PORTLAND, W.H.C. Bentinck, third Duke of (1738-1809). Prime Minister 1807-1809.
Autograph Letter Signed ('Portland') to The Earl Harcourt, 1 page 4to (blank area trimmed at the head), no place, 3 June 1800. Regarding an anonymous letter on a subject not specified, apparently sent to each of them.

'My Dear Lord' / June 3 1800 [numbered in another hand 83]
'I have had the honor of your Lordship's note together with a Letter addressed to your Lordship for the communication of which I return you many thanks. The purport of it was not new to me as I have more than once received information of the same kind, & I believe from the same hand but as long as the Writer keeps himself concealed & deals only in general description & in surmises I fear I shall be as much at a loss to avail myself of his intentions as I have been heretofore. I will compare this Letter with those which have been written to me in the same stile although I was as little able to discover the author of them as to make out the practices which he affects to represent so full of suspicion & alarm. I am highly sensible of your Lordship's attention in putting this letter so immediately into my hands & beg leave to assure you that it is impossible to do more for the noble motives of your Conduct or to be with greater regard than I am / your Lordship's ever faithfull & obedient Servant / Portland. ...'

Portland was at this time, 1800, Home Secretary. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography records that he 'made effective use of the domestic secret service'. It is possible that the contents of this letter relate to Irish affairs, but it may be significant that, as ODNB also remarks: 'Until the secret service papers were made available, historians had wrongly assumed that Portland had selfishly delayed changing departments in order to arrange repayment of money borrowed from official funds to cover personal debts'.

George Harcourt, second earl Harcourt (1736-1809), politician and patron of the arts, had been a member of parliament (1761-1767) and was supporter of John Wilkes. He is perhaps best remembered for his redesign of the gardens at Nuneham Courtenay on which 'Capability' Brown was employed as an adviser. At the date of the present letter he held the post of Master of the Horse to Queen Charlotte.
[No: 26738]