Add MS 61861 B

NORTH (SHEFFIELD PARK) PAPERS. Vol. II B. Contents of the pocket-book; 1778-1781. The first item (ff. 1-3) was found in the pocket lacking a flap and the rest in the other pocket. Items 5-7 (ff. 21-28) relate to the War in America.

1. ff. 1-3. Letter purporting to be from James Clarc al. Clark, a colonist, to his brother Thomas relating to the former's plans to assassinate George III and his subsequent escape; 17 Dec. 1778. Partly in cipher. Cipher key included (f. 3).

2. ff. 4-7. Two letters from Thomas Clark to his brother James relating to the assassination plan, American privations and events in the thirteen colonies; 3-28 Sept. 1778. Partly in cipher. Included are accounts of the thirteen colonies.

3. ff. 8-14. Letters from Sir John Fielding, magistrate, to John Robinson relating to investigations concerning Close and Buck and the origin of the pocket-book; Dec. 1778.

4. ff. 15-20. Statements taken from Close and Buck, 19, 20 Dec. 1778, and subsequent police statements, all made before Sir John Fielding; 1778, 1779. Copies.

5. ff. 21-23. 'Account of the agreement in favour of Mr. [Paul] Wentworth', a recapitulation of the terms agreed by Lord North for Wentworth's services, 2 Dec. 1777; after 2 March 1778. Written in Wentworth's hand, with later endorsements by Lord Glenbervie.

6. f. 24. Wrapper endorsed by Lord Glenbervie '1779 Dec. Plan referred to by his My in his lre to Ld Thurlow 18 Dec.' For the plan for a new administration, which is no longer in the collection, see Sir John Fortescue, Correspondence of George III (1967), iv, no. 2880.

7. ff. 25-28. Packet endorsed by Robinson as 'Most Private & Secret . . . 5 Oct. 1781' and by Lord Glenbervie recording his finding the packet opened, 14 Oct. 1801. Contained in the packet are (1) f. 27. Agreement in Lord North's hand to reward a Mr M...l on his bringing over 1000-3000 men to the Army in America, together with a note by Robinson that the 'transaction [was] passed with Mr Jones in my presence', 5 Oct. 1781; - (2) f. 28. Autograph copy of a letter from Lord North to Sir Harry Clinton introducing Jones, 5 Oct. 1781.

John Robinson, Secretary to the Treasury: Letters and papers of and collected by John Robinson: 1778-1781.

includes:

• ff. 1-5v George III of England: Thomas Clark, brother of J Clark: James Clark, American colonist: Correspondence between Thomas Clark and James Clark, rel. to plan to assassinate George III: 1778: Partly in cipher.
• ff. 9-14v Sir John Fielding, magistrate: John Robinson, Secretary to the Treasury: Letters to John Robinson from Sir John Fielding: 1778.
• f. 16 Reverend Henry Jackson Close, of Kendal, Westmorland: Statement by Rev. Henry Jackson Close: 1778: Copy.
• f. 17 Nathaniel Buck, MD; of Ipswich, county Suffolk: Statement by Nathaniel Buck: 1778: Copy.
• ff. 21-22v Sir John Wentworth, 1st Baronet; Governor of New Hampshire: Memorandum on his agreement with Lord North by Sir John Wentworth: aft. 1777: Autogr.
• f. 28 General Sir Henry Clinton, KB; Commander-in-Chief in America: Letter from Lord North to Gen. Sir Henry Clinton: 1781: Autogr. copy.