DOWAGER

1p., 12mo. Good, on aged paper. The letter reads: 'The Dowr. Lady Sligo presents her Compliments to Mr. Shewell, & begs earnestly to solicit his Votes for Henry Jennings at the Election for the Idiot Asylum in April, 1854 - | Lady Sligo can recommend Henry Jennings as a member of a very poor & industrious family -'.

In 1826 Lieut-Col. Alexander Mackenzie, eldest son of Colonel Robert Mackenzie of Milnmount, assumed the dormant baronetcies of Tarbat and Royston [ALEXANDERMACKENZIE OF ROYSTON CROMARTY TARBET GRANDVILLE.], despite their having been forfeited under attainder in 1763. On his death without issue in 1841 his only brother Sir James Sutherland Mackenzie also assumed the titles. He died unmarried and insane on the 24 November 1858. The claim to which the present documents relate does not appear to have been pursued, and the baronetcies have remained dormant.

4to, 2 pp. Bifolium. Twenty-six lines. Text clear and complete. On aged, creased and stained paper. Traces of paper mounts adhering. Docketed on reverse of second leaf. Requiring payment of her 'Rents for my House you at present Inhabit'. The recipient's non-payment of the rents since September 1790 'have occasioned me much Embarrassment. I can only imagine your reason for non Payment to have arrisen [sic] from the Suit that at present subsists at Law Respecting the Property & the House I have mentioned'. Gives reasons justifying immediate payment.

One page. Dimensions of paper roughly eleven inches by seven and a half. Aged, and with fraying to extremities, but text clear and complete. 'Received by me [Elizabeth Countess Dowager of Kildare] Of the Right Honourable Thomas Townshend, Esq; One of the Four Tellers of His Majesty's Receipt of Exchequer, the Sum of [Three pounds ten shillings] in full of all former Directions of the said Order, and for [Six] Months Annuity, due at [Lady Day] last past, of [Seven] Pounds per Annum [...]'. Signed 'Eliza Kildare'. Witnessed by 'Coms: Pye'.

12mo, 2 pp. Written crosswise on paper with the embossed letterhead of Croxteth Hall. Good, though lightly spotted and with small central spike hole. Folded twice, and a little worn along crease lines. She 'will not trouble him to send any more nos. of "Martin Chuzzlewit" as it has been sent her'. Asks for 'all the numbers which are out of "Combe Abbey" [to be] put by for her, & continued' She is from home where she wishes to have them sent -'. Combe Abbey was a seat of the Earls of Craven, but there is no record of an item on it published around the time of 'Martin Chuzzlewit'.

One page, octavo. Good, on aged paper with slight fraying and a few small closed tears at extremities. 'Received by me [Adelaide Dutchess Dowager of Shrewsbury Ass[ign]ee of Wm. Harvey] of the Honourable George Parker Esq; One of the Four Tellers of His Majesty's Receipt of Exchequer, the Sum of [Twenty five pounds] [...]'. Signed 'Adelaide Shrewsbury' and witnessed by 'Hen: Gardie'. Adelaide was (according to the eleventh edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica) married to Charles Talbot, 1st Duke of Shrewsbury (1660-1718) in 1705.

One page. Paper dimensions roughly fourteen inches by nine and a half inches. Good, with cream paper backing. 'Received then by me [Jane Countess Dowager of Bridgewater ass[ign] of Charles Bertie Esqr] [...] Of [James Vernon Esqr] One of the Four Tellers of the Receipt of His Majesty's Exchequer, the Sum of [Threescore pounds] being for [Twenty ffour] Months Interest of [ffive Hundred Pounds] [...]'. Signed 'J Bridgewater'. Witnessed by 'J Peirce'.