[Thomas Garth, Equerry to George III, and alleged lover of the King's daughter Princess Sophia.] Autograph Letter in the third person to 'Mr Ford', discussing the king's forthcoming movements.

1p, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Reads 'Major General Garth presents his Compliments to Mr Ford and informs Him that Their Majesties and Princesses stop to breakfast at Hartford Bridge – and once afterwards for five Minutes at Stoney Cross – The Compton Arms – between Rumsey & Kingwood.' Postscript: 'The Majr Genl: supposes Mr Ford is acquainted that The King leaves Windsor 17th next.' Ford – the son of Queen Charlotte's physician, James Ford – was clearly enquiring with regard to the king's itinerary for security purposes. According to his entry in the History of Parliament, 'In 1792 he was appointed magistrate of Shadwell police court. He was subsequently employed by the Home Office to collect information on radical agitators and manage French agents. […] At the time of his death he was acting magistrate for the Home Office.' See his entry, and those of Garth and Princess Sophia, in the Oxford DNB. 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'.