Manuscript on paper. The documents in this archival register cover the period from King Henry VIII (1509-1547) through Queen Elizabeth (1558-1603).
Description:
In English., Script: Copied by a single hand in Gothica Cursiva Libraria (Secretary)., and Binding: Limp vellum with remains of leather ties. Preserved in a modern cardboard folder covered with paper decorated with vertical red and purple stripes. On the brown leather spine the gold-tooled inscription: "KING HENRY VIII'S OWN MS. BOUCH OF COURT".
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut, New Haven., and Great Britain
Subject (Topic):
Courts and courtiers, Manuscripts, Medieval, Court and courtiers, and Politics and government
The papers are almost entirely concerned with Macartney's embassy to Russia in 1764-1767, and include notes, memoranda, drafts of the trade treaty he negotiated, and a final copy; accounts of travel in Russia and general descriptions of the country, including a treatise on the natural history of Siberia and fossils found there; descriptions of principal figures of the Russian Court and of court protocol; and copies of correspondence and The collection also contains a printed copy of a 1762 decree by Catherine II concerning Alexis Bestoucheff-Rumin; and a dispatch sent by Russia to China in 1792 during Macartney's mission in Peking. Accompanied by a microfilm of the Macartney Papers in the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
Description:
George Macartney was born in Ireland and educated at Trinity College. In 1764, Lord Holland proposed him as envoy extraordinary to Saint Petersburg for the negotiation of a trade treaty. Knighted before departing England, Macartney returned in 1767 after concluding the treaty and receiving the Polish Order of the White Eagle. He spent much of the remainder of his career in colonial governorships, including that of Madras, and took his seat in the Irish Parliament in 1788. In 1792 he was sent as plenipotentiary on a mission to Peking, and upon his return from China undertook negotiations with the exiled Louis XVIII in Verona. Macartney thereafter retired from public life due to ill health. and In French and English.
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain., Great Britain, Russia., Russia, and Siberia (Russia)
Subject (Name):
Catherine II, Empress of Russia, 1729-1796. and Macartney, George Macartney, Earl, 1737-1806.
Subject (Topic):
Diplomatic and consular service, British, Diplomatic and consular service, Russian, Diplomats, Commerce, Foreign relations, Politics and government, Court and courtiers, and Description and travel
Manuscripts, in a single hand, containing copies of 373 letters arranged in chronological order and dated between 1641 and 1688, and extra-illustrated with many prints and drawings, primarily engraved portraits of the correspondents. The letters in the first volume are addressed to William Legge, and mainly discuss political and military activities, including tactics during the English Civil War; correspondents include Sir William Davenant and King Charles I. This volume also contains numerous letters concerning the marriage negotations of John Butler, 1st Earl of Gowran, the son of the Duke of Ormonde, The letters are annotated in red ink. The work is prefaced by a letter to William, 4th Earl of Dartmouth, by Bagot, Dartmouth's relative, The second volume contains letters addressed to Legge's son, George Legge, 1st Baron Dartmouth, which primarily concern political affairs. Many letters are from James II, which refer to his exile and his attempts to return to England. Others mention the Rye House Plot; congratulate Dartmouth on becoming Master of the Ordinance; and discuss opposition to King Charles II. Several letters request Dartmouth's help in releasing Philip, Baron Wharton from the Tower, The third volume contains letters addressed to Baron Dartmouth, which primarily concern preparations for a naval resistance to the expected invasion by William, Prince of Orange. Letters include instructions from the Admiralty naming Dartmouth an Admiral of the fleet and instructing him to oppose William's landing; and letters from James II and Samuel Pepys providing rumors and information on the movements of William's fleet, and The fourth volume contains 98 letters (copies) to and from George Legge, 1st baron Dartmouth, 1648-1691. Followed by papers written by Lord Dartmouth during his confinement in the Tower of London, and an appendix
Description:
Bagot, William, second Baron Bagot (1773-1856), was an antiquary. He was a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and of the Linnean, Horticultural, and Zoological societies. In 1824 he published Memorials of the Bagot Family. His second wife was Lady Louisa Legge, eldest daughter of his cousin the third earl of Dartmouth. He died in 1856 at his home in Staffordshire., George Legge, 1st Baron Dartmouth (1647-1691) was a naval officer and the eldest son of William Legge., William Legge (1609?-1670) was a royalist army officer and close associate of Prince Rupert, nephew of King Charles I., Finding aid available., Portion available on microfilm, In English., On title page: Letters To and From, Coll. Willm. Legge. Transcribed From the Originals, in the possession of William Fourth Earl of Dartmouth; at Sandwell, in the County of Stafford, during the Autum, and Winter of the years 1816 and 1817. by William, 2d. Lord Bagot., Pasted opposite title page: hand-colored engraving of Col. William Legge., Sticker inside front covers: No. 24B., At beginning of 1st volume: table of contents of the prints and drawings., Volume 3 includes blue silk page markers., Binding: full calf; gilt and blind-tooled decoration. Armorial binding on cover., and In gilt on spine: Letters to and from George Ld. Dartmouth. MS.
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain
Subject (Name):
Charles II, King of England, 1630-1685., James II, King of England, 1633-1701., Rupert, Prince, Count Palatine, 1619-1682., William III, King of England, 1650-1702., Bagot, William Bagot, Baron, 1773-1856., Dartmouth, George Legge, Baron, 1648-1691., D'Avenant, William, 1606-1668., Legge, William, 1609?-1670., Pepys, Samuel, 1633-1703., Wharton, Philip, 4th baron Wharton, 1613-1696., Great Britain. Army., Great Britain. Parliament., and Great Britain. Royal Navy.
