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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 December 2009
This political diary forms part of the Holland House papers, which were purchased from the trustees of the fifth Earl of Ilchester in i960 and 1963 and deposited in the British library.1 J.B. Owen, author of the fullest modern account of the politics of the early 1740s, did not have access to these papers, so was unaware of the diary's existence.2 However, two other historians of the period have used it: the sixth Earl of Ilchester, who of course had good reason to be familiar with the contents of the Holland House papers, and Linda Colley.3 Neither appears to have been aware of its significance.
page 375 note 1 Now Add. MS 51437.
page 375 note 2 Owen, J.B., The Rise of the Pelhams (1957).Google Scholar
page 375 note 3 Pencil notes in the sixth Earl's hand appear throughout the manuscript. It also seems likely that he used it for his study of the political career of Fox, Henry, Henry Fox, First Lord Holland; His Family and Relations (1920)Google Scholar. Linda Colley drew from it evidence that the Prince of Wales provided subventions to induce some reluctant or poor Tory M.P.s to come up to London for the beginning of the crucial 1741–2 parliamentary session (see Colley, L., In Defiance of Oligarchy: The Tory Party 1714–60 (Cambridge, 1982), p.351, II.12.).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
page 375 note 4 The key refers to Prince George, ‘now G: the 3d’. It also notes that in entries for 1746 the number 20 occasionally denotes ‘the late Princess of W[ales]’.
page 376 note 5 Holland's edition was entitled Memoires of the Last Ten Yean of the Reign of George II. For the circumstances surrounding its publication, see Walpole, Horace, Memoirs of King George II, ed. Brooke, John (New Haven and London, 1985), i, xv–xvii.Google Scholar
page 376 note 6 The Edinburgh Review, lxxii (06 1822), 1–46Google Scholar. For Allen's notes, see Add. MS 52236 (Holland House papers) ff.94–1056.
page 376 note 7 Add. MSS 52234 A—E (Holland House papers)
page 376 note 8 See the opinions of Ayscough expressed by Lord Camelford and Horace Walpole quoted in Wyndham, Maud, Chronicles of the Eighteenth Century, Founded on the Correspondence of Sir Thomas Lyttleton and his Family (1924), i, 248–9, 258.Google Scholar
page 377 note 9 Ayscough appears to have run into considerable problems at Oxford because of his Whig and latitudinarian inclinations. His election to a fellowship at Corpus Christi was initially blocked by the president and fellows of the college; and it was only after an appeal to the visitor, Richard Willis, bishop of Winchester, that Ayscough finally secured his fellowship (see Memoirs of a Royal Chaplain, 1729–1763, ed. Albert Hartshorne (1905), pp. 281–3.)Google Scholar
page 377 note 10 Walpole, Horace, Memoirs of King George II, i, 56.Google Scholar
page 377 note 11 ibid.
page 377 note 12 See Historical Manuscripts Commission, Fortescue, i, 107–32.Google Scholar
page 377 note 13 For the Prince's heavy borrowing, see Newman, A.N., ‘The Political Patronage of Frederick Lewis, Prince of Wales’, Historical Journal, i (1958), 70–71.Google Scholar
page 378 note 14 See below.
page 378 note 15 See ‘Leicester House Politics, 1750–60’, ed. Aubrey Newman in Camden Miscellany, XXIII (Fourth series, vii, 1967), 193–4.Google Scholar
page 378 note 16 ‘Leicester House Politics’, 211. See also Horace Walpole's comments on Ayscough's dismissal in The Yale Edition of Horace Walpole's Correspondence, ed. Lewis, W.S. (New Haven, 1937–1983). 20. 239.Google Scholar
page 378 note 17 Walpole, Horace, Memoirs of King George II, i, 56.Google Scholar
page 378 note 18 Ayscough's appointment to the prebend may also have been influenced by the fact that Hoadly's son was the Princess of Wales' chaplain (see Memoirs of a Royal Chaplain, pp. 281–3).Google Scholar
page 378 note 19 Historical Manuscripts Commission, Egmont Diary, iii, 247–64Google Scholar; Add. MS 6043 (Secker papers).
