and other letters refer to events in the War of Austrian Succession, including a letter from William Pitt reporting on the Treaty of Aix-la-Chappelle in 1748. Other letters contain routine social correspondence, including inquiries about illnesses and gossip about mutual acquaintances. Vol. 2 contains 54 letters, dated between 1749-1755. Numerous letters between Grenville and his brother Richard regard their application for their mother to be created a countess, including discussions over what titles they should choose. One letter from Pitt to Grenville discusses the Mutiny Bill; Pitt's other letters complain of his gout; report on the death of Pelham and speculate on the implications for Parliament, as well as Henry Fox's potential as Chancellor of the Exchequer; and discuss the portrait of himself being painted by William Hoare. A letter from Henry Fox to Grenville discusses the Oxford Election petition; another from Grenville's brother James reports on Admiral Boscawen's fight with the French off Cape Race, Newfoundland; and a letter from Grenville's wife reports on news in Parliament and gossip about their acquaintances. This volume also includes a letter from George, Prince of Wales, thanking Grenville for his condolences on the death of the Prince's father. Vol. 3 contains 82 letters, dated between 1758-1759. The majority of the letters concern events of the Seven Years' War, including a report from James Grenville on the naval action at St. Malo; a letter from Rev. Mr. Cotton on a naval battle at Halifax Harbor and then the successful possession of Quebec though it cost the death of General Wolfe; and another from Sir Richard Lyttelton on the raising of the siege of Olmutz. Elsewhere, Charles Jenkinson remarks on "the success of our arms in America" with the taking of Louisburg, Canada; William Pitt expresses his disappointment with the loss of Ticonderago; and others report on Prussian and Russian engagements. The volume also contains letters referencing Richard Grenville, Earl Temple's application for a vacancy in the Order of the Garter, and the illness and death of Grenville's 7-year-old son. Vol. 4 contains 73 letters dated between 1760-1761. The majority of the letters concern the ongoing peace negotiations, especially between Great Britain and France, as well as between Great Britain and Spain. Many letters mention the demands of the Duc de Choiseul; the ultimatums made by both Great Britain and France; and the dissention between England and Spain regarding points of the proposed treaty. Many of the remaining letters concern the resignation of William Pitt and Earl Temple, including one by James Grenville declaring his resignation from the Office of the Cofferer in solidarity with Pitt and Temple; and the search for a speaker of the House of Commons. The volume also contains several letters regarding Earl Temple's reception of the Order of the Garter. Vol. 5 contains 53 letters dated in 1762. Many of the letters reference the ongoing peace negotiations, including mentions of the conquest of Havana and a discussion between Grenville and Fox about sending a squadron out to sea during the negotations, arguing that hostilities are to cease only after the exchange of ratifications of the Preliminary Articles of peace, and not before. Many of the remaining letters are between Earl Temple and Wilkes, and occasionally make reference to the letters' surveillance by their enemies; other topics include Wilkes' paper, North Briton; a duel between Wilkes and Lord Talbot; discussions of Parliamentary news; and a request by Temple for Wilkes to stop sending him any more verses and to be more discreet. Vol. 5 also contains a packet of 23 letters marked "unpublished," dated between 1762-1787, which make further references to hostilities in Europe and to Parliamentary activities. Also in this packet are a poem written by Grenville's son, William Wyndham Grenville, dated 1769, "aged 10 years"; and a letter from Earl Temple to his brother James regarding his wife's death in 1777.

5 v. ; various sizes.

Yale University, Lewis Walpole Library