Subject (Topic):
Rye House Plot, 1683, Court and courtiers, History, and Politics and government
Holograph diary recording Macartney's embassy to China between September 11, 1792 and January 15, 1794. The first volume narrates his journey to China; embarking on board a man-of-war from London, he lists the members of his train; describes his stop in Madeira, where he dines with the governor, visits the gardens, and attends a ball. He then stops at Tenerife, where he learns of "barbarities committed by the blacks" in St. Domingo; and continues with stops at St. Iago; Rio de Janeiro; and the islands of Amsterdam and St. Paul. Throughout, he provides summaries of the island's history, inhabitants, agriculture, and interesting flora and fauna. The volume concludes with two essays on trade and commerce, one on avarice and the other explaining differences of custom and manners between Chinese and Europeans which cause difficulties in conducting trade. This latter treatise is preceded by a petition by "Tong-Foo and Buble-me-qua" asking for aid in recovering debts owed them by English merchants and The second volume begins with a brief summary of the journey from England, but focuses primarily on his time in China. He describes, in detail, the reception he receives from the local dignitaries upon his arrival in China; the activities and machinations of the court and courtiers; the architecture; social life and customs; missionary work in China; British foreign relations with China; and especially his own opinions concerning cultural differences in negotiating with various members of the court. The volume concludes with his opinion on how to preserve the diplomatic ground lately gained in China. At the beginning of the first manuscript is an inscription, "This journal was written by Lord Macartney on board the Lion merely for his own amusement and to pass away some tedious hours of a very long sea voyage."
Description:
In English., Watermark on paper: 1803., Marbled endpapers in vol. 1., and Binding: vol. 1: full vellum. Vol. 2: half vellum; back board is covered with marbled paper. Written on spine of vol. 2: Embassy to China.
Subject (Geographic):
Amsterdam Island (Terres australes et antarctiques françaises), China, Great Britain., Great Britain, China., Madeira Islands, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Saint Paul Island (Indian Ocean), and Tenerife (Canary Islands)
Subject (Name):
Macartney, George Macartney, Earl, 1737-1806.
Subject (Topic):
Diplomatic and consular service, British, Travelers' writings, English, Commerce, Court and courtiers, Description and travel, Foreign relations, Politics and government, and Social life and customs
Holograph diary recording Macartney's embassy to China between September 11, 1792 and January 15, 1794. The first volume narrates his journey to China; embarking on board a man-of-war from London, he lists the members of his train; describes his stop in Madeira, where he dines with the governor, visits the gardens, and attends a ball. He then stops at Tenerife, where he learns of "barbarities committed by the blacks" in St. Domingo; and continues with stops at St. Iago; Rio de Janeiro; and the islands of Amsterdam and St. Paul. Throughout, he provides summaries of the island's history, inhabitants, agriculture, and interesting flora and fauna. The volume concludes with two essays on trade and commerce, one on avarice and the other explaining differences of custom and manners between Chinese and Europeans which cause difficulties in conducting trade. This latter treatise is preceded by a petition by "Tong-Foo and Buble-me-qua" asking for aid in recovering debts owed them by English merchants and The second volume begins with a brief summary of the journey from England, but focuses primarily on his time in China. He describes, in detail, the reception he receives from the local dignitaries upon his arrival in China; the activities and machinations of the court and courtiers; the architecture; social life and customs; missionary work in China; British foreign relations with China; and especially his own opinions concerning cultural differences in negotiating with various members of the court. The volume concludes with his opinion on how to preserve the diplomatic ground lately gained in China. At the beginning of the first manuscript is an inscription, "This journal was written by Lord Macartney on board the Lion merely for his own amusement and to pass away some tedious hours of a very long sea voyage."
Description:
In English., Watermark on paper: 1803., Marbled endpapers in vol. 1., and Binding: vol. 1: full vellum. Vol. 2: half vellum; back board is covered with marbled paper. Written on spine of vol. 2: Embassy to China.
Subject (Geographic):
Amsterdam Island (Terres australes et antarctiques françaises), China, Great Britain., Great Britain, China., Madeira Islands, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Saint Paul Island (Indian Ocean), and Tenerife (Canary Islands)
Subject (Name):
Macartney, George Macartney, Earl, 1737-1806.
Subject (Topic):
Diplomatic and consular service, British, Travelers' writings, English, Commerce, Court and courtiers, Description and travel, Foreign relations, Politics and government, and Social life and customs
Autograph (in part) manuscript, consisting of papers in Italian, English and other languages concerning the contemporary political history and the intellectual and social life of England (f. 1-262), Holland (f. 265-422), Denmark (f. 424-476) and Poland (f. 477-503). The collection includes autograph rough notes and drafts of memoranda, often with extensive revisions, copies and translations of political papers, a few original letters and a few printed papers. The English section includes "Memorie del'ingresso del Duca d'Oranges in Inghilterra e dell'uscita de Giacomo;" sketches of the careers and characters of politicians, courtiers, etc.; memoranda concerning English domestic and foreign politics; a list of "le donne piu belle di Londra;" lists of publications concerning the Popish plot (1679-83) and other books published in England; translations of parliamentary speeches and 11 letters from a Tuscan diplomat in London to Magalotti's secretary, May to July, 1678
Description:
Title on spine: "Inghilterra Oland Danimarca Pollonia."