[Philip Henry Stanhope, 4th Earl Stanhope, as Lord Mahon.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Mahon') to 'Badcock' [William Stanhope Badcock], discussing the 'disasters' in Holland, his brother's military career, 'the late fraud', his 'African Sheep & Goat'.

3pp., 4to. Bifolium. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. An excellent letter, filled with content. Mahon has received Badcock's letter and is 'glad to find that you have had the company of Lord & Lady Buckingham at Portsmouth'. Following 'the disasters that have taken place in Holland' (the Six Days' Campaign) he expected 'that the Militia Battalion would have been sent thither, & indeed there seems to have been some hesitation upon the subject of their destination, as their departure has been delayed long after they were embarked'. He discusses the bad recent weather before discussing his brother, Lt-Col. James Hamilton Stanhope (1788-1825) of the 1st Foot Guards: 'My Brother who was Aide de Camp to Sir T. Graham returned with the Despatches & has since obtained the rank of Lieut. Colonel. He will, I apprehend, go again to Holland very shortly.' He now turns to 'the late fraud', about which 'Lord Cochrane has not published his Statement [...] I much wish that Lord Cochrane may be able to stand as high in public estimation as he did before & I confess that I was much surprized at finding that he was suspected of such conduct'. There follows a reference to his 'African Sheep & Goat', which 'live very amiably together & are at present in my Yard, but the latter has not yet shewn any of the amorous propensities for which such animals are distinguished & I have therefore no prospect at present of continuing the breed, but perhaps it was the extreme cold of last winter which has rendered her so demure.' He discusses his garden ('I have finished my Parterres & am now occupied in planting them'). He is grieved Badcock will pass what looks like being 'a very fine winter [...] on board of ship, but notwithstanding the unfortunate turn which the Negociation appears to have taken & the attempts made to rear the white Flag in France, attempts which will, I fear, end only in the punishment & ruin of those who have engaged in the undertaking, I cannot think that Peace is far distant'. He ends by asking whether letters to Badcock 'should be sent to the care of the Admiral commanding on that station', and with affectionate praise, and the kind remembrances of 'Lady Mahon & my Children'.