William IV.

about his courtship of her niece Catherine Tylney-Long ("...in short can Catherine Long love the Duke of Clarence..."), 30 pages, 4to, integral blanks, four address leaves, Ramsgate, St James's, and London, [?19 October to 18 December 1811], marginal nicks to one letter 



[together with:] a copy of a letter by Dorothy Jordan expressing approval for the terms of her separation from Prince William, 1 page, [16 December 1811], docketed 

Printed in A. Aspinall, Mrs Jordan and Her Family (1951), pp.207-221.

Marginal nicks to one letter, address leaves torn. Photocopies provided of the relevant pages from Aspinall's Mrs Jordan and Her Family.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

"Miss Long knows my object: Miss Long knows my propositions for the marriage articles of which she has kindly approved: her dear consent is is all that is wanted: it is a fair question: Miss Long can now be a judge of whether she hates me..."

a prince in ardent pursuit of a monied bride. In 1811 the middle-aged Duke of Clarence - heavily indebted and creeping up the line of succession - decided to separate from Dorothy Jordan, his partner of twenty years. His eye had been caught by Catherine, a beautiful debutante worth £50,000 a year as the coheir of Sir James Tylney-Long. The Prince's letters bring to life aristocratic society in the Regency, as he describes social promenades, balls and fetes with their opportunities for dancing, dressing up ("...she was more magnificently dressed than another female ... it was a naval fete and the ladies were to appear in white and red in compliment to my flag..."), and discreet conversation ("...she hurt one of her beautiful little feet and gave up dancing and I had an opportunity of conversing with her the remainder of the night..."). He informs Lady de Crespigny of the progress of his separation from Mrs Jordan, presumably by way of clarification that he envisages Catherine as a wife rather than another mistress. Catherine eventually refused William's offer of marriage. The Prince was well aware that he had a rival in William Pole-Wellesley, son of the Earl of Mornington, who crops up repeatedly in these letters. Catherine married Pole-Wellesley in 1812, but her husband proved to be a spendthrift rake: he ran through her money then deserted her. The woman who could have been Queen died broken-hearted at the age of 35.