Many of the letters refer to his Lordship's estates and property, as also to election...

Many of the letters refer to his Lordship's estates and property, as also to election matters. Among the writers are the following: -.

1. Thomas Chester, is sorry his interest is promised to Sir John Guise and Sir Dunkum Colchester, but if either of them "desist" he and his votes will be at "Mr Thinn's" service: Knowle, 14 Sept. 1688. f.29.

2. Robert Henley, concerning the local elections at Bristol and elections for the County of Gloucester: 1688-1691. ff. 26, 41,45,178,229.

3. Thomas Freke, concerning the elections for Cricklade, and Co. Wilts. 20 Sept. 1688. f.39.

4. Paul Rycaut, that he has already endeavoured to do "good offices to Lord Weymouth's "kinsman Mr Thynne" at Hamburg: that he the writer has been ill but is departing for Bremen to deliver his credentials as he has already done at Lubeck: Hamburg, 10 Oct. 1689.

5. Sir Thomas Clarges, about the "Regulators of Corporations" ....... "ther were no bookes kept of any of their proceedings in the Secretaries office .... Those that mett for that work were the Lord Chancellor, Earl of Sunderland, M. of Powis, Ld. Arundell of Wardor, E. of Castleman and father Peters": 6 Nov. 1689. f.77.

6. Sir Phineas Pett, Navy Commissioner: (a) desiring Lord Weymouth to speak to the Earl of Nottingham "about his Lordship's permission of my book's title to come into the advertisements in the Gazette": 13 Nov. 1689. f.87: (b) enclosing the "Latine and English verses on the Britannia" which Lord Weymouth asked for, for rendering into French verse .... "The Britannia is now fitted for the Earle of Torrington's goeing to sea in her this summer" and recommending "Mr Steele" [father of Sir Richard Steele] who was sometime Secretary to the Commissioners of the Revenue in Ireland, for a similar post in the north of Ireland: 21 Mar. 1689[90]. f.188: (c) asking him to take an opportunity to speak to Lord Halifax concerning "a manuscript in folio bound in vellum giving an account of divers matters of State in the Exchequer and particularly of the Alliances of the Crown of England till the yeare 1610" and also a copy of "Dr Wood's Accounts and Estimates of the Exportations and Importations relating to the Revenue of Ireland", both of which he (the writer) lent to Lord Halifax "one day when waiting on the Earl of Rochester at dinner at Lord Hallyfax's": 18 Apr. 1690. f.203: (d) on the subject of Mr Steele's new appointment which has been signed by the King, but objection being made to his being a Dissenter the matter at present rests: 22 May, 1690: (e) on the question of Taxes and Revenue: 21 Oct. 1690. f.221: (f) thanks him for the French verses which "are incomparably well done" etc. - March, 1690[1]. f.223: (g) mentioning the expected progress of the King through the City on the occasion of the Peace which he hears is pleasing "both to Whitehall, Versailles and St Germans": 15 Nov. 1697. f.343: (h) further on the Peace, and reporting "a famous short speech of King Wm's to the French plenipotentiarys as follows: Gentlemen, tell your great master yt it was by fate not by choice yt I became his enemy, and as in the time of Warre I always made it, the highest of my ambition to merit his esteeme so in the time of peace it shall always be the greatest of my care to preserve his friendship": etc. 27 Nov. 1697. f.349.

7. John Davis, lawyer: (a) enclosing the verdict of the Jury who sat on the death of Col. Thomas Wyndham, M.P. who was accidentally shot when cleaning his blunderbuss: Wells, 18 Dec. 1689. f.108: (b) on the same subject, and the difficulty he has in choosing another Burgess: Wells, 22 Dec. 1689. f.111: (c) on money matters: 11 Jan. 1689. f.121: (d) on the elction of Col. Berkeley and Capt Wyndham, Burgesses for Wells: 1.3, March, 1689[90]. ff. 165,174.

8. George Alsopp, recommending Michael Biddulph, of Polesworth "a true son of ye church" to be candidate for the Borough of Tamworth at the coming election, and giving names of other candidates already in the field: Tamworth, 10 Feb. 1689[90]. f.135.

9. Sir Charles Wolseley, announcing that he has been chosen by "many principall persones" to stand for election for Tamworth for the next Parliament: Tamworth, 10 Feb. 1 1689[90]. f.140.

10. Sir H---- Gough: (a) on the coming Tamworth election: Tamworth, 12 Feb. 1689[90]. f.144: (b) is sorry to hear that Lord Weymouth now recommends Mr Boyle as a candidate, he, (the writer) having engaged himself to stand with Mr Biddulph: 17 Feb. 1689[90] f.150: (c) that he a and Mr Biddulph are elected but that the expense has been very great: Perry Hill, 3 March, 1689[90]. f.172: (d) further on the late election: Perry Hill, 18 June, 1690. f.219.

11. Samuel Morland, the Painter, to Sir Robert Southwell "I foresee I shall bee very weary and my lame hip somewhat mortified after having been knockt and pounded 3 days in a stage-morter, and shall bee glad to repose myself at Warmington all Sunday, so that it will be time enough for my Lord (if He so please) to send his Coach for mee upon Monday morning", etc. 2 June 1691. f.225.

12. Baron W---- C---- Lüttichau, wishing to lease from Lord Weymouth the town of Carrick Co. Monaghan and about 4000 acres of land on which he may 'settle and plant' 200 Protestant families from Silesia: 18 May, 1693. With draft of Lord Weymouth's reply: 29 May 1693. f.245.

13. James Wellington, giving an account of the Courts Leet and Baron of Lord Weymouth's manors: 6 Nov. 1690, 18 Dec. 1693. ff. 249,267.

14. Edwin Sandys, giving an account of "what things were yet remaining of ye Ld. Stawel's at Ham, and particularly what Marble .... There are also very rich Marble Chimny peices a large very fine Carved Frame for a Looking Glass and two carved chimney Peices in wood, and a great many Grange trees and a noble Library of good Books": Wells, 12 Nov. 1693. f.251.

15. Charles Shelley: (a) recommending Mr Mitchell as "a gentleman" for Lord Weymouth's chamber ... Sir Richard Temple, Sir John Werden, and Mr Booth are out of ye Customes .... There is also an alteration in ye Excise, etc": London, 4 Aug. 1694. f.298: (b) concerning Mr Foe or Defoe a tenant of Lord Weymouth's: 27 Aug. 1696. f.311:

(c) That the Bailiffs have arrested Defoe in an action of £25. "It has very much nettled him": 24 Apr. 1697.

f.319: (d) on his appointment to some office at Newcastle: 5 Nov. 1697. f.339: (e) on money matters: 9 Nov. 1697. f.341.

16. Robert Price, on election matters, "We are canvassing for membership in Parliament att Lempster, my Lord Coningsby, Coll. Pitt of Kyre (who is a good man) and Lord Harley appeared, ye first two had many slights, young Gorge is very busie to bee one of our Knights, hee cannot be worse than our son of ye church, tho' we hope to amend yt membership likewise with a better than Gorge", etc. Foxley, 9 Oct. 1697. f.331.

17. Daniel Bernard, on the upholstering of the "Great Chairs" for Longleat: 27 Jan. 1697[8]. f.364.