[QUEEN CAROLINE AFFAIR] Fairburn’s genuine edition of the death-bed confessions of the late Countess of Guernsey, to Lady Anne H*******

: developing a series of mysterious transactions connected with the most illustrious personages in the kingdom. To which are added the Q—-‘s last letter to the K—, written a few days before her M——‘s death, and other authentic documents, never before published. London : Printed and published by John Fairburn, Broadway, Ludgate Hill, 1821. First edition (?). Octavo (225 mm), stitched as issued; pp. [3] iv, [1] 2-48, [4 publishers’ advertisements]; uncut; title-page and verso of the last leaf a little darkened and with a few minor stains, contents with occasional light foxing; a good copy of what appears to be the first edition of this pamphlet on The Queen Caroline Affair. [WITH AN ASSOCIATED MANUSCRIPT LETTER ENCLOSED] Letter addressed to The Honourable Miss Louisa Wrottesley, Knoyle, Carteret, Salisbury, from Louisa Grey, dated at London, 7 August 1826; FREE strike in red; contains the last part only of Louisa Grey’s manuscript letter to Lady Wrottesley, the enclosed sheet(s) with the first part of the missal now lost; original folds, remnants of black wax seal.

Louisa Wrottesley (1780-1842) served as a maid of honour to Queen Caroline and later Queen Charlotte. She was the daughter of Maj. Gen. Sir John Wrottesley (1744-1787) and Frances Courteney (1746-1828). Her siblings were:

1. Sir John Wrottesley 1771 – 1841
2. Henry Wrottesley 1772 – 1825
3. Frances (Fanny) Wrottesley 1773 – 1814
4. Caroline Gertrude Wrottesley1775 – 1777
5. Charlotte Wrottesley 1779 – post 1826
6. Lt. Col. Hugh Wrottesley 1782 – 1830
7. Rev. Charles Wrottesley 1783 – 1848
8. Cmdr. Edward Wrottesley 1785 – 1814

We believe the author of this letter was Louisa Grey (d. 1830), a daughter of George Grey, 5th Earl of Stamford. The Wrottesley and Grey families were related by marriage. The final part of Louisa Grey’s letter to Louisa Wrottesley reads:

‘… who she had had very much with – the Eldest Brother take the Children directly to his House & has promised to be very kind to Mr Charles & she is not married, a Clergyman’s widow is generally left in miserable circumstances. Dr Bromley & Elizabeth Casson dined here yesterday. They leave here for Lord Sherborne’s tomorrow. Believe me dear Louisa, Very Sincerely Yours, Louisa Grey.’