[Francis Godolphin Osborne, 5th Duke of Leeds, Foreign Secretary who antagonised Thomas Jefferson and damaged relations with United States.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Leeds') to 'Mr Alderman Clark', regarding Duke of Rutland and Bethlem Hospital.

Author: 
Francis Godolphin Osborne, 5th Duke of Leeds [Marquess of Carmarthen] (1751-1799), Foreign Secretary who antagonised Thomas Jefferson and damaged relations with the United States [Richard Clark]
Publication details: 
St. James's Square [London]. 5 April 1796.
£250.00
SKU: 21749

1p., 4to. On bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to revese of second leaf, which is endorsed '5. April 1796 | Duke of Leeds.' Folded twice. Reads 'Dear Sir. | The Duke of Rutland & some of his friends being desirous of seeing Bethlem Hospital, I shall be much obliged to you for an order of admittance for His Grace & his Company. | Believe me Dear Sir | very sincerely yours | Leeds.' Richard Clark (1739-1831) was Treasurer of the Royal Hospitals of Bethlem and Bridewell. See his obituary in Gentleman's Magazine, February 1831, and entry 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'.