[Princess Elizabeth, daughter of George III.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Elizabeth') to Anna Maria Dashwood, regarding an offer from Lord Cathcart to place her father Sir Henry Dashwood's eldest son in the Life Guards.

The recipient Anna Maria Dashwood (1785-1857) was the daughter of Sir Henry Watkin Dashwood (1745-1828), and was fourteen years old at the time the letter was written. In 1810 she would marry John Loftus (1770-1845), 2nd Marquess of Ely. An Anne Dashwood – presumably a relation – had been a maid of honour of Princess Elizabeth's mother Queen Charlotte. The letter is written in the most affectionate terms, and concerns an offer by William Cathcart (1755-1843), 1st Earl Cathcart, to place Sir Henry Dashwood's eldest son Henry George Mayne Dashwood (1782-1803) in the Life Guards. 5pp, 4to. Bifolium and single leaf attached. Addressed on reverse of last leaf, with part of small seal in red wax, to 'Miss Dashwood'. In good condition, lightly aged, with thin strip of paper from stub adhering to reverse of last leaf. Having received a letter from her ('my dear Anna'), she sends compliments to 'Sir Henry, saying that if my proposal is approved by him it will give me very particular pleasure as serving any of you in any way is truly a conduct to my heart; feeling that warm affection for you dear Mothers memory, which will never in any sense be lessened but with my life'. Coming to the point, she states that what she is 'going to propose is owing to the very handsome & kind conduct of Lord Cathcart, who has privately told me that there would be very soon a Cornetcy in the Life Guards in the Kings gift', and this 'might be a very pleasant thing for Sir Henry to have his Eldest Son have it as he will never go abroad, be near home, & able to continue his study & have a chance of rising'. She would stress to Sir Henry that she has 'heard from all quarters what an advantage it is for Young men to be under Lord Cathcart whose character stands so highly in the world both as an Officer & as a Man'. Cathcart is 'very anxious about his Regiment particularly so, as it always attends his Majesty & the honour of being so constantly about his Majestys person makes Lord C. very desirous to have nothing but Young Men of family and fashion in it'. Cathcart has promised 'that Henry shall be the first upon the list so that He will immediately have two or three under him – I think that his being so entirely under Sir Henry Dashwoods eye will be a very pleasant circumstance', and Cathcart has assured her 'that the King will have very particular satisfaction in signing a Commission for your Brother'. She feels that 'this is surely time for all to stand forth in defence of their Country & when the situation keeps him at home I think it must be particularly pleasant to his Father'. She has been 'talking a great deal of You all', and urges her not to 'name this to any body but your Father but You may say to Him that I really am of opinion that it will be a good thing for your Brother'. In a postscript she expresses delight at the recipient's happiness: 'I hope you will be a little with Ld. Hardwicke I always rejoice when you are with that amiable creature I beg you tell him that I have got la Maison Rustique & delight in it'. From the distinguished autograph collection of the psychiatrist Richard Alfred Hunter (1923-1981), whose collection of 7000 works relating to psychiatry is now in Cambridge University Library. Hunter and his mother Ida Macalpine had a particular interest in the illness of King George III, and their book 'George III and the Mad Business' (1969) suggested the diagnosis of porphyria popularised by Alan Bennett in his play 'The Madness of George III'.