Letter from Henry 5th Viscount Bolingbroke to Mr Walford of Windsor Peerage, 1890

Acquired by The Friends of Lydiard Park in 2024, a letter from Henry 5th Viscount Bolingbroke to the editor of The Windsor Peerage providing further evidence of the viscount's attempt to establish his eldest (illegitimate) son Henry as his heir. The letter is accompanied by a notice publicising the new Peerage in 1890, describing it as being 'carefully corrected to the end of the last year'. Clearly neither Mr Walford of The Peerage, nor the publishers of Lodge, were convinced by the viscount's claims.

Transcription

Lydiard. Swindon. Wilts

Dec 1st 1890

Dear Mr Walford

I regret very much that you should think I did not pursue the right course in addressing to your publishers, instead of to yourself, my remarks as regards the misapplication of the star in the Windsor Peerage being placed opposite Mr Percy St.John's name instead of being affixed to that of my eldest son and in so doing I thought I was acting in accordance with the instructions contained in the slip of paper I now enclose you, and which was sent to me.

I beg to (?) you that I would have no other motive for acting as I have done. With regard to Lodge stating my marriage and that he " declines" to admit my son, all I can say is that I do not recollect, in consequence of such numerous applications for information some of which I have answered and others not so, whether I took the trouble to describe and particularly my family to him.

I remain

Yours very truly

Bolingbroke