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Auction: 24029 - Stamps and Covers of Great Britain
Lot: 5008

Great Britain
Napoleonic Wars
John Jervis, 1st. Earl St. Vincent
1813 (23 Aug.) autograph letter signed from Rochetts, Essex to an unknown correspondent (possibly Miss Ellis Cornelia Knight, Lady Companion to Princess Charlotte of Wales), interesting contents include "Under the circumstances you were placed, nothing could be better judged than your letters, the reply were the finesse of a Courtier; the means of applying an antidote to the Poison are difficult in a position surrounded by spies prone to put that constriction upon actions, which they think will be most pleasing to the persons who listed to them so minded with Envy and malice. Truth will, in the long run, prevail, in the meanwhile you had a favourable shield in the course of your conduct through life and integrity with which you have performed the important duties of you present station. I dread the effect these miserable subterfuges may have upon the young Lady's mind; happily, found to resist attempts to make her a hypocrite yet to have the movement of her muscles watched and a wrong interpretation put upon all her actions must produce as its effect.".
Signed "St. Vincent".
Also 1807 (3 Feb.) autograph letter signed headed "Weekes" to Messrs. Jenkins Johns and Co. requesting information on a "house advertised in the London Post". Signed "J Jervis", the entire letter postally used with Bristol and London postmarks on the reverse
Both fine, the former most interesting.

Notes: It is quite possible that the "Young Lady" referred to is Princess Charlotte, who, by 1813 was in conflict with her father, the Prince Regent. Charlotte's mother, Princess Caroline of Brunswick was in exile and Charlotte herself was placed under constant surveillance. Into his old age, St. Vincent had close confidants stay with him at Rochetts and it possible that news reached him of this situation in this way.

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Estimate
£500 to £600