Lot 221
Stuart, Charles Edward - "Bonnie Prince Charlie" (1720-88)
Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photography
Auction: 31 August 2016 at 12:00 BST
Description
Autograph letters, unsigned, from Charles to the Comte d'Argenson, Louis XV's Minister of War, 1p and 1/2p., 4to, Paris, 27th March 1747, giving an address and false name for communications and asking the Count's address, the bearer is Monsieur Sheridan (nephew of Sir Thomas Sheridan) who can be trusted to follow any instructions (2)
Footnote
Note: Under constant surveillance from British government agents, Charles was used to conducting diplomatic negotations in a cloak-and-dagger atmosphere, here using the address of John Water & Son, Paris bankers to the Stuarts. The context of these notes, unsigned for obvious reasons, is explained in a letter to his father of 10 April, now in the Stuart Papers: "I have received a civill note from Count d'Argenson in which he desiers I should give him an address by which he can always be able to communicate to me his masters pleasure without its ever being suspected, which I did, giving him a cant name to be sent under cover to Waters jounior, so that everything is at their door." (Quoted by David Daiches, Charles Edward Stuart, 1973).