page 379 note 20 Newton, Thomas, The Works of… Thomas Newton with some account of his Life and anecdotes of several of his friends, written by himself (1782), i, 28–41Google Scholar. Newton's Works also quotes relevant comments from the autobiography of another of Pulteney's intimates, Zachary Pearce, bishop of Rochester. Archibald Coxe's discussion of the political settlement of 1742 is informed by discussions he held with John Douglas, bishop of Salisbury. Douglas was groomed by Pulteney over a number of years to write his political apologia. However, this project was never brought to fruition. Richard Glover sketches the main events of early 1742 in his memoirs.
page 379 note 21 See Owen, , Rise of the Pelhams, p.29.Google Scholar
page 379 note 22 Glover, , Memoirs of a Celebrated Literary and Political Character, p.3.Google Scholar
page 380 note 23 For this and the meeting on 16 January referred to below, see the then Solicitor General, Dudley Ryder's comments which are reprinted in The History of Parliament: The House of Commons 1715–1754, ed. R. Sedgwick (1970), i, 51–2.Google Scholar
page 381 note 24 George Lyttleton remained the Prince's secretary until late 1744; while William Pitt retained his position of Groom of the Bedchamber until early 1745.
page 381 note 25 See Owen, , Rise of the Pelhams, p.194.Google Scholar
page 382 note 26 The best narrative of these events is contained in Butler, Rohan, Choiseul: Father and Son 1719–1754 (Oxford, 1980).Google Scholar
page 382 note 27 For the popular and press dimension to the intense anti-Hanoverianism of the winter of 1743–4, see Harris, R., A Patriot Press: National Politics and the London Press during the War of the Austrian Succession, 1740–48 (Oxford, forthcoming).Google Scholar
page 383 note 28 Owen, , Rise of the Pelhams, p.195.Google Scholar
page 385 note 29 Richard Eliot, M.P. for Liskeard and Receiver General of the duchy of Cornwall.
page 385 note 30 Pitt was appointed Lord Warden of the Stannaries, relinquishing his position as Assay Master of the Stannaries.
page 386 note 31 Lord Gower.
page 386 note 32 Lord Carteret.
page 386 note 33 Phillips Gybbon, M.P. for Rye.
page 386 note 34 Not identified.
page 386 note 35 Hugh Boscawen, 2nd Viscount Falmouth. The brother referred to here is probably Edward Boscawen, future victor over the French at Lagos (1759).
page 386 note 36 Fred Ritzau, Clerk of the Privy Seal and Council Seal in the Prince's household.
page 386 note 37 Presumably John Schutz, Groom of the Bedchamber and Master of the Stannaries.
page 387 note 38 James Douglas, M.P. for St. Mawes and Clerk of the Household to the Prince.
page 387 note 39 Thomas Carew, eccentric Tory M.P. for Minehead.
page 387 note 40 G here refers to Lord Gower and not the Earl of Granville.
page 387 note 41 Possibly George Lyttleton.
page 387 note 42 Nicholas Clagget and Matthew Hutton. Clagget was elevated to the Bishopric of Exeter in August 1742. Hutton succeeded Thomas Herring at Bangor in 1743, when the latter was translated to York.
page 387 note 43 Walter Carey, M.P. for Dartmouth. The following two paragraphs concern the vacancy created at Dartmouth by the death of the constituency's other sitting M.P., George Treby.
page 387 note 44 Arthur Holdsworth, governor of Dartmouth Castle and manager of the borough for the government.
page 387 note 45 Richard Edgecumbe, the government's chief election manager in Cornwall.
page 387 note 46 Thomas Clutterbuck, M.P. for Plympton.
page 387 note 47 Not identified.
