SCOTT (Sir Walter, 1771-1832, Novelist & Poet)

Fine Autograph letter signed in full addressed to" Mr Aylvin, Minister of the Gospel ... Birmingham" saying that he has "your letter and I venture to say that you have no reason whatever to apprehend that you have done or said any thing which could be otherwise than very acceptable to his Majesty. The negligence concerning the Orrery [?] could only arise from some carelessness in the .... department which was likely enough to take place in such a bustle. I shall have occasion to write Sir William KNIGHTON...", (1st Baronet, 1776-1836, Private Secretary to George IV, 1822-1830), "and will learn from him what is his Majesty's pleasure. It may be some time before I have an answer for you must imagine as His Majesty's private secretary he has more than enough to do & I am not fond of intruding on him save when it is absolutely necessary ...", 1 side 4to., with integral autograph address leaf with seal, Abbotsford, Saturday, no date but circa slight staining on right hand edge

Autograph letters from Scott with his full signature are rare as Scott usually signed W. Scott.
Knighton was Physician to the Prince of Wales in 1810. He was also auditor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and from 1821–1830 was unofficially Private Secretary to the King and formally Keeper of the Privy Purse. In an almost unprecedented move, the King surrendered control of his financial affairs to Knighton in 1822, on account of his enormous debts. After three years, in 1825, Knighton declared that the King was free of debt.
An orrery is a mechanical model of the solar system that illustrates or predicts the relative positions and motions of the planets and moons, usually according to the heliocentric model.

Item Date:  1825

Stock No:  39666