"Letters of affairs from such as manage them, or are privy to them," writes Lord Bacon, "are, of all others, the best instructors for history, and to a diligent reader, the best histories in themselves." Hence the peculiar and exceptional value of the autographs of Statecraft and Diplomacy as important sources of reliable information in dealing with the annals of any given period of national life. Writers like Frederic Masson have discovered that the faded and forgotten correspondence of men and women of fashion constitute a veritable treasury of knowledge concerning the manners and customs of our ancestors during the past three centuries. Almost all the American autographs of great value[37] may be classed in this category. It is obvious that some writers, like Lord Chesterfield, united in their persons the attributes of statesmen, diplomatists, and men of fashion.
Eighty years ago it is evident the money value of the letters of celebrated statesmen in no way corresponded with their worth as potential aids to history-making. The chronicler of 1827 already alluded to makes no secret of the fact. "Hands which the reins of empire might have swayed," he frankly confesses, "are hands of very inferior value on paper. Sir Francis Walsingham, the able and upright secretary of Queen Elizabeth, must have five other celebrated persons added to mount up to 9s. The price of the great Sir Robert Walpole, who discovered the price of more than half the House of Commons, and made the whole of the Government run smoothly, is 18s. Mr. Pitt, the Pilot that weathered the storm, and Mr. Perceval, who fell by the ball of an assassin, join hands to reach 13s.; and Lord Castlereagh, who once towered high above the heads of the people, now needs the help of Lord Grenville, and a Lord Chief Justice, to lift him up to a like sum. The average value of a common Lord Chancellor is about 2s. 6d. Lenthall, the Speaker of the House of Commons in the Long Parliament, and Thurloe, the Secretary of Oliver Cromwell, are valued together at 52s. 6d."
I am hardly disposed to altogether credit this statement, as large sums, comparatively speaking, were paid even then for documents signed by Thomas More, the Earl of Pembroke (Shakespeare's friend), and Francis Bacon, who, according to the writer, would be pitilessly relegated to the half-crown class. In Frederic Barker's catalogue for 1887 I find a Privy Council letter, signed by Bacon and several others, priced at £7 7s., and Mr. Waller, ten years before, offers a 2 p. A.L.S. of the younger Pitt for 18s. It was nevertheless a letter of considerable historical value. In this kind of autographs important finds may often be made by buying letters written by little known personages to eminent politicians. In a recent sale at Sotheby's a dozen letters addressed to William Windham went for 1s. the lot. It is quite possible they may enshrine some unknown State secret. I lately saw at the shop of Messrs. Ellis, in New Bond Street, a deed signed not only by Bacon but his wife, and nearly the whole of his relatives and connections. It is in an excellent state of preservation, and was priced at £30.
At the present moment, when the sixth generation of our Royal Family is represented in the Senior Service, two letters of the elder Pitt, the Great Commoner, arranging for the entry into the Navy of the first Prince of the House of Brunswick to join it, cannot but be interesting. These letters were addressed in 1759 to Lord Holdernesse, and concern the Duke of York, a younger brother of King George III.[38]
William Pitt (afterwards Earl of Chatham) to Lord Holdernesse.
past 5 o'clock
(1758-9?).
Dear Lord,—I have the very great satisfaction to acquaint your Lordship that the King has been graciously pleased to approve that Prince Edward should go on board the fleet and enter into the Department of the Navy. His Majesty, at the same time signifyd his Intentions to the Duke of Newcastle not to allot any appointments to the Prince on this account. Proper representations, however will be made for an allowance for Table at least, which it is hoped will not be without effect.
I am doubly happy, my Dear Lord, at the favourable and speedy determination of this very important arrangement, and cannot do sufficient Justice to the Instant and efficacious attentions paid to the Intentions of Leicester House, which I had the great honour to be commanded to make known.
I am ever
My dear Lord's
most affectionate Friend
and humble servant
W. Pitt