page 387 note 48 Arthur Champernowne, who unsuccessfully contested Totnes in 1732 and 1734.
page 388 note 49 Lord Baltimore, Gentleman of the Bedchamber and Cofferer of the Household to the Prince.
page 388 note 50 Lord Archibald Hamilton. Hamilton's wife was the Prince's mistress.
page 388 note 51 Baltimore's reelection for Surrey, following his elevation to the admiralty board, became a focus for popular disgust about the lack of substantial political change in the aftermath of Walpole's fall (see Rogers, N., Whigs and Cities: Popular Politics in the Age of Walpok and Pitt (Oxford, 1990), pp. 197–204).Google Scholar
page 389 note 52 B is here incorrectly extended. From the context, it obviously refers to ballot and not bishops.
page 389 note 53 This refers to the Commons vote on the composition of the committee of enquiry into Walpole's administration. Only 5 members on the Court list were elected to the committee (see Owen, , Rise of the Pelhams, pp.106–8).Google Scholar
page 389 note 54 William, Lord Cowper, eldest son of William Cowper, the former Lord Chancellor (d. 1723).
page 389 note 55 Hon. Spencer Cowper. Cowper was appointed to a prebend of Westminster in May.
page 390 note 56 As Vice-Treasurer of Ireland.
page 390 note 57 John Harris, M.P. for Ashburton. The rumour that he was to be replaced as Master of the Household was false.
page 390 note 58 M.P. for Ilchester. Brown was displaced as Paymaster of Works.
page 390 note 59 4000 troops were brought over to the mainland from Ireland to replace a similar number which had been sent to the continent.
page 390 note 60 Lord Gower.
page 390 note 61 Lord Bathurst.
page 391 note 62 Thomas Sherlock.
page 391 note 63 John Potter.
page 391 note 64 Probably Dr. George Sayer, son in law of Potter and Archdeacon of Durham. Potter was pushing the ministry very hard for a bishopric for Sayer (see Add. MSS 32700 (Newcastle papers) f. 100; 32701. if. 278–9, 314–15; 32702, ff. 3–4).
page 391 note 65 Not identified.
page 391 note 66 Gower, Bathurst, Cobham, and Chesterfield.
page 392 note 67 Dr. George Lee. Following his appointment to the admiralty board, Lee's re-election at Brackley was opposed by the borough's patron, the Duke of Bridgwater. Lee was eventually found a place at Devizes.
page 392 note 68 Truro.
page 392 note 69 i.e. his brother, Captain Edward Boscawen.
page 392 note 70 William Lemon. Lemon was again encouraged by the Prince to run against the Boscawen interest at Truro in 1747 (see Historical Manuscripts Commission, Fortescue, i, 109).
page 392 note 71 Almost certainly Richard Hussey, son of John Hussey, town clerk of Truro (1722–37).
page 392 note 72 Not identified.
page 392 note 73 Possibly Sir Edmund Thomas, M.P. for Chippenham.
page 392 note 74 Lucy, daughter of Hugh Fortescue, M.P. for Devon.
page 393 note 75 Who is being referred to here is uncertain; none of the M.P.s with places in the Prince's household at this time has the requisite initials.
page 393 note 76 Richard Glover, Hamburg merchant and poet. Glover was very active in City politics throughout the late 1730s and early 1740s.
page 393 note 77 Not identified.
page 393 note 78 William Scott, Equerry to the Prince.
page 394 note 79 Thomas Pitt.
page 394 note 80 Probably James Whitshed, who married Bathurst's eldest daughter, Francis, in 1738. Before the general election of 1747, Whitshed was included by Ayscough in a list of persons to be brought into Parliament by the Prince (see Historical Manuscripts Commission, Fortescue, i, 108).
page 394 note 81 Possibly Arthur Champernowne.
page 395 note 82 Lord Orford.
page 395 note 83 As Secretary to the Treasury.
page 395 note 84 Edmund Gibson.
