This collection is made up of letters that Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Stanhope, wrote to fellow politician William Smith between 1790 and 1802. In his first letter (July 8, 1790), "Brother Whig" expressed his disappointment after a recent election and introduced an enclosed letter from the Duc de La Rochefoucauld (not present), a political ally. In a postscript, he inquired about the existence of a list of French nobles following recent upheavals. Stanhope's second letter, dated January 25, 1796, largely pertains to the marriage of his daughter Lucy and Thomas Taylor, a surgeon. He declared his admiration for the "middling classes" and shared his optimism about a petition for peace. The final letter is a brief note of congratulation addressed to Smith's wife (July 7, 1802).
Charles Stanhope was born in London, England, on August 3, 1753, the son of Philip Stanhope (1714-1786) and Grizel Hamilton (1719-1811). As a young boy, Stanhope, known as the Lord Mahon, attended Eton College for two years and then lived with his family in Geneva, Switzerland. Upon his return to England in 1774, Stanhope attempted to enter Parliament; after unsuccessful attempts at election, he entered the House of Commons as a representative of Wycombe in 1780 and the House of Lords, in his father's place, in 1786. Stanhope, a liberal, embraced radical political views, supported reform movements, and opposed Great Britain's war against revolutionary France. A lifelong interest in science led Stanhope to create several inventions, including a printing press. Stanhope married Hester Pitt (1755-1780), the daughter of William Pitt, in 1774, and they had three daughters: Hester (1776-1839), Griselda (b. 1778), and Lucy (b. 1780). Following her death, he married Louisa Grenville (1758-1829) in 1781. Their four sons included Philip Henry (1781-1855), who inherited the earldom. Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Stanhope, died on December 15, 1816.
