Letters of Queen Anne to Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford (1711), as Secretary of State...

Letters of Queen Anne to Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford (1711), as Secretary of State (1704-8) and Lord Treasurer (1711-14); 21 Jan, 1707-1708 - 8 Dec, 1713, and undated. Holograph, signed "Your very affectionate freind, Anne R".

Among other subjects referred to are:- asking that, if more horse be sent for out of Ireland, the regiment she "hindred from being order'd before", may not be mentioned and that Mr St. John [See at War] may not suspect this comes from her, [1704-7]. (f.1); urging him to take care that "the Book that is call'd my Life should not be printed" as it would "vex me very much to have such a ridiculous thing as this is appear in the world", [1705-10]. (f.2); that, "when the Act of Union exemplifyed is finished", it be sent to Scotland, [1707?]. (f.4); that the regiment "may not be named, which I have soe often mentioned to you" [27 Jan, 1707-1708]. (f.8); that she would be "extream glad" to do what his cousin [? Abigail Hill, afterwards Lady Masham] desires, and requesting him to devise "the best way to do it, that she may have the avantage and the world not know the thing is given to her", no date (f.17); is very sorry that Marlborough's "going to Vienna is soe absolutely necessary, becaus he will be very much wanted heare, but a thing of soe great consequence must sertinly be submitted to", n.d. (f.23); that she is so much better that she hopes, "with the help of a stick, to be able to walk to Council a Munday", and that she has signed the warrant for the "Scots Signet", etc, 30 Aug., [1711] (f.33); as to what is proper for her to do in the matter of the Electoral Prince of Saxony, 6 Sept., [1711] (f.35); "I am very willing to receive the compliment you mention, if you can contrive a very private way to do it"... "Lord Chamberlain [Shrewsbury] has talked a good deale to me about the Peace, and I hope he will act very hartely in it, tho he seems a little fearfull", etc., 19 Sept, [1711] (f.40); is very glad the great affair is in soe good a way", and prays "God send a happy conclusion of it", 20 Sept, [1711] (f.42); "I think the D. of Marlborough shews plainer then ever by this new project his unwillingnes for a peace, but I hope our negociations will succeed and then it will not be in his power to prevent it", etc., (f.44); has "this buisnes of the Peace soe much at hart" that, if Mr Menager is "very averse to the new proposition", she thinks it should not be insisted upon, 24 Sept, [1711]. (f.46); that "haveing heard by Masham how greived Sir Frances is at Mr Bears being to be removed from the Victualling Office", she will have him remain, "let there be never soe much fault found with it", 12 Oct, [1711?] (f.48); is "very glad to find things are in soe good a way abroad for the Peace", etc., 19 Oct., [1711] (f.50); that she "had yesterday a long harangue from Mr Buys [Dutch minister]" and it is "sertinly very right to despatch him as soon as it is possible", 22 Oct., [1711] (f.52); as to Mr Buys, and wishing money could be found to "pay the Princes servants two quarters of the five they are in arrears", 26 Oct, [1711] (f.54); as to the meeting of Parliament, and expressing anxiety for Harley's health", being truly sensible how much the welfare of our poor country depends on you", 3 Nov., [1711]. (f.56); as to the proroguing of Parliament, the embassy to Vienna, etc., "When the Duke of Marlborough comes, I should think it will be best for me just to begin to open the matter of the Peace to him and to reffer him to you and Mr Secretary [St. John] for a fuller account of all that is past", etc., 9 Nov., [1711]. (f.61); that the news concerning Marlborough is "something prodigious" and the account of his proceedings since "very extraordinary", and on complaints made of her by the Duke of Shrewsbury, 15 Nov., [1711]. (f.63); on an interview she had had with Marlborough, and agreeing to Harley's wishes with regard to Matthew Prior, notwithstanding her objection "to send people abroad of meane extraction", 19 Nov., [1711]. (f.65); on the election of a Scotch representative peer, the disposal of Lord Rivers' posts, etc., 20 Aug., [1712] (f.71); urging Harley to take more care of his health, "which is of soe great consequence to all your freinds and to none more then myself; etc., [4 Oct, 1712] (f.73); on letters from Lord Peterborough; "but by them one can't guesse what humour he is in", and on an unreasonable order from the Commissioners of Accounts as to "Charety pentions", and calling even for "an account of what money the poor Prince [George of Denmark] call'd for for his own private use", [8 Oct., 1712] (f.75); thanking Harley for "makeing the Commissioners of Accounts reasonable, for I believe without your interposition they would not have bin soe", [11 Oct, 1712] (f.77); on Lord Dartmouth's determination "to quit, which I should be very sorry for, for I beleeve him an honest man, & I think it would be prejudicial to my service", etc., [21 Oct. 1712] (f.81); on visits from Mr Hamden, for whom something must be done "to keep him right", and from the Duke of Ormonde: "I fancyed at first he seem'd a little uneasy, but after talking some time he came into good humour", etc., 5 Nov., [1712] (f.83); as to "a draught of a letter to the King of France", and her hope that "the great work of the Peace is in a faire way of coming to a happy conclusion", 13 Nov., [1712] (f.85); on a design against her person and her trust in God's protection, [21 Nov., 1712] (f.87); expressing regret that Harley should think her displeased with him: "You can not wonder that I, who have bin ill used soe many yeares, should desire to keep myself from being againe enslaved", etc., 27 Nov., [1712] (f.89); on her regret at not being well enough to attend the thanksgiving service [for the peace] at St. Paul's, etc., [5 July, 1713] (f.95); expressing surprise at Harley's supposing she had changed her mind as to making Lord De La Warr Treasurer of the Chamber, 21 Aug., 1713 (f.101); on the need of money for her stables, and desiring him, when he comes next, "to speake plainly, lay everything open and hide nothing", etc., 8 Dec., 1713. (f.106).

Quarto; ff.113.