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The Townshend papers included the private and public records of Charles Townshend who served in various positions in the government of Great Britain including as Secretary of War during the Seven Years War and as Chancellor of the Exchequer where he authored the Townshend Acts to tax the American colonies.

The Townshend papers contain approximately 2,600 items, including letters, documents, accounts, and printed matter relating to the public life and activities of Charles Townshend, gathered largely during the last period of his career. The collection is an extremely valuable resource for study of British commercial and mercantile policy in the 1760s, administrative perspectives on the mounting crisis in the North American colonies, and the inner workings of British political life. The papers reflect Townshend's serious research efforts in his role as policymaker; much of the collection consists of documents that he gathered for his own information on legal cases, British politics, financial and treasury matters, and affairs in North America, the West Indies, and Africa. Also present is a small amount of incoming and outgoing correspondence and an assortment of memoranda and speech drafts by Townshend. The collection spans 1660-1804, but the bulk centers around the 1750s and 1760s, when Townshend held an appointment on the Board of Trade and Plantations (1748-1754) and served as Lord of the Admiralty (1754), Secretary-at-War (1762-1763), President of the Board of Trade (1763-1765), Paymaster General (1765-1766) and Chancellor of the Exchequer (1766-1767). The collection was originally arranged by Charles Townshend into numerous bundles marked with wrappers. This original order has largely been maintained and hence, document types and topics are scattered across the collection.

See "Additional Descriptive Data" for a partial subject index of the papers as well as a list of printed matter in the collection.

Correspondence

A moderate amount of Townshend's incoming and outgoing correspondence is located throughout the collection. This includes contemporary copies of his letters to and from William Barrington and Thomas Gage relating to the War Office during his time as Secretary-at-War (Box 8/ Bundle 2), numerous incoming letters concerning patronage and requesting favors (8/3/A), and correspondence between Townshend and John Morton concerning politics and happenings in the House of Commons in 1764-1766 (8/37). Also present are a series of letters written from the Mediterranean by Commodore Augustus Keppel, describing British peace negotiations with Tunis and Tripoli and the signing of a treaty on October 21, 1751, (Box 297/1/2) and incoming correspondence on a variety of topics from William Dowdeswell, George Sackville-Germain, George Younge, William Shirley, Edmund Burke, Wellbore Ellis, George Macaulay, Edward Walpole, Henry Pelham-Clinton (3rd Duke of Newcastle), and John Stuart, (3rd Earl Bute).

Legal Papers

The collection also contains scattered documents relating to legal issues and court cases in the late-18th century. The box marked 8/5 contains accounts of the court cases of the following parties, heard before the House of Lords and the Commissioners of Appeals in 1760: Francis Watkins; Francis Dalby; the Proprietors of Sulbrave, Northamptonshire; the Pennsylvania Land Company; a group of London fishmongers; and John Potter, Archbishop of Canterbury. Also represented are several cases concerning prizes captured by Dutchmen (8/5). Other legal papers include those relating to Townshend's wife, Caroline, 1st Baroness Greenwich, which span 1754 to 1789 and are located in Box 298, and documents concerning Samuel Waldo and his service in the Siege of Louisburg (8/24/a).

Other Documents

The Charles Townshend papers contain numerous documents gathered by Townshend for his own information or created by him during the process of policymaking. These include many items relating to North America, including reports on trade, military matters, the characteristics and features of various regions, and debates on British policies. Among the military-related topics addressed are recruitment for the British army in North America in the years 1753-1763 (8/22), expenses of maintaining a force in North America for 1765-1766 (8/28), the cost of maintaining various British forts (8/31), and the debate over foreign officers' commissions in America in 1756 (8/4). Other items concern trade between North America and Great Britain; this includes a 1761 memorandum on the prevalence of smuggling in Boston (297), information on Newfoundland fisheries (8/4 and 299), and notes on the importation of iron bar from America (299). A group of undated documents relate to the settlement of East and West Florida (8/34) and the expenses related to the settlement of East Florida by Greeks (297/4/5). Box 8/31 contains Townshend's own notes on his proposal to impose new duties on salt, wine, oil, fruit, glass, tea, sugar, molasses, china, and paper. A draft of the Townshend Duties is also included in the papers.

