Prior, Matthew

Congratulating him on his safe arrival in Dublin as chief secretary to the new Viceroy, the Duke of Ormond, and commenting on a letter in verse and prose that he had received from Southwell ("...there are faults in Stilo which I hope nothing could have occasioned but the Charivari of Kettledrums, Trumpetts and Hazza's, and which I expect should be corrected as your thoughts grow more sedate..."), two pages, 4to (228 x 180 mm), integral blank, docketed, Plantation Office, 10 June 1709; remains of former mount. Blue cloth folder.

The descendants of Richard Monkton Milnes, Lord Houghton (Christie's, 29 June 1995, lot 364). acquisition: Roy Davids, 1998

Edward Southwell (1671-1730) was a politician and official with long-established family connections to Ormond. Following his earlier diplomatic posting, Prior was at this time a commissioner for the Board of Trade and Plantations, in which post he had succeeded John Locke.