Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    L30/14/315/2
  • Title
    From Beilby Porteus, Lambeth to 2nd Baron Grantham:
  • Date free text
    15 Mar 1773
  • Production date
    From: 1773 To: 1773
  • Scope and Content
    Acknowledges Grantham's last letter, arrived during his northern Peregrination in Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Yorkshire and Lincoln. Saw P. Gower's place at Trentham in Staffordshire "where Mr. Brown [Capability] has contrived to swell the narrow stream of the Trent into a River almost as broad as the Thames & to conduct it through a delightful Valley with a noble wood on one side & very beautiful meadows on the other". Wedgewood's pottery nearby where yellow Ware and black Porcelain is made. Pieces made in the latter lately much improved and diversified; not admitted to see works. However, Mr. Wedgewood himself "(though he has only got one leg)" showed them whole process involved in the yellow Ware. Describes process in detail; whitish clay from Devonshire and crushed flints etc... The buildings erected for manufacturing and dwelling "form almost a little town & upon a Hill which overlooks them [Wedgewood] has just built himself a very fine house which he calls Etruria and is laying out the ground about it (not in the Tuscan but) in the modern English Taste". Duke of Bridgewater's navigation 30 mile long canal; transporting coal from pits in Worsley to Manchester and Liverpool, converted water from pits into "vehicle for conveying his coals from the very heart of the Pit (through a subterranean passage of near a mile cut through the Rock) in his navigable canal". Manchester is "increased amazingly in Bulk...consisting of good Streets, Squares and...several handsome new Churches, one of which particularly is the most beautiful, elegant and commodious building of the Kind I ever saw". Travelled on through Lancashire to Yorkshire, visited "little Dr. Wray" of Rockwall, thence over Blackstone Edge, through "Clothing Country" Halifax, Bradford, Leeds to Helperby. Visited Newby from there, "always thought it a sweet spot; it wanted nothing but the cheerfulness of its former inhabitants..." Visited Dr. Butler and family at Studley. In a recently built room in Aislabies Menagery. "The morning was remarkably bright & genial, the Place itself in full beauty & a Welsh Harper sat playing to them at the door whilst they were at breakfast, so that I could scarce help thinking myself conveyed by magic into some Enchanted Island. To compleat the Romance we adjourned...to Hackfall, [Hackfall Wood near Masham, North Yorkshire, bought by John Aislabie and developed as a Gothic woodland by William Aislabie to contrast with Studley], spent the day amidst all the Luxuries that Nature has so lavishly poured out upon that delicious retreat...whilst the Imagination...thus treated we did not forget to solace the animal part a little too at the Horse-Shoe Table in Fishers Hall [a folly]... plentiful libations were poured out for your Health's...we wished we could have conveyed a few of our Chrystal Streams, our impenetrable Shades & refreshing Breezes to the Scorching plains of St. Ildefonso". Spent a fortnight with friend & former colleague Dr. Slinton at Lincoln, recently married to a young lady of 21 with a fortune of £30,000. Lincoln Cathedral as "remarkable for its Lightness & Elegance as York is for its solemnity & magnificence...each excellent in its way..." Only two works of note this winter are Mr. Andrew Stewart's `Letters to Lord Mansfield' and Sir John Dalrymple's `2nd volume of Historical Memoirs of Great Britain'. Stewart's work not published only few printed and handed about. Stewart, who wrote letters to vindicate himself, was the Agent & Manager in the Douglas Cause on the part of the Hamiltons (Grantham present "at decision" Porteus thinks). Brief mention of 1st Volume of Sir John Dalrymple - references not quoted etc... In 2nd volume consisting entirely of original papers & letters clarifies problems with 1st and brings to light a great number of additional facts about the times of Charles II, James II, William III. Porteus cites many of Dalrymple's references; mentions a great parcel of letters recently discovered at Kensington betwixt William & Mary and Heads of Whig party "both previous & subsequent to the Revolution". Précis of some of most remarkable parts: 1. Secret money treaty in 1670 between Charles II, engaged to turn Papist at that time, and Louis XIV, who had the intention of destroying Holland to share spoils between them. Letters betwixt Charles and Duchess of Orleans. Mr. Runoizny[?] & Colbert and French Court, and Louis and Charles. 