Other documents in the collection concern a variety of British political matters, such as contested 1754 English parliamentary elections (8/32), estimates of the strength of several parties in the House of Commons (8/42), and proceedings against John Wilkes in the House of Commons (296). The collection also includes Townshend notes for his speeches opposing the Marriage Act (298), and documents concerning his election to Parliament for Great Yarmouth in 1754 and 1756 (8/52).

Additional scattered papers relate to world trade and matters of the British Treasury. A substantial amount of material concerns the East India Company, including debates on the taxation of tea, memoranda concerning precedents for government intervention in East India Company matters, and Townshend's 1766 notes on a bill concerning East India, all of which are located in the Bowhill Box. Box 298 contains many lists and statistics on British imports and exports abroad, particularly to the North American colonies. Other documents pertain to the British manufacture of earthenware and china, the coal trade (8/40), and trade with Africa, including the activities of the Committee on African trade in 1752-1754 (297/5/3).

The Elias and Andrew Durnford Royal Engineers orderly book contains copies of incoming and outgoing military orders and correspondence pertaining to the British Army's Corps of Royal Engineers in the late 18th century. Orders and letters from Major General James Bramham, Chief Engineer William Green, and others concern equipment, officers' pay, courts martial, and other military subjects.

The Elias and Andrew Durnford Royal Engineers orderly book contains 104 pages of copied incoming and outgoing military orders and correspondence pertaining to the British Army's Corps of Royal Engineers. Orders and letters from Major General James Bramham, Chief Engineer William Green, and others concern equipment, officers' pay, courts martial, and other military subjects. The correspondence is dated June 28, 1782-December 8, 1795.

The Durnfords' main correspondents, Major General James Bramham and Chief Engineer William Green, occasionally transmitted correspondence from King George III and Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond. The orders and letters often pertain to personnel-related issues, such as monetary compensation for lost baggage, officers' pay, command hierarchies, the creation of a Corps of Invalid Engineers, promotions, and hiring laborers in Canada and the West Indies. Others concern the maintenance of works and equipment and the relationship between the re-named Corps of Royal Engineers and other army units (pages 61-62). Lists relate to the reorganized hierarchical and pay structure of the Corps of Engineers (pages 22-24), items that officers should carry while stationed overseas (pages 2-3), and the distribution of engineers by seniority (pages 34-37) and by post (pages 37-40). At least two entries pertain to the court martial of Colonel Hugh Debbieg (November 2, 1784, pages 29-31; June 29, 1789, pages 73-79). Other entries address the court martial of Thomas Wheldale (May 25, 1791, pages 80-86) and the court martial of "Lieutenant Colonel Frazer" (September 10, 1792, page 91). Copied outgoing letters of Andrew Durnford include his acknowledgments of incoming correspondence (not present) and brief reports from St. George's, Bermuda.

This collection is made up of 40 letters and documents related to Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston. The material concerns financial compensation for military units, parliamentary politics and legislation, and other British political affairs.

This collection is made up of 34 letters and 6 documents related to Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston. The collection includes 8 items regarding financial compensation for British army units and individuals; 9 letters from Palmerston to Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, and 1 letter from Benjamin Haydon to Palmerston about Talleyrand. The collection also includes 22 letters that Palmerston wrote to various acquaintances, including 1 to Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord about British political affairs.

