Description:

George III Rare ALS Re: Duc de Bourbon's Incognito Royal Visit

1p autograph letter signed by King George III (1738-1820) as "George R." at center. Written at Windsor Castle on October 26, 1795. On laid watermarked cream paper. The enormous royal signature measures 3" x 1.75" alone. Expected paper folds and a few minor chipped edges. Mounting traces visible along the left margin verso. Else near fine. 7.125" x 8.875".

In full, with unchanged spelling and punctuation:

"The Duc de Bourbon having desired Lord Hawkesbury to bring Him to St. James's on Wednesday, I cannot think He can possibly be looked upon here as in cog [in cognito], and therefore to be present as any other Foreigner, on the present occasion any other claim would have been inadmissable.

Windsor Oct 26th 1795

George R."

In this way, George III summarily rejected the proposal that the Duc de Bourbon visit the Court of St. James's under disguise.

"The Duc de Bourbon" referred to Louis Henri Joseph de Bourbon, Duc de Bourbon and later Baron de Condé (1756-1830). He was a prince du sang, or prince of royal blood, from the House of Bourbon. During the French Revolution, the Duc de Bourbon fled to England, escaping the fate of his more famous Bourbon relatives, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. At the time George III wrote about him in this letter, then, the Duc de Bourbon lived as a French expatriate in elite British society. He was an "aristo" who had evaded "le rasoir national", or, the "national razor" as the guillotine was called.

"Lord Hawkesbury" referred to Charles Jenkinson, 1st Earl of Liverpool (1729-1808) after his appointment as such in 1786. A British statesman of nearly 30 years' experience in 1795, Hawkesbury was a royal favorite and held positions of authority within George's government, including Co-Secretary of the Treasury, Lord of the Admiralty, Lord of the Treasury, Secretary at War, Privy Councillor, Master of the Mint, and many more.

George III ruled the British Empire for 60 years. During that time, he confronted the Seven Years’ War, the American Revolution, the French Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars, and the latent growth of nationalism and other independence movements. He also endured periodic mental instability, possibly caused by the genetic disorder porphyria, and two assassination attempts.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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