page 395 note 85 Pelham had been dismissed as the Prince's secretary in 1737 to make way for Lyttleton.
page 398 note 86 Gilbert West.
page 398 note 87 David Mallet.
page 398 note 88 Pitt used the expression in the debate of 10 December on the grant for payment of the 16,000 Hanoverian troops.
page 399 note 89 Lord Stair.
page 399 note 90 Almost certainly the Earl of Bath (see below).
page 399 note 91 The opposition whigs, spurred on by the Earl of Chesterfield, produced a series of pamphlets during the winter of 1742–3 attacking the employment of the Hanoverian troops. The most influential of these was The Case of the Hanoverian Forces in the Pay of Great Britain, which appeared on the eve of the parliamentary session.
page 399 note 92 John Hoadly, archbishop of Armagh.
page 399 note 93 Isaac Maddox. Maddox was translated from St. Asaph to Worcester later in the year.
page 399 note 94 Robert, and duke of Roxburghe.
page 400 note 95 Lancelot Blackburne.
page 400 note 96 Possibly Arthur Ashley Sykes.
page 400 note 97 Not identified.
page 400 note 98 Former British ambassador to Paris (1721–4) and a friend of the Prince.
page 401 note 99 Thomas Herring.
page 401 note 100 John Thomas, dean of Peterborough. Thomas was nominated to the bishopric of St. Asaph in December 1743, but was not consecrated. He was translated to Lincoln in the following year.
page 401 note 101 Rev. and Hon. John Hay, son of the Earl of Kinnoul.
page 401 note 102 Son of Thomas Wilson, bishop of Sodor and Man.
page 402 note 103 Princess Louisa was contracted to Frederick, Prince Royal of Denmark.
page 402 note 104 West Indies.
page 403 note 105 Count Freiderich Heinrich von Seckendorff, Imperial Field Marshall.
page 403 note 106 Not identified.
page 403 note 107 i.e. Dettingen.
page 404 note 108 Sir Charles Wyndham, M.P. for Appleby.
page 404 note 109 Not identifed.
page 404 note 110 William Reynolds, a page in the Prince's household.
page 405 note 111 Not identified.
page 405 note 112 Probably Richard Liddel, M.P. for Bossiney. Liddel remained in opposition after 1742.
page 405 note 113 William Banks, M.P. for Grampound. Like Richard Liddel, Banks remained in opposition after the fall of Walpole.
page 405 note 114 Presumably a reference to the Earl of Ilay's reputed treachery at the last general election.
page 405 note 115 A maid of honour in the Prince's household.
page 406 note 116 Richard Lyttleton. Lyttleton had been aide de camp to the Earl of Stair at Dettingen.
page 406 note 117 Possibly a reference to Maria Theresa's husband, the Grand Duke Francis of Tuscany, who was deprived of the duchy of Lorraine as part of the peace settlement which concluded the War of the Polish Succession (1733–35).
page 406 note 118 Almost certainly a reference to the ballad Old England's Te Deum and the populist pamphlet A True Dialogue between a Trooper and a Serjeant. Both provoked the ministry to take action to prevent their circulation (see PRO TS/982).
page 406 note 119 Ignaz von Wasner, Austrian minister in London.
page 407 note 120 Probably William Strickland, who joined Charles Ross in attacking the Hanoverian troops in the Commons on 6 December.
page 407 note 121 A reference to Newcastle's opposition to the secret articles of the Treaty of Worms, signed by Britain, Sardinia, and Austria on 2 November.
page 407 note 122 Andrew Stone, M.P. for Hastings, Newcastle's private secretary, and Under-Secretary of State.
page 408 note 123 Sir William Irby, M.P. for Launceston, Vice-Chamberlain to the Prince. Irby did in the event vote against continuing the Hanoverian troops in British pay on 18 January 1744.
page 408 note 124 William Barnard. Barnard had been gazetted to the deanery of Rochester in April. He was appointed Bishop of Raphoe in May 1744.