Autograph Letter Signed to unnamed male correspondent.

Wealthy landowner (1771-1813), MP for County Durham, sued by George Stubbs for non-payment for his picture of Vane-Tempest's racehorse Hambletonian. Four pages, 12mo. Good, though grubby and on paper slightly discoloured with age. Tipped in along one edge on leaf removed from autograph album. From this showing little wonder he died of apoplexy. He has received his correspondent's letter containing one from 'Mr Smith'. He has not 'in any degree changed [his] resolution of not appointing permanent Officers untill [he knows] from whence the men are to be raised - If those who have served as Volunteers & can be accepted under the act like to enrol themselves as local Militia, it is my Intention as a favor to them, to give them the preference as far as I have the Power but I beg it to be understood that I have not the smallest Idea of receiving any one Man in a Corps I may command who shall conceive by entering it he is paying me the smallest Compliment; much less would I feel inclined to profit by an personal Influence which Mr. Smith may hold over the Minds of Persons at Sunderland - My regt. must be completed by Ballot, [...]'. Thanks his correspondent for his trouble. 'After the call of the House is over I am not without hopes of being able to get into the North for a few days'. Signed 'H Vane Tempest'.