[Princess Sophia of Gloucester, niece of King George III.] Autograph Letter Signed (‘Sophia Matilda’) [to Sir Herbert Taylor, Private Secretary to George IV], regarding ‘the kind Legacy from the late Queen at Wirtemberg’.

See Taylor’s entry, and that of Princess Sophia’s brother William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh (1776-1834), in the Oxford DNB. Bagshot Park was the residence of her brother the duke (Silly Billy’), to whom she was very much attached. The siblings were not entirely accepted by the Royal Family due to the unequal nature of their parents’ marriage. 3pp, 12mo. On bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded for postage. Taylor, who is not named but is clearly the recipient, has marked the letter as ‘Private’. Good firm signature ‘Sophia Matilda’. Begins: ‘Dear Sir / I did not receive your Communication dated the 12th untill [sic] this morning, and I hasten to express my thanks for your Attention, and to request that you would have the Goodness to forward the small Parcel containing the kind Legacy from the late Queen at Wirtemberg to me at Bagshot Park in an [office packing?] as you sent those destined for the Dss of Gloucester which she received yesterday -’. She sends wishes for Lady Taylor’s continuing health, ‘notwithstanding the bad weather which we have had’.