The first 8 items pertain to financial compensation for the British Army. From October 4, 1817-April 9, 1827, Palmerston signed 6 partially printed documents from the War Office and its Department of Arrear Accompts, regarding pay warrants for services rendered from 1798-1809 and in 1825. Palmerston also wrote manuscript letters to "Lt. Odiardi" (July 11, 1822) and Major General Sir Frederick Robinson (February 27, 1825) in response to their inquiries about back pay and travel expenses, respectively. Robinson had traveled from Canada to Great Britain to participate in George Prevost's 1816 court martial, which was canceled after Prevost's death.

The next series of 10 letters (March 26, 1834-July 21, 1834) includes 9 brief letters in French, written by Palmerston to Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord. Palmerston often discussed his schedule and possible meetings, and once referred to the possibility of a treaty between warring Spanish factions during the First Carlist War (June 1, 1834). On June 13, 1834, painter Benjamin Haydon wrote Palmerston to request an audience with Talleyrand; Palmerston's subsequent letter to Talleyrand (June 14, 1834) concerns Haydon's recent painting of the Reform Parliament, for Lord Grey.

The final 22 items are personal letters written by Palmerston (September 17, 1835-October 12, 1864, and undated), of which 6 are in French. These include at least 3 letters to Christopher Hughes, an American diplomat, in which Palmerston discussed recent sessions of Parliament and expressed his desire for close relations between the United Kingdom and the United States; he also mentioned an attempt to reform election procedures for the House of Commons (November 22, 1837). In letters to other correspondents, Palmerston commented on British party politics, the Reform Act of 1832, the Spanish succession controversy, and treasury clerkships. He also wrote about the Mexican Navy and California's recently-declared independence (August 6, 1846) and suggested a reduction in formal church services in the parish of Romsey (October 12, 1864).

The Kemble collection consist primarily of letters and documents sent to Stephen Kemble in his role as commander of the Nicaraguan expedition. The bulk of collection falls between the period of his appointment to the expedition in April 1780, to the evacuation of Nicaragua in January, 1781.

The Kemble papers consist primarily of letters and documents sent to Kemble in his role as commander of the Nicaraguan expedition. The bulk of collection falls between the period of his appointment to the expedition in April 1780, to the evacuation of Nicaragua in January, 1781.

The papers contain information on the logistical difficulties in arranging for food, water, supplies, and transport for the garrisons at St. John's Castle and Cooke's Post, and document the confusion, errors in judgment, and ineptitude that were the hallmark of this expedition.

An important series of letters and documents from Colvill Cairns and James Thomson record British efforts to mediate affairs with the Mosquito Indians and includes a copy of the treaty Cairns and Thomson negotiated at Tebuppy, along with a list of concessions the British were willing to make.

Post-expedition correspondence includes a series of letters written by Kemble to protest his assignment to a position under the command of a junior officer in Quebec plus copies of the War Office replies. There are also a few letters from Kemble's brother, Samuel, relating to problems finding an apartment in London, and two long letters concerning prospects for the settlements in New Brunswick, Canada.

The Waldegrave Pelham Clay orderly books consist of three volumes of orders from Clay, a British lieutenant colonel who served in the Mediterranean in 1800, and as a major general, in the British West Indies between 1813-1815. The orders document the military's challenges in distributing food, water, supplies, clothes, and wages, and record disciplinary actions, promotions, and notable military events.

The Waldegrave Pelham Clay orderly books consist of three volumes from Clay, a British lieutenant colonel who served in the Mediterranean in 1800, and as a major general in the British West Indies between 1813-1815. The orders document the military's challenges in distributing food, water, supplies, clothes, and wages, and record disciplinary actions, promotions, and other notable military events.

