[Sir Henry Halford, Physician Extraordinary to four monarchs, including George III in his madness.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Henry Halford.'), mentioning 'the King' (George IV?), and referring to a child of 'Lady Harriet' (wife of the recipient).

1p, 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged. With thin strip of paper from mount adhering to the blank reverse. The recipient is not named. He informs him that he will 'not be in Town' before the following Monday, instead of the Thursday, explaining that he 'was not able to leave the King until Saturday last – and a sejour here of less than a week would hardly justify a journey of 103 miles and back again'. He concludes: 'I hope with all my heart that I may find My little friend better – and Lady Harriet's mind more at ease – as well as your own –' 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'..