Autograph Letter Signed "M.A. Hughes" to Richard Twining,jun., Banker and Tea Merchant (see DNB

Author: 
Mrs M.A. Hughes, author, grandmother of Thomas Hughes, central to the literary society of her day.
Publication details: 
No place, 24 Sept. [1807].
£350.00
SKU: 8772

Three pages, 4to, but cross-written, making six pages of writing, sometimes hard to read, small piece of letter with a few words detached but present. Mrs Hughes is her usual informative, authoritative, lively and intelligent self, initially discussing the British disaster at Buenos Ayres. being unable to think of "a worse planned or more ill-fated expedition" in which the dead were "sacrificed". She attacks the commander, the Duke of York, in no uncertain terms: she hopes it's not a crime to wish him out of a world to which he he'd done so little good. She then attacks in greater detail and with even greater moral outrage the attack on the civilian population of Copenhagen [Second Battle of Copenhagen, 2000 killed during a British bombardment]. She hopes that an Enquiry will put the blame on Napoleon's shoulders, but appears to doubt it. "The honour & reputation of a mighty nation is at stake . . . to be sure war is in every point hostile to the spirit of Chistianity." She then expresses her hostility to the Grenvilles (politicians), adding that "personally I dislike Lord G[renville; former Prime Minister] on account of his desertion of Mr. Pitt" (the "first of men"). She then moves on to more personal matters.