[Sir Robert Atkyns the younger, Tory politician, topographer and antiquary.] Autograph Letter Signed to George Smyth of North Nibley, regarding the sale of a horse; and memorandum regarding arrangements over ‘the Estate at Nibley’.

See Atkyns’ entries, and those of his father, in the Oxford DNB and History of Parliament (the latter referring to his ‘great Ancient and Present State of Glostershire, eulogizing the Stuarts’). Both items (seemingly unconnected) date from after George Smyth’s acquisition of Nibley House on his marriage in 1691. The papers of Smyth’s family are in the Gloucestershire Record Office. Other than slight loss to the letter caused by the breaking of the seal, both items are in good condition, lightly aged and worn, with light rust staining around the pinholes caused by their previous attachment, and creases from folding. ONE: Letter from ‘Pinbury: Parke. Oct. 28.’, signed ‘Ro. Atkyns jnr’. 1p, 8vo. On the recto of a bifolium, the verso of the second leaf being addressed by Atkyns ‘To George Smyth Esqr / Nibley’. The damage to the outer edges of both leaves from the breaking of the seal has resulted in loss to a couple of words of text. Begins: ‘Sr. / I ask’t my servant to tell me faithfully, whither [sic] he thought your horse was worth more then nine po[unds] and he assures me that he does beleive, that no person would give more mony for him, especially so late in the year. I then ask’t your servant what I should do in th[e] Case, who wou’d leave the horse with me at the Price.’ Accordingly he has sent nine pounds by Smyth’s servant, and asks that if he has ‘committed any Error in it’, he should be informed of Smyth’s ‘mind, And I will either restore your horse, or rectify it how you please’. In a postscript he sends his ‘humble service’ to Smyth’s father, ‘and I wish a good iourney to you both’. TWO: Fourteen-line memorandum in Atkyns’ hand, without date, place or signature. 1p, landscape 8vo. Docketed on reverse: ‘the further [reward?] of Sr Ro Atkins’. Beginning: ‘That in leiu [sic] of one hundred pounds a year in law there be paid 70l a year clear of all charges, the first payment to begin at Michaelmas next / That because the first payment does not begin till Michaelmas next, therefore Mr Smith is to receive all arrears of rent due from the Estate at Nibley.’ The following five lines of the memorandum concern livestock. The document ends: ‘That when either of the intended Securitys shall happen to dy there shall be another appointed in his place’.