[ Lord Hastings and his Norfolk fishwife Lydia Baldwin: 'Sir J Cannat git any More Small Soles'. ] Autograph Note from Lord Hastings in the third person, requesting 'a dish of fish', with Baldwin's semi-literate response.

2pp., 12mo. Hastings's letter, in the third person, is on the recto, and Baldwin's reply on the reverse. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. One wonders what the fishwife made of Baldwin's handwriting, which is somewhat opaque. He 'requests Mrs Baldwin to send a Dish of Fish for Friday & Saturday's Dinner for 9 or 10 Persons & 2 <?> of Cod <?> & a Bill of what <?> the Last, as he will send the amount by the bearer'. Astley had been elevated to the peerage earlier in the year, having been previously been styled Sir Jacob Astley, and in reply Baldwin writes, rather cryptically: 'Sir J Cannat git any More Small Soles as Such I have filleted Some and Sent wich will Be weary Nice to Lay round the Soles | Lydia Baldwin'.