Add MS 89036/2/3

Letter numbering continues from Add MS 89036/2/2. Letters 64 and 65 are (implicitly) addressed to Pitt rather than Adams.

• 63-63(i). Cheltenham, 19 June [1807], Lady Stanhope to Adams. 'I have a little little cottage out of town only two stories [sic] high once belonging to a labouring man....' The letter refers to 'the Shrewsbury living'.
• 64. Walmer Castle, 24 January [1805], Lady Stanhope to [Pitt]. Refers to planting the chalk pit at Walmer Castle (compare with letter 17), and to adapting the property. 'I think nothing can be better imagined than this magnificent plan, this place would then be a habitation fit for you, yet I see one objection, your thinking it wd be better calculated for somebody with 40,000 a year....'
• 65-65(i). Walmer Castle, 8 March [?1805], Lady Stanhope to [Pitt]. Discusses her step-brothers Charles (Banks Stanhope) and James (Hamilton Stanhope).
• 66. 'Wednesday' [1805], Lady Stanhope to [Adams]. Refers to Pitt's break with Addington: 'which happily has purged the nation of the reptiles which had crept into the constitution even in the great organ of state the Cabinet.'
• 67. 'Monday' [1805], Lady Stanhope to Adams. 'When Orpheus lulled the Dog of Hell asleep, with the sweetness of his Lyre, his task to me appears less difficult, & his power inferior, to that which Mr. P. exerted the other night when he made his incomparable speech. I cordially join in yr prayer that he may ultimately truimph over his Enemies, but I can hardly feel satisfied if they are defeated only, for like nasty weeds they will grow hereafter the stronger if only cut down....'
• 68. Hotel Bognor, 'Sunday night' (no date), Lady Stanhope to Adams. Taking a cottage.
• 69. Walmer Castle, 10 February [?1805], Lady Stanhope to [Adams]. Concerning port and claret for Pitt, from Portsmouth Custom House, which cannot be received into the Castle without correct documentation.
• 70-70(i). Cheltenham, 24 May [1807], Lady Stanhope to Adams. 'I have nobody here to talk politics'.
• 71. Walmer Castle, 'Wednesday 23rd' [1805], Lady Stanhope to Adams. 'I have just received estimates of the magnificent plan for improving the Castle, but it is too late to write to Mr. Pitt today.'
• 72-72(i). 'Monday the 15th' (year not indicated), Lady Stanhope to Adams. Family news, Charles and James, and news of the marriage prospects of Louisa ('one of my Children'). Also mentions Atkins, chief of the Deal smugglers, now in custody in Ramsgate ('the man who used to take Mr. P. out in his boat, & who is so admirable a character').
• 73. Mudeford Christchurch, 29 October [1806], Lady Stanhope to Adams (at Totnes, Devon). Refers to Parliamentary candidates.
• 74. Dawlish, 'Wednesday' (no date), Lady Stanhope to Adams. Adams is unwell, invited to Dawlish to recover.
• 75-75(i). Montagu Square, 25 September [1806], Lady Stanhope to Adams. Refers to 'the bounty list'.
• 76. No date [? Cheltenham 1807], Lady Stanhope to Adams. Mentions Dr. J of 88 Great Portland Street. She is to spend £100 to add another room to her cottage and will pay no rent for three years.
• 77. 'Tuesday' [?1807], Lady Stanhope to Adams.
• 78. Merthyr Tidvil, [?]15 October (paper watermarked 1807), Lady Stanhope to Adams. 'I never saw so extraordinary a place as this. The mountains look on fire for several miles & the furnaces make noises not to be described. I would not however have missed seeing it upon any account as I believe it is by far the finest Iron work in the world, works I might say for I have seen three & have the grandest yet to see. By the time you receive this I shall be at Monmouth.'
• 79. [?]M-, 13 October (paper watermarked 1806), Lady Stanhope to Adams. 'My country life certainly agrees with me.' Send future letters to the Post Office in Monmouth.
• 80-80(ii). 5 July (year not indicated), Lady Stanhope to Adams. Refers to Deal smugglers (Johnstone, Atkins - see letter 72 above). 'If poor Atkins sd suffer, thousands will lose their lives upon the Goodwins, for not a Deal boat will go out to save them.'
• 80(iii). 'Saturday' [1806], Lady Stanhope to Adams. Assuring him of continued friendship following the death of Pitt ('that beloved angel who is no more').
• 81. Mount Lebanon, 3 January 1817, Lady Stanhope to Adams. Re-establishing contact after seven years. 'Dr. Meryon my late Physician, a quiet humdrum, honest man, is the bearer of these few lines.' She has seen 'a good deal' of William Bankes: 'he is clever, but so mean that he has done more injury to the English name than twenty travellers of a different disposition will do good.' She was 'intended by nature' to live amongst 'the Turks'. The letter ends on an enigmatic personal note: 'if I have been too long silent, it proceeded perhaps from a feeling which if you reflect a little you will be able to account for.'
• 81(i). University Club, Pall Mall East, 8 December 1843, C. L. Meryon to [Adams]. Reminding Adams of their meeting, of his connection to Lady Stanhope, and seeking employment for his son. 'Part of my income was derived from money vested in a brewery. That concern failed a few months ago, and I was suddenly called to England to save what I could from the wreck of my little property.' He has lately submitted the manuscript of his account of his travels with Lady Stanhope to a publisher.