Autograph Letter Signed "Saml Romilly" to unnamed correspondent [Hans Francis Hastings. See note below, re. claim to peerage].

Three pages, 12mo. Good only: some staining but text clear and complete. He's been away and so has only just received his correspondent's letter. He continues: "It is impossible for me to give you any information as to the probable amount of the Expence of presenting your claim to the Earldom of Huntingdon before the House of Lords. As however the pedigree is a very long one & the attendance of many witnesses with the original parish Registers will be necessary I apprehend that it must be very considerable. | It is by no means necessary that you should assume the title previous to your petition being presented & I should think if you mean to proceed immediately it would be more desirable that you should not assume it till your claim has been heard. It is not however of much consequence whether you assume it or not. | Your presence in London is not I apprehend at all necessary." Note: [Hans Francis Hastings] "For a distant kinsman(6th cousin) of the tenth Earl of Huntingdon, the successful pursuit of a claim to the peerage, which had fallen into abeyance, was an arduous affair which finally succeeded in 1819. A book was written on the subject." Romilly gave directions for Nugent Bell to present the Petition in 1818.