Autograph letter : "Berkeley Square" [London], to Mary Berry, 1791 Mar. 11.

Record ID: 
331519
Accession number: 
MA 494.51
Author: 
Walpole, Horace, 1717-1797.
Credit: 
Acquired by Pierpont Morgan before 1904.
Description: 
1 item (3 p., with address) ; 20.1 cm
Notes: 

Numbered "No. 34" and "No. 23" [of the series of letters addressed to the Berrys abroad].
Address panel with seal and postmark and addressed "À Mademoiselle Mademoiselle Berry à lat poste restante à Florence, Italie." Redirected in an unknown hand to "Pisa."
Some passages have been crossed through, presumably by Mary Berry.
Part of a collection of letters from Horace Walpole to Mary and Agnes Berry. Items in the collection have been described individually; see related collection-level record for more information. See also MA 495 (Letters from Walpole to the Misses Berry, 1791-1793); MA 496 (Letters from Walpole to the Misses Berry, 1794-1796, and letters from the Misses Berry to Walpole); and MA 497 (letters to various persons and miscellaneous writings).

Summary: 

Saying that he is suffering from a "codicil" of gout; describing further developments in the Elizabeth Gunning scandal; mentioning the opening of the new opera house Haymarket Theatre; complaining about Miss Foldsone (later Mrs. Anne Mee, who had yet to complete portraits of the Berry sisters as promised); mentioning mutual acquaintances and referencing the Gillray print "The Siege of Blenheim - or - The New System of Gunning Discovered." Continuing the letter on Sunday 13th: Mentioning the death of Lord Strafford, whom Walpole claims to have known since he was 12 years old; mentioning the sale of Mrs. French's effects. Continuing the letter on Monday 14th: thanking her for a letter; mentioning Catherine II's response to England concerning [the Russian-Turkish war]; mentioning several French women who have taken houses in Richmond. Remarking that he is recovered from the "codicil" of gout.

Provenance: 
Given by Mary Berry to Sir Frankland Lewis; by descent to his daughter-in-law Lady Theresa Lewis; by descent to her son Sir Thomas Villiers Lister; by descent to his wife Lady Lister; Acquired by Pierpont Morgan before 1904.