2. Intrigues with the Popular party who opposed the Court and characters of their leaders; letters between M. Busillon and Louis XIV. Names listed; Montagne, Sidney, Hampden. From letters it seems Louis bribed Court and Opposition; List of Pensioners sent to Louis include Hampden £500, Hotham 500, Frankland 300, Hurley [?] 300, Bonawen 500, Algernoon Sidney 500, Lord Russell acted with Busillon but accepted no money. 3. Details of Charles behaviour when he professed himself a Papist in letter from Busillon to Louis. Father Hudleston mentioned. 4. Letters from Lord Halifax, Lady Sunderland, Ld. Churchill, Sunderland, Nottingham, Clarendon, Devonshire, Shrewsbury to the Prince of Orange in 1687-8, also letters from the famous Association of Seven which brought Prince to England. 5. Infamous behaviour of Lord Sunderland who first "concurred in all violences of James II; then intrigued with Prince of Orange against him". 6. Letters of Princess Anne to Princess of Orange just before Revolution concerning doubts about Princess Sophia and birth of James' son; also a letter from Physician Dr. Chamberlayne dispelling all doubts. 7. Letters from Queen Mary to William in Ireland showing "Scandalous behaviour of both Parties to him at that time". 8. Letters from Lords Carmarthen, Sidney, Brandon & Nottingham to King William in Holland containing charges against Lords Halifax, Dartmouth, Clarendon etc.. for conspiring with James against William. Godolphin, Marlborough & Shrewsbury under some suspicion of Treachery. 9. Letter supposed to be from Lord Godolphin to King William in 1699, giving description of the State of Parliament at the time. Transcribes a short passage for Grantham to the effect that if people expect the King's favour they should serve him not a faction. Takes comfort from comparing the violence & corruption of those times to his. "Amidst all this depravity of both Whigs and Tories" pleased to observe "not the least reflexion thrown upon a favourite character" of his, Sir William Temple. Referring indirectly to Grantham hopes he will "acquit himself with equal credit". Quoting Temple [as ambassador to Holland] from a letter to his father "your old friend Sir Robert Long says that after a year or two of this Embassy I cannot fail of either being Secretary of State, or sent Embassador into Spain; which are both certain ways of making any man's Future". Hopes Temple as good a Prophet as was a Minister. If Grantham wants Dalrymple's work Porteus will organize it through Draper. Need both Volumes together, last an appendix to first. Hawkesworth's narrative of the South Sea Voyages out next month. Sending meanwhile, Dr. Beattie's Essay on Truth; The Household Book of the fifth Earl of Northumberland; Letters on the present State of Poland; Catalogue of Adam's Sale of Statues, Pictures etc. The first mentioned work a "masterpiece of just reasoning, fine language and genuine Eloquence". Porteus in correspondence with the author, a Layman, comments on his health etc.. Second work taken from original manuscripts recently recovered. Duke of Northumberland had a few copies printed to distribute amongst his acquaintances for interest; it shows how well ancient nobility united two things "which now but seldom go together, great Magnificence & minute Economy". Letters from Poland considered authentic and thought to have been written by Mr. Lind who went as Chaplain to Constantinople with Mr. James Grenville, returned via Warsaw, Tutor there to Poniatowski family; now at Cambridge with nephew of King of Poland. Fourth letter to be sent when published. Auction Catalogue of Adams collection sent for interest, considered one of finest in the Country, most of principal articles sold "extremely cheap", Porteus has scribbled any prices he heard in margin. Mr. West's sale going on, will raise a considerable sum. Encloses [not present] two proposals on Dr. Kennicott's for his Edition of the Hebrew Bible in two Volumes Folio. Discusses subscriptions. Wishes "success to a work which does honour to our Country in the Eyes of all Europe and has made the Author more known and celebrated abroad than perhaps any other Person in this Kingdom". Dr. Robertson has written to Grantham for information about Spanish America, Porteus glad to hear if Grantham procures him any and would like some himself about Spain. Thanks him for the entertainment afforded by his letters, not "failed to do justice everywhere to your friend the King of Spain. The account you gave of him surprised and pleased everyone. Spanish Language "said to be the most sublime, copious and Majestic of any Language in Europe". Closes with thanks for Grantham's favourable mention of his two sermons; is going to print a third edition. Wishes to be remembered to Grantham’s brother [Frederick] and Mr. Waddilove. P.S. Miss Robinson looks well this winter, hasn't seen Mrs Parker.
  • Level of description
    item
Hierarchy browser