Letters of George Selwyn.

Selwyn 8: From Madame La Marquise de Stainville.

There are two letters from the Marquise de Stainville in the collection. Neither of great interest, except to show the wide circle of influence of which Selwyn was an important player.

François Joseph de Choiseul, marquis de Stainville (1700–1770) was a diplomat and courtier in the service of the Dukes of Lorraine. He was a chief advisor later serving as Ambassador to Britain and France. When the House of Lorraine were ousted from Lorraine during the War of the Polish Succession in the 1730s, he followed them to their new territory of Tuscany.

He married Françoise-Louise de Bassompierre, by whom this letter was written. De Stainville is best known as the father of Étienne François, duc de Choiseul, the French statesmen who served as Chief Minister between 1758 and 1770. François Choiseul had chosen to send his eldest son into the French army. Another son served in the Austrian army where he rose to be a General.

The Duke of Bedford mentioned was John Russell, fourth Duke of Bedford (1710–1771). As soon as he was of age, on 11 October 1731, he married Lady Diana Spencer, [known as Lady Di and who died at an early age!] daughter of Charles, third earl of Sunderland, and sister of Charles, third duke of Marlborough.

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The letter reads:

[Recto]

"Paris 7 June in the evening.

Mde de Stainville is very grateful for the thoughts of Mister Silwyn [sic]. She feared that he had not forgotten her during his travels , [I think that this should have read 'She feared that he had forgotten her...'] she was reassured by M. the Duke of Bedfort [Bedford] who told her that mister Silwyn always thinks of her. Mde de Stainville has a deep desire to see him. If Mlle de Stainville was here she would also wish to be presented to Mister Silwyn

[Verso]

Monsieur Silwyn rue Jacob at the Hotel de Rome near to St. Germain in Paris