Add MS 89036/2/4

The file comprises in the main letters to Adams from Charles Banks Stanhope and from James Hamilton Stanhope, together with some letters between other members of the Stanhope family (Philip Henry Stanhope to Hester Stanhope) as well as letters to Pitt from the Stanhopes. There is a brief letter (91(i)) from George Canning to Adams, on hearing of the death of Charles Stanhope. The numbering of the letters continues from Add MS 89036/2/3.

• 82. No date, C. B. Stanhope to Adams. 'Mr. Pitt is about the same today.'
• 83. No date, Charles Stanhope to Adams. Reporting on Pitt's health. 'Sir Walter is here and is very much pleased with the symptoms.'
• 84. No date, Charles Stanhope to Adams. 'Mr. Pitt is about the same this morning.'
• 85. No date, C. Stanhope to [Adams]. Sir Walter requires the report of 'the Physicians at Bath'.
• 86. No date, C. Stanhope to Adams. 'Mr. Pitt has taken both nourishment and medicine.'
• 87. Caher, 13 April (year not indicated), Charles Stanhope to Adams. 'I like Ireland much better than I expected and we are fortunate to be quartered in a beautiful part of the county of Tipperari [sic]. Since I have been here the Duke of Richmond has been so kind as to appoint me one of his Aid de Camps [sic] & I have accepted the offer. We are all very anxious for a confirmation of the reports of a victory.'
• 88-89. Messina, 24 May 1807, Charles Stanhope to Adams. Refers to Sir S. Smith having left Malta, and to a Captain Davis. 'The Regiment of the Froberg that mutinied at Malta are come here and there is a Court of enquiry....' Charles's brother, James, 'is now on a detachment with 4 Companies of the Guards within 3 miles' (of Messina)
• 90-91. Messina, 1 September 1806. Charles Stanhope to Adams. Refers to the loss of men sustained by Sir Sidney, and to Naples. 'The Inhabitants of Calabria are now in the most shocking state possible and the number of murders committed is astonishing.'
• 91(i). Bruton Street, 24 January 1809. George Canning to Adams. 'I fear poor Charles Stanhope is among the killed. Where is Lady Hester? I should wish that she should not receive this sad intelligence first by the newspapers.'
• 92. Chevening, 4 April 1800, Mahon [Philip Henry Stanhope] to Hester Stanhope, his step-sister. 'I should wish much to have it ascertained whether my going into the Army would put me out of Papa's Power. You know that I have long fixed my Heart on Ld. Paget's Regt.'
• 93. Burton Pynsent, 10 April 1800, Hester Stanhope to 'My dear Uncle' [Pitt]. Originally enclosing letter 92. Discusses Mahon's prospects.
• 94. Chevening, 29 July 1800, Mahon to Hester Stanhope. Discusses his relationship with his father.
• 95. Burton Pynsent, 10 August 1800, Hester Stanhope to 'My dearest Uncle' [Pitt]. Appears to have originally enclosed 94: 'Mahon as you will see purposes to visit you again at H.'
• 96. Erlang [?Erlangen, Germany], 19 February 1802, Mahon to Charles Stanhope (brother). A long letter beginning by congratulating Charles on becoming a soldier.
• 97-97(i). Amiens, 26 September 1802, Hester Stanhope to Pitt (at Walmer Castle).
• 98. Stanton near Risley, Derbyshire, 3 December 1805, William Woodward to Lady Hester. 'I write in haste to inform you that I have this morning been told from a good authority that Earl Stanhope has sold the fee simple of the Stanton and Dale Estate to Mr. Arkwright of Cromford in this County, and having had a broad hint that this transaction has been done without Lord Mahon's consent or knowledge I thought it my duty to write to you that you might inform his Lordship should you think it necessary.'
• 99. Wycombe, 5 January 1806, Mahon to [?Pitt]. Applying to Chancery 'to stop the sale of the Derbyshire Estate in order to preserve any part of the curtailed property. I have caused a Bill to be prepared for that purpose.' Seeking [Pitt's] support.
• 100. 4 Baker Street North, 26 Februry 1806, Mahon to [Adams]. Following the death of Pitt, writing to recover a portrait of himself previously sent to Pitt, and also asking for Pitt's Swords ('George Rose meant to preserve them' for Mahon and his brother Charles).
• 101. Dawlish, Teingmouth [Teignmouth], no date, JHS [James Hamilton Stanhope] to Adams. 'I shall not be called for before the 14th inst. Hester's house will be so near ready that I trust I shall not have occasion to profit for more than a week of your kind offer.' Concludes with an epigram that refers to the death of Pitt.
• 102. 38 St. James's Place, no date, James Stanhope to Adams (at 16 Queen Street, Westminster). A dinner (on the King's Birthday) for all Pitt's friends at the Thatched House tavern 'in honor of his memory'.
• 103. Dawlish, Devon, 'Thursday', James Stanhope to Adams.
• 104. No date [1809], James Stanhope to Adams. Refers to the death of brother Charles.
• 105. 38 St. James's Place, 'Wednesday' [1806], James Stanhope to Adams. Offering Pitt's 'Chestnut Poney' to Adams, 'as nobody will esteem it more'.
• 106-106(i). Montagu Square, 'Sunday night' [1806], James Stanhope to Adams. Going abroad with the Guards, repeating the offer of Pitt's pony, and repaying money lent to him on Pitt's death.
• 107. His Majesty's Ship Antelope, Dover, 'Sunday', James Stanhope to Adams. Launches stuck fast in Dover. He has been on board ever since he wrote last 'and shall remain until we perform some great achievement .... When it will take place I cannot tell you, but I know this that if Sir Sidney had not been cramped by the interference of higher powers, the flotilla of Boulogne would be either destroyed or greatly damaged.'
• 108. Taormina, 26 February 1807, James Stanhope to Adams. 'I have been here 3 weeks and depart for Cantania in another.' In the postscript, Stanhope reports: 'I must not omit telling you that yesterday at a ¼ before 5 we had an earthquake....'
• 109. [?]Conlissa, 24 May 1807, James Stanhope to Adams. Congratulates Adams on his new appointment. 'We are only 3 miles from Messina & I see my brother every day.'
• 110. Near Messina, 27 July 1807, James Stanhope to Adams. He has been to the summit of Etna and all around Sicily. 'I dread Dysentery among the men who are already very sickly - out of less than 10,000 men we have 2000 ill.' His brother is now at Palermo.
• 111. Gallegos, 23 January 1812, James Stanhope to Adams. Writing from his bed, wounded, 'laid up since the 14th', his horse killed by cannon shot. 'Poor George Napier [Lt. Gen Sir George Thomas Napier] has lost an arm', and Col [?]Coburne (Secretary to Sir John Moore) is also wounded.
• 112. Niza, 7 May 1812, James Stanhope to Adams. Campaign report.
• 113-113(ii). Elvas, 26 May 1812, James Stanhope to Adams. Campaign report.
• 114. Ryde, 19 August 1813, James Stanhope to Adams. Wounded, a near escape: 'I cannot use my arm yet but I hope to kill some pheasants in October notwithstanding.' Being attended to by Lord Buckingham's surgeon.
• 115. Ryde, 13 September 1813, James Stanhope to Adams. Wound nearly healed, but 'rather gloomy with the news of the battle of Dresden'. Will be 'in town on Monday' (staying at his sister's near Bagshot) and hopes to see Adams.
• 116. Printed card of Capt Stanhope, 1st Guards (message written in French on the verso).