FIENNES

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. While shunning the limelight, Newcastle was an influential figure in British politics; it was through his lobbying that his cousin Sir Henry Clinton was appointed commander-in-chief of the British forces in America during the American Revolution. According to Timothy Mowl's 1996 biography of Horace Walpole, Newcastle was 'famed for an unusually large penis', which he deployed on both sexes. On one side of a 12 x 19 piece of laid paper, with large triangle cut at top right (not near signature).

3pp., 4to. Bifolium. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. Newcastle has already been informed of Price's wish to be placed in the Colonial Office by 'the Duke of Roxburghe and others, whose interest in his wefare, would have great weight with me, if I felt that I could consistently with the present claims upon me, hold out any hope of complying with Mr. Price's request'.

4pp., 12mo. 26 lines. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Addressing an unnamed male correspondent, he begins by declining his correspondent's 'kind invitation' to his visit his house, 'on the ground that has already compelled me to refuse similar hospitality on that occasion from Mr. Wright and others'.

8vo, iv + 26 pp. In modern grey boards. Text clear and complete. On aged paper, with small holes to first two leaves (not affecting text). The imprint is fictitious. A sequel to 'A Fragment' (London, 1750), a satire on the election of the Duke of Newcastle to the Chancellorship of the University of Cambridge in July 1749. Described in the 'Editor's Preface' as a 'learned, elaborate, curious and antient Fragment, [...] communicated to me by a celebrated Gomerian, Professor of the University of Combrigue'. Attributed to the elder Stebbing by Halkett and Laing, and to the younger in ESTC.