Volume 1 (162 pages) spans from August 6, 1800-December 24, 1800, and consists of general orders and announcements relating to the 40th Regiment's movements in the Mediterranean and while it was stationed at Valletta and Malta, after the British Siege of Malta. The entries mention the HMS Hector (September 25, 1800) and the HMS Romulus (November 2, 1800). Many orders came from or mentioned Major General Henry Pigot, who was instrumental during the Siege of Malta. The bulk of the orders are from the December 1800, with daily entries covering several pages each. Included in the book are instructions on how to parade (August 7-14, 1800), a recipe for broth (August 19, 1800), and instances of sentencing for courts martial (November 27, 30, December 11, and 16, 1800). Also of note is an entry describing a soldier killed by a French sentinel after he "did not answer when challenged...[and] had straggled from his guard" (December 10, 1800). The order warned that this incident should not be "grounds for Disagreement or Jealousy" between the French and British troops. Women are also mentioned in the orders: the December 13 order stipulates that women and children would be able to draw rations (with amounts noted); and the December 23 order contains information on housing women in military hospitals. The back of this volume contains several charts for Captain Clay's 40th Regiment relating to "bread money accounts" and rations from 1793-1795. Approximately 80 pages were ripped out of the back.

This volume also contains one loose page (page 267) taken from a letterbook with three complete letters and one partial letter from Clay. Two letters, dated October 8 and December 27, 1817, are addressed to Charles Greenwood; a December 26, 1817, letter is addressed to General G. Gibbons; and the December 27, 1817, letter is to Edward. All are addressed from Southwell, England.

Volume 2 (212 pages) spans from November 8, 1811-March 20th 1813, and contains the day to day brigade orders of Clay's regiment while stationed at Antigua. The orders include the daily parole, information on food and supply rations, general instructions for the regiment, disciplinary records, and details on other British military outposts in the West Indies. The volume also contains copies of letters and circulars written from other headquarters in the West Indies including Barbados and Jamaica. The orderly book opens with an entry declaring Clay's command of Antigua.

• December 24, 1811, ordered rations for "Negros in the medical department"
• January 24, 1812, ordered a medical board to report "whether a Black Man named [Azer] Cadette, late a Private soldier in the 12th 10 F. Regiment is fit for [major] service."
• March 25, 1812, requested certificates for "Negros Employ'd not being the property of any officer."
• April 25, 1812, ordered an extra allowance of rum to those involved with extinguishing a fire.
• May 24, 1812, forbid bathing during the day because it was considered unhealthy.
• September 27, 1812, called for a celebration after a the Duke of Wellington's victory over the French at Salamanca in July 1812.
• January 26, 1813, news of a robbery and attempted murder by a group of men in a detachment at St. Johns.

This volume also contains a loose page, possibly from an orderly book. On one side are lists of "Allowances of Provisions to the Troops on board Men of War," and on the other are short entries of troop movements by sea of the 1st and 2nd battalions of the 40th Regiment, dated March 2-May 4.

Volume 3 (48 pages), which spans March 31-1813-May 13, 1815, documents Major General Clay's brigade orders, while he was stationed in Antigua and Port of Spain, Trinidad. This is like the other orderly books, in that this volume records how the regiment distributed water and rations, and notes disciplinary actions and celebrations. Though the book does not mention any military engagements, it does offer some information on events on the islands. Approximately 50 pages have been torn out of the book. The first page contains a copy of a form used when scheduling evening and night patrols. Notable entries include instructions to celebrate the Kings birthday with a "Royal Salute" and an extra allowance of rum (June 3, 1814); and the celebration of the Queen's Birthday on January 17, 1815. The entry from June 19, 1814, forbade smoking cigars or having fire close to the sea battery's magazines. Also of note are entries from February 24, 25, and 26, which reported the reactions of an "outrage of yesterday evening in the Green Market by some soldiers." The orders instituted a strict curfew with roll calls. Soldiers were also "strictly forbidden to appear in the Streets with large Sticks of Bludgeons or in the unmilitary practice of carrying their Bayonets, in their Hands, instead of having them suspended in their Belts" (June 25). The June 26 entry forbade soldiers from using their "firelocks for the purpose of using them as Fowling Pieces" (shooting at birds) after a child was wounded in the leg "by a slug fired in this manner by a Black Soldier."