GEORGE IV, as Prince of Wales, and PRINCE FREDERICK | Letters to the Earl of Holdernesse, and related papers

GEORGE IV--HOLDERNESSE, 4TH EARL OF

Small archive of papers, as governor of the future George IV and his brother Frederick, Duke of York, comprising: 

(i) George, Prince of Wales, four autograph letters signed, to Holdernesse, in English and French, politely giving news of the court, including the inoculation of his brothers against smallpox, the illness of Mr Smelt's daughter, and his earnest hopes of his own educational improvement, with a handwriting sampler, 9 pages, 4to, Kew and London, 1 February 1773 to 12 October 1775; (ii) Prince Frederick, Duke of York, four autograph letters signed, to Holdernesse, in English and French, with court news including a visit to the King at Kew, with a handwriting sampler, 8 pages, 4to, London and Kew, 5 May 1772 to 10 October 1775; (iii) Leon Smelt, sub-governor to the princes, seven autograph letters signed, to Holdernesss, reporting on the princes and their life at court in Holdernesse's absence ("Their Royal Highnesses continue is the most perfect health notwithstanding their indulgence in well butter'd muffins, chocolate, bread & butter, Cold Beef, cabbage and butter &c &c &c on Wednesday..."), 23 pages, 4to, Queen's House, [Greenwich], 11 April to 12 May 1775; (iv) C. De Salgas, 4 autograph letters signed, to Holdernesse, in French, Bursins, Switzerland, Harwich, and Kew, 26 April 1771 to 26 November 1776; (v) Jacob De Budé, 2 autograph letters signed, to Holdernesse, in French, Kew and St James's Palace, 2 November 1773 and 25 April 1775; (vi) Holdernesse, 5 retained draft letters, to King George III (2), the first expressing "my own insufficiency to execute so great a charge as that superintending the education of the two eldest Princes", the second accepting the post ("...my scruples shall vanish & nothing shall appear before Y: M: but the zeal & alacrity that becomes a dutifull servant..."), the Earl of Sandwich, M. De Salgas (2), and the Rev. Place, on his new responsibilities and hopes for the princes, 17 pages, folio, 11 March-16 June 1771; (vii) and three other documents, c.1770s-1841

"To point out to the young Princes the path of true piety and Honour; to instil the love of Truth, in all their Actions, to detest what is commonly but mistakenly called the Arts of a Court and to look upon the maintenance of this free constitution, as their most inviolable Duty, These, Dear Sir, are the principles I shall endeavour to implant in their young minds" (Holdernesse to Rev. Place, 27 April 1771)

Robert, 4th Earl of Holdernesse (1718-78) was governor of Princes George and Frederick from 1771 to 1776.

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