BIB_ID
459114
Accession number
MA 14909.13
Creator
Edward Augustus, Prince, Duke of Kent, 1767-1820, sender.
Credit line
Bequest of Gordon N. Ray, 1987.
Description
1 item (7 pages) ; 25.3 x 20.6 cm
Notes
Royal assent was given on March 21 of 1799 to an act granting Princes Edward and Ernest Augustus each an annuity of £12,000 (The London Gazette, no. 15117, 1799 March 19-23, p. 262).
Edward's brother Ernest Augustus (later King of Hanover) was eventually created the Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale.
Robert Prescott (1725-1816) was governor-in-chief of and commander-in-chief of forces in British North America. He was recalled to England in April 1799 (but retained the office of governor until 1807).
"Macdonogh" is Thomas MacDonogh, who served as private secretary to Wentworth while royal governor of New Hampshire, went with him to Nova Scotia after the American War of Independence, and later served as British consul to the New England states.
Gregory Townsend (1732-1798) was a loyalist formerly of Massachusetts and later a British Army commissary-general in Halifax.
Part of a collection of letters from Prince Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent, to Sir John Wentworth, 1st Baronet (MA 14909).
Edward's brother Ernest Augustus (later King of Hanover) was eventually created the Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale.
Robert Prescott (1725-1816) was governor-in-chief of and commander-in-chief of forces in British North America. He was recalled to England in April 1799 (but retained the office of governor until 1807).
"Macdonogh" is Thomas MacDonogh, who served as private secretary to Wentworth while royal governor of New Hampshire, went with him to Nova Scotia after the American War of Independence, and later served as British consul to the New England states.
Gregory Townsend (1732-1798) was a loyalist formerly of Massachusetts and later a British Army commissary-general in Halifax.
Part of a collection of letters from Prince Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent, to Sir John Wentworth, 1st Baronet (MA 14909).
Provenance
Gordon N. Ray.
Summary
Acknowledging receipt of Wentworth's letter of December 10 on "the 13th"; reporting on approval of the king for "Mr. Pitt to propose on an early day in the House of Commons" a £12,000 annual "allowance" each to himself and to his brother Ernest Augustus; stating the Chancellor has "intimated" he (Edward) is to be "created a Duke by the title of Kent" and his brother Ernest "is to have his choice" between the Duchy of Cumberland (which Edward "declined, for reasons which I am sure will be to you self evident") or the Duchy of Kendal; reporting no indication of a military promotion despite being the senior-most lieutenant general "in the Service" and that he believes he is to be "stationed in Dorsetshire [...] in some central situation, between Poole, Weymouth, Salisbury, & Blandford"; noting General Prescott "is certainly to be recalled" once a replacement is found; believing he (Edward) might have been Prescott's successor if he had expressed interest; conveying his feelings that, "after so long an absence from home", no posting "short of the supreme command in India" or war could "get me across the Atlantic again"; noting happily the appointment of Col. Barclay to be consul-general to the United States; informing of continuing efforts to get the salary of "our worthy friend Mr. MacDonogh" increased to one thousand pounds, including a request made "through Mr. Hammond to Lord Grenville"; commiserating over Wentworth not receiving letters from his wife or son, owing to various mistakes and delays over past several months in postal shipping; relaying he has seen Lady Wentworth frequently and she is in good health and that the Wentworths' son Charles Mary is "keeping term at Oxford" before taking his degree; discussing a career opportunity for a mutual acquaintance (occasioned by dismissal of Commissary Perry) as "Commissary for stores at the Island St. John" and the vacancy of assistant commissary-general post left by the late Mr. Townsend; reporting on troop movements, including both "Fencibles" and the 66th Regiment; conveying good wishes of Madame de St. Laurent.
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