The Frederick North collection contains 4 letters from North to various recipients, 1775-1783 and one 1766-1767 record of payment for services. In the first letter (April 17, 1775), written to an unknown recipient, North mentioned transferring a "Dr. Tatten" to Westminster, which he considered "more profitable" than other institutions. He also expressed regret that John Burgoyne did not attend a meeting at which Lord Dartmouth gave "explicit & proper" instructions. In his letter of August 22, 1782, also to an unknown recipient, North referred to a month-long "Tour of visits," which prevented him from writing sooner. He pledged his assistance in recruiting men for the 40th Regiment of Foot, recently renamed the 2nd Somersetshire after Somerset County, but opined that he could "do but little" because of his residence outside the area. In the next piece of correspondence, dated January 19, 1783, North congratulated William Eden on the birth of a son, accepted the role of godfather, and noted that their friendship was a "principal happiness" in his life. North wrote the final letter to the Duke of Portland, September 23, 1783, informing him of the material needs of emigrants from East Florida to the Bahamas, and inquiring if the army's extra provisions could be sent to the Bahamas for the settlers.
Also included in the collection is a 7-page "Account of Extraory Services incurred & Paid by the right honble Lord North & Geo. Cooke," covering 1766-1767, when North and Cooke served as Paymasters of the Forces. This document contains sums paid to various military officials for services and supplies in Germany and colonies such as Grenada, East Florida, and Jamaica. Also provided in the document is a list of names of the compensated and dates of warrant.
Frederick North, second earl Guilford, was born April 13, 1732, the eldest son of Francis North, first earl of Guilford, and Lady Lucy Montagu, who died in 1734. The father remarried in 1736, and Frederick became the stepbrother and lifelong friend of William Legge, second earl of Dartmouth. North studied at Eton and Trinity College, Oxford, and in 1754, became a Member of Parliament for Banbury. In 1756, he married Anne Speke, with whom he had seven children. The Duke of Newcastle appointed North to the office of Lord of the Treasury in 1759, which he held until 1765. In 1766, he became Joint Paymaster of the Forces in Pitt's ministry, and the next year, succeeded Charles Townshend as the Chancellor of the Exchequer. North became the unofficial leader of the House of Commons in January 1768, a position made official later that year. In February 1770, he became Prime Minister, retaining the office until his resignation in March 1782. He died on August 5, 1792.
