1. From George, 1st Lord Lyttleton.
2. From Rev John ‘Orator’ Henley.
5. From George James (‘Gilly’)Williams..
8. From Madame La Marquise de Stainville.
9. From Charles Townshend, n.d..
15. From Mr. Rogers
Selwyn 4: From Madame Perronet.
In 1747, Selwyn was elected one of the members for the family borough of Ludgershall in Wiltshire. He had been to France on numerous occasions and had a lot of influence there and in England. However, I can find no direct reason for their being connected, but it would seem possible that Mmme. Perronet was in some trouble and asked Selwyn for help.
The only brief reference I can find to an A. C. Perronet is as the wife of Jean-Rodolphe Perronet, the French engineer famous for building many bridges in France, but I would not guarantee this. If she is this particular A. C. P. I cannot think why she should have problems, as her husband was coming to the peak of his reputation. However, the letter does show Selwyn's early influence in France and at home with connections such as William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, a British statesman of the Whig group who led the British government twice in the middle of the 18th century.
The letter, which is slightly torn with illegible deletions, reads [E&OE]:
"I am afraid that I am going to be annoying by taking the liberty of reminding you of the plan that you honoured me by sending to me that was of interest to you and others of your friends that would help me through my anguish. I do not know if you saw Mr Pitt who seemed to want to act through Lady Petersham to acquire a licence from the Duke of Grafton, I doubt very much if the silence afflicts me as much as my pain. It is true that the pain of waiting is only a dream; I would have been more grateful if he had said to me at once and directly that I should not think of it and it was something in which he could not get involved.
I come back to you Sir to ask you to tell me if I do have any hope or not otherwise I would take my leave and that's true and survive by succeeding in [illegible] my accuser and that will lead me to be a prisoner unless I find some means to find an alternative whilst waiting for Mr Parson to possibly come to England.
Whether or not things are sorted I have nothing less than grateful thaks to you, I have [Torn] by a compassionate and human heart and which involves itself in the misfortunes of your fellows; when you will have an instant of time, please inform me what you think of it. In the meantime I have the honour to send you my deepest considerations.
I am Sir
Your very humble and obedient servant
A C Perronet
28 Janv 1748
