Letters to England, circa 1684-85.Preston, Richard Graham, Viscount, 1648-1695engManuscript, in a single hand, of a letterbook containing several hundred diplomatic letters from Paris and dated between 16 August 1684 and 22 August 1685, during the time of Preston's stint as envoy extraordinary to the court of France. The letters report on the Truce of Ratisbon; the French decision to declare an English vessel captured by privateers as "a good prize"; and imminent ratifications to be exchanged between France and Spain. Other letters mention Preston's attempts to obtain redress for English citizens in France; and some letters contain personal information, as in a note in 1684 which mentions his wife's pregnancy and his son's illness. The principal recipient of the letters is Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland; other recipients include George Fitzroy, Duke of Northumberland; George Savile, 1st Marquis of Halifax; George Gordon, 1st Duke of Gordon; Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Carlisle; Charles Middleton, 2nd Earl of Middleton; Sir Thomas Exton; Sir Stephen Fox; Sir Christopher Musgrave; and Sir John Werden (Worden).Richard Graham, 1st Viscount Preston (1648-1695), was a British politician and diplomat. In 1675, he was elected MP for Cockermouth, Cumberland. In 1682 he became envoy extraordinary to the court of France. Preston returned to England at the accession of James II. In 1685 he was again elected MP for Cumberland; sworn a member of the privy council; and became chancellor to the queen-dowager. In 1687 he was made Lord Lieutenant of Cumberland and Westmoreland. In 1688 he became Lord President of the Council, and in 1689 James II created him Viscount Preston, of Netherby in the County of Cumberland and Baron Liddall of Esk, in the Peerage of England. After the accession of William and Mary, he was reported to be agitating for James II's restoration, and was arrested and committed to the Tower, though he was released several months later. However, in 1691 Preston, Major Edmund Elliott, and John Ashton were seized with a message from the leading protestant Jacobites. Preston was sent to the Tower and indicted for high treason. He was able to obtain a pardon, however, in exchange for naming his accomplices and other persons friendly to King James II. He retired to Nunnington Hall in Yorkshire, where he died in 1695.In English.From the papers of Sir William Trumbull.Written on flyleaf: Letters to England 1684.Binding: full reverse calf; blind tooled decoration.