IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0096 AL151
Held at: Senate House Library, University of London
Title: Stanhope, Charles and Stirling, Wilhelmina: letters
Date(s): [1795], [1944-1960]
Level of description: Collection
Extent: 2 items (3 leaves)
Name of creator(s): Stanhope | Charles | 1753-1816 | 3rd Earl Stanhope
Stirling | Wilhelmina | 1865-1965 | collector and sister of Evelyn De Morgan
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
Charles Stanhope was born in London and educated at Eton College and the University of Geneva. He became MP for High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, in 1780, keeping the seat until 1786, when he became Earl Stanhope on his father's death. Politically, his opinions were liberal and strongly democratic: he supported the abolition of slavery and was sympathetic to religious dissenters and to the French Revolution. Stanhope was also strongly interested in science: he became a fellow of the Royal Society in 1772 and conceived several inventions, including a new type of printing press. William Pitt the Younger was his brother-in-law from his first marriage and Lady Hester Stanhope, who travelled widely in the Middle East, was his eldest daughter.
Wilhelmina Stirling (1865-1965) was a collector of artefacts. She was the younger sister of the painter Evelyn De Morgan, a member of the Pre-Raphaelite art circle.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
(1) Letter from Charles Stanhope of Chevening, near Sevenoaks, Kent to William Frend, [May 1795]. Declining an invitation to be 'one of the Stewards for your dinner ... But wherever I am, you know that I am unalterable in all my civic Principles.' Deploring the 'studied Incivism' shown by the petition from the county of Middlesex. (2) Letter from Mrs A M D Wilhelmina Stirling, 30 Launceston Place, Palace Gate, London to William Frend De Morgan, [1944-1960]. Includes comments on the content of item (1). Both letters autograph, with signatures.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
See hard copy catalogue.
Conditions governing access:
Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Please contact the University Archivist for details. 24 hours notice is required for research visits.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.
Physical characteristics:
Finding aids:
Typescript catalogue available in the Library's Palaeography Room.
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:
Accruals:
Archival history:
See archivist
Immediate source of acquisition:
Bound with no 15 of Robert Owen's millennial gazette in a volume of pamphlets - classmark: [G.L.] B.P [Ludlow] 9.
ALLIED MATERIALS
Existence and location of originals:
Existence and location of copies:
A photostatic copy and a microfilm copy of the text are held by the University of Viriginia.
Related material:
Publication note:
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Note:
Archivist's note: Compiled by Anya Turner.
Date(s) of descriptions: July 2008