QUEENSBERRY, Catherine Douglas, duchess (1701-1777). Literary patron.
Autograph Letter Signed to Stephen Fox, recipient's name mostly missing from the integral address-leaf, 1 page 8vo, remains of a red wax seal, London, 22 July 1770. Rather worn with old repairs and tears in the folds. Assuring her correspondent of her good intentions towards 'our ready inclination to agree to yr exceeding reasonable request', and sending her respects to Lady Mary.

The only part of the recipient's name still intact is 'The Hon. St Fox (the latter two letters obscured by an old repair), and the address is Winterslow House, the residence of the Fox family. It was destroyed by fire in 1774. The Hon. Stephen Fox (1745-1774, MP for Salisbury 1768-1774), was the first son of Henry Fox, 1st Baron Holland. He married Lady Mary Fizpatrick in 1766.

The Duchess was the daughter of the second earl of Rochester in whose house she met the literary celebrities of the time. Alexander Pope wrote his well-known poem the Female Phaeton: upon Lady Kitty Hyde's First Appearing in Publick for her.

£85 [No: 26515]