Henrietta Cavendish Holles, Countess of Oxford (1694–1755). ...

Henrietta Cavendish Holles, Countess of Oxford (1694–1755). An Important Archive of Correspondence with James West, 1740–1742. John Wesley and Early Methodism, Alexander Pope, Horace Walpole, Van Dyck, the Dispersal of the Oxford Collections and the Fall of Sir Robert Walpole. Henrietta Cavendish Holles (1694–1755), Countess of Oxford and Mortimer, to James West (1703–1772); Forty eight manuscript letters, principally autograph letters signed "H. Cavendish Holles Oxford", dated 3 November 1740–23 March 1741; predominantly single bifolia, many retaining integral address panels, contemporary dockets, postal markings and wax seals or remnants; generally very good condition, with historic folds, occasional spotting and minor tears, some more substantial losses at seal openings, principally affecting address leaves. (48) An extensive and historically significant correspondence between Henrietta Cavendish Holles, daughter and heiress of John Holles, Duke of Newcastle, widow of Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford, and the antiquary, collector and politician James West. Written principally from Bath, the letters document the dispersal of the Oxford family's celebrated collections, contemporary political and religious developments, and the administration of extensive aristocratic estates. Of particular significance is a letter of 28 December 1741 concerning John Wesley and Selina, Countess of Huntingdon. Describing the growing Methodist movement, the Countess writes, "Lady Huntingdon's Conduct is the chief Discourse of this Place, It is said she takes great Pains to increase the number of Methodists", before recounting her journey with her daughter and two Miss Coopers to Kingswood to hear Wesley preach to the colliers, "who Preacht til eleven o'Clock at Night". She further reports Lady Huntingdon's expenditure among the colliers, her return to Bath and her belief that she might convert Lady Thanet. An unusually revealing contemporary account of the social reception of early Methodism. Numerous letters concern the arrangement, valuation and dispersal of paintings at the family's London residence in Dover Street. On 10 November 1741 the Countess describes pictures including a portrait of Charles I and his Queen, and one of Sir Charles Cavendish formerly hanging in place of Sir Walter Raleigh. A letter of 28 November contains a manuscript inventory of eight paintings, including a Virgin and Child with Angels Dancing and Venus and Cupid, both attributed in the manuscript to Van Dyck; portraits of Edward VI and Elizabeth I; and several landscapes. The Countess remarks, "If I have not made a mistake I wou'd part with 3 Pictures out of the 8." These letters precede the dispersal of Edward Harley's celebrated picture collection by Christopher Cock at Covent Garden, 8–13 March 1741, and provide valuable contemporary evidence of the selection and proposed sale of paintings from one of the great Georgian aristocratic collections. See Christopher Cock, A Catalogue of the Collection of the Right Honourable Edward Earl of Oxford Deceas'd (London, 1742). The sale of books, prints, coins and other collections is also discussed. Writing on 16 November 1741, the Countess refers to "Sr Richard Ellis & Mr Horace Walpole's Wishes & Endeavours to Promote the Sale of Books, may have a good Effect". Further correspondence concerns the preparation of catalogues, the selection of works for disposal and the handling of private family papers. Of particular literary interest is a letter of 23 March 1741 concerning Alexander Pope and Lord Dupplin, in which the Countess expresses alarm at the circulation of private papers associated with her late husband, declaring, "I wish all those Papers was lock'd up & put together by themselves". The correspondence also offers candid political commentary during the fall of Sir Robert Walpole, the Countess writing on 6 February 1741, "I can not Believe His Removal will prove a Benefit to the Nation". Other letters refer to the Duke of Newcastle, parliamentary affairs and political patronage. The letters further document the management and restoration of Welbeck, Bolsover and the family's London properties, including the considerable expense of repairs, furnishings, estate administration and legal disputes. Throughout, the Countess repeatedly seeks West's judgement and assistance, acknowledging his "Friendship, Judgement & Secrecy". A substantial and unusually varied Georgian correspondence.

Schätzpreis:2.157,51€

Alle Objekte ansehen vonEASYLIVEAUCTIONoderSilber & Gold