Francis Reynolds M.P. (d. 1773). Thomas Reynolds (1733–1785)...

Francis Reynolds M.P. (d. 1773). Thomas Reynolds (1733–1785) An archive of correspondence to his father, Francis Reynolds M.P., concerning his continental education and early military career, 1751–1753. Archive of twelve manuscript items, comprising eleven autograph letters signed by Thomas Reynolds to his father, Francis Reynolds M.P., together with an autograph letter signed by George Churchill to Francis Reynolds concerning his son's military leave; principally single bifolia or folded letter sheets, 1–3 pp. each, several retaining integral address panels or address leaves, contemporary family dockets including "My Son", postal markings and red or black wax seals or remnants; old folds, occasional toning, spotting, show-through and minor marginal wear, one with small old paper repair and occasional losses at seal openings, otherwise generally well preserved and legible. George Churchill, Edinburgh, 20 February 1753, A.L.S., 1 p., folio, docketed verso; Thomas Reynolds, Caen, 19 July 1751, A.L.S., 1 p., docketed "My Son 19 July 1751"; Caen, 13 September 1751, A.L.S., one bifolium, 2 pp., integral address leaf to Francis Reynolds at Clifton Street, Burlington Gardens, London, with largely intact black wax armorial seal; Lausanne, 22 and 26 February 1752, two A.Ls.S. in French, each one bifolium, 3 pp., with integral address or endorsement leaves, the latter addressed to Francis Reynolds in Clifford Street, Burlington Gardens, with remnants of red wax seals; Lausanne, 13 and 21 September 1752, two A.Ls.S., each one bifolium, 2 pp., with integral address panels to Francis Reynolds in London, red wax seals, postal markings and contemporary endorsements; Musselburgh, 8 May 1753, A.L.S., one bifolium, 2 pp., integral address panel to Francis Reynolds M.P., Clifford Street, London, with partly preserved red wax seal and postal mark; Leith, 28 June, 24 July and 28 August 1753, three A.Ls.S., respectively 1, 2 and 2 pp., with integral address leaves or panels to Francis Reynolds, postal markings and red wax seals or remnants; Wakefield, 27 November 1753, A.L.S., 1 p., with integral address leaf to Francis Reynolds M.P., Clifford Street, Burlington Gardens, London, postal markings and remains of red wax seal. (12) A revealing sequence tracing Thomas Reynolds's transition from continental education to military service. Writing from Caen in 1751, Reynolds discusses the expense of his education and maintenance, sending accounts to his father and admitting that he had "hitherto lived too high". The Lausanne letters of 1752 are particularly detailed, combining debts, bankers and allowances with plans to descend the Rhine through Holland and possibly travel into Italy. His education was increasingly directed towards the army, comprising "Fencing, riding, Mathematicks, and Italian", together with fortification; in February he seeks instruction from "un très habile Ecuyer, un très habile Mathematicien, et un très habile maître d'armes", specifically in order "d'apprendre le Service". By 1753 Reynolds had joined his regiment in Scotland. George Churchill, writing from Edinburgh on 20 February, confirms to Francis Reynolds that his son had both Sir John Mordaunt's leave and Churchill's own permission to delay joining the regiment until Colonel Whitely's arrival. From Musselburgh on 8 May, Reynolds anticipates being sent to North Leith on anti-smuggling duty, memorably describing it as "Wapping or Hockley in the Hole in miniature, with the addition of North British offences"; by 28 June he reports himself "in Detachment from the Regiment, on the Smuggling duty at Leith", serving as cornet under a captain and lieutenant. The Leith correspondence also contains lively observations on contemporary Scotland and maritime affairs. On 24 July Reynolds reports on the Greenland whale fishery, believing that eighteen British ships had returned with some forty-six or forty-seven whales, together with news of French naval activity; on 28 August he reports seven rebel prisoners brought into Edinburgh Castle, believed likely to be executed as recaptured men, and remarks upon Scottish reaction to the death of General Churchill's father. By 27 November he was at Wakefield travelling south following a regimental review. Thomas Reynolds (1733–1785), later Reynolds-Moreton, 2nd Baron Ducie of Tortworth, was the eldest son of Francis Reynolds M.P. of Strangeways Hall, Manchester, and the Hon. Elizabeth Moreton. The present correspondence documents his education and early military career; he subsequently succeeded his maternal uncle as 2nd Baron Ducie in 1770 and assumed the surname Moreton. He married Margaret Ramsden, daughter of Sir John Ramsden, 3rd Baronet, in 1774, and died without issue on 11 September 1785, when the barony passed to his younger brother Francis. (G. E. Cokayne et al., The Complete Peerage, new ed., vol. IV, pp. 474–475.)

Estimate:£200

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