Holdings Information
Bibliographic Record Display
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Title:Bessborough papers, 1774-1827.
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Physical Description:0.40 linear ft. (1 box)
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Links:View a selection of digital images in the Beinecke Library's Digital Images Online database
View a description and listing of collection contents in the finding aid
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Yale Holdings
Holdings Record Display
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Notes:Materials in English, French, and Italian.
Gift of James Marshall and Marie-Louise Osborn.
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Biographical / Historical note:Henrietta Frances Spencer Ponsonby, Countess of Bessborough, married Frederick Ponsonby, 3rd Earl of Bessborough in November 1780. She had four children. Lady Caroline Lamb was her only daughter.
Georgiana Spencer Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire (Henrietta's sister), married William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire, in June 1774. She wrote verse and was a leader in fashionable society. Among her friends were Fox, Sheridan, and Selwyn. She canvassed for Fox in the 1784 election.
Lady Caroline Lamb (Henrietta's daughter) married William Lamb (later Lord Melbourne) in 1805. She had an affair with Byron and in 1825 was separated from her husband. She lived at Brocket and published several novels, including "Glenarvon" in 1816.
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Summary:The papers include letters written to Lady Bessborough; poetry in the hands of Lady Devonshire and of Lamb; and music, two silhouettes, and one drawing. Some of the letters contain eyewitness descriptions of the Napoleonic Wars.
- Format:Archives or Manuscripts
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Indexes/Finding aids:Partial finding aid available.
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Cite as:Bessborough Papers. James Marshall and Marie-Louise Osborn Collection, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University.
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Subjects:Bessborough, Henrietta Frances Spencer Ponsonby, Countess of, 1761-1821.
Butler, Eleanor, Lady, approximately 1738-1829.
Cavendish, Georgiana Spencer, Duchess of Devonshire, 1757-1806.
Dorset, John Frederick Sackville, Duke of, 1745-1799.
Lamb, Caroline, Lady, 1785-1828.
Pelham, Thomas, Earl of Chichester, 1756-1826.
Ponsonby, John William, 1781-1847.
Ponsonby, Sarah, approximately 1754-1831.
Pratt, Mr. (Samuel Jackson), 1749-1814.
Ripon, Frederick John Robinson, Earl of, 1782-1859.
Napoleonic Wars, 1800-1815--Personal narratives, British.
Women--Great Britain.
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Genre/Form:Poetry.
Link to this page: https://hdl.handle.net/10079/bibid/3940667