Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    L30/11/330/29
  • Title
    Letter from Harriett Yorke to Lady Lucas, written from Tyttenhanger. [Typed transcript available]. It will be impossible to visit Lady Lucas at Wrest this autumn.
  • Date free text
    6/7 Nov 1804
  • Production date
    From: 1804 To: 1804
  • Admin/biog history
    Harriet Yorke, nee Manningham born c.1763, was the daughter of Charles Manningham and his wife Ann. Her siblings were: Charles William Manningham, b. 1762, d.1849 Coote Manningham, b.c.1765, d.1809 Boyd Manningham, b. 1766 Amelia Manningham, b.1767 Elizabeth Manningham, b.1768, d. 1853 (usually referred to as Eliza or Elvira in the letters) Henry Manningham, b 1773, d. 1821 Coote Manningham married Anna Maria Pollen in 1802. Their children were: Charles Coote Manningham b 1804, d.1810 Boyd Pollen Manningham, b. 1807, d. 1831 Harriet Manningham, b,1806, d. 1824 Mary Anne Manningham, b.1802, who married Edward Buller. Coote Manningham died in 1809, and his wife died in 1822. By Anna Maria's Will, Coote’s siblings Harriet Yorke, Charles William Manningham and Elizabeth Manningham became the guardians of Coote's surviving children (Boyd, Harriet and Mary Anne). The children lived with Elizabeth. The letters contain several references to Elizabeth's "charges" and other details of this side of the family.
  • Scope and Content
    Mrs [Agneta] Yorke left the week before last and is very impatient to be quietly settled in her own house and also to begin her accustomed remedies of bathing and drinking the waters. She leaves Goldwell [near Newbury] next Saturday for her home at Bennet Street, Bath. Writer had an unexpected visit from Lord Royston last Saturday – he was on his way from Holyhead to join the Cambridgeshire at Faversham. A letter received from Lady Hardwicke reports the tranquillity in the country, and she desires that we do not believe the stories in the papers about the barricades of Dublin. Lady Hardwicke mentioned the acquisition of the Secretary’s Secretary [description given]. Mention of Lady Grantham being proud of Lord Grantham’s military appearance. Parliament is not likely to meet until 3rd January, which seems unusually late, but Mr Pitt seems to be able to do just what he pleases. ‘I greatly pity those poor unhappy Spaniards, who seem destined to be the prey both of friends and enemies, and whom I cannot but think (spite of their weak King and feeble government) worthy of a better fate.’ Reference to the manifesto respecting the carrying off of Sir George Berriman Rumbold [a British diplomat who was ambassador to the Hanseatic League, who on 24 Oct 1804 was abducted by French troops on the flimsy pretext that British Ministers on the Continent had conspired against France.] The King has returned from Weymouth in good health and every prospect of its continuance. Reference to the writer’s brother [Coote Manningham] left his Majesty last week, and has been graciously desired by his knid master to ‘give him a day at Windsor’. He goes there on Monday next and will then join his brigade in Kent. – the Cambridgeshire are under his orders, and will remain so till the summer. Lady Lucas is welcome to visit, but the writer does not recommend it at this time of year as the open casements let in much cold air and damp.
  • Level of description
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