Letter-book of Matthew Prior, containing copies of letters from London, 1 Sept.,...

Letter-book of Matthew Prior, containing copies of letters from London, 1 Sept., 1701-21 July, 1712, many sent with copies of poems, etc.

Among those addressed are:- Lord Villiers; Earl of Godolphin, Lord Treasurer; George Stepney, Envoy at Vienna; Earl of Jersey; Duke of Marlborough; Viscount Weymouth; Duchess of Marlborough (with the note in Prior's hand, "Mem. She sent back the letter unopen'd and said she was sure, let Mr Prior write what he would, he could not wish well to her and her family", p.55) (cf. p.167); Lord Fitzhardinge; Adam Cardonnel; Sir Bevil Granville, Governor of Barbados; Dr Humphrey Gower; Francis Atterbury, Bishop of Rochester; Earl of Cholmondeley; Sir Tho. Hanmer; Earl of Halifax; Marquis de Torcy.

At the end of the calendar of contents (see also p.217) is a note that the letters of Prior "during his residence in France as his Majesty's Plenipotentiary there, which should follow the foregoing in course of date, were by an order from King George dated the 14 of Jan., 1714-1715 (see PR/VOL.I. f.214) delivered by Mr Prior to the Earl of Stair at Paris the 1 Feb., which having been sent by messenger to London have remained ever since....in the hands of the Secretary of State". The dates of these two volumes are given as (1) 20 Sept., 1712 - 27 June, 1713 and (2) 23 Nov., 1713-23 Oct., 1714. They are now at the Public Record Office, with other papers of Prior (see Schedule below, PR/VOL. XXIX. f.121).

At the end of the present volume are copies of letters as to the said order from Sec. Stanhope, 14 Jan., 1715 and Lord Stair, 9 Feb., 1715 (for the originals see PR/VOL.I. ff.216, 218).