TREASURY PAYMENT TO THE PRINCESS DOWAGER OF WALES, WIDOWED MOTHER OF GEORGE III SYDNEY (1st Viscount, Thomas Townshend, 1733-1800, Home Secretary under Pitt, Sydney Australia named after him), GEORGE ONSLOW (1731-1814, from 1776 4th Lord) and William DOWDESWELL (1721-1775, MP, leader of the Rockingham Whig faction)

Treasury Document Signed, unusual in being complete, being an Authority to pay "unto her Royal Highness the Princess Dowager of Wales, or to her Treasurer for the time being, the Sum of Two Thousand five hundred pounds without account other than such as the said Treasurer may be required to render thereof, to the auditor of the said Princess, the sum being for One Quarter of a year ended the 5th day of Aprill 1766. On the yearly Sum of Ten thousand pounds payable to her said Royal Highness ...", and with an instruction to Townshend to "pay this Order out of Duty on Brandy ..." receipted as paid on the verso and signed by her Treasurer Samuel MARTIN, 2 sides folio, no place, 12th April slightly trimmed on left hand edge

Princess AUGUSTA of Saxe-Gotha (1719 –1772) was Princess of Wales by marriage to Frederick, Prince of Wales, son and heir of King George II. She never became queen consort, as Frederick predeceased his father in 1751. Augusta's eldest son succeeded her father-in-law as King George III in 1760. After her spouse died, Augusta was presumptive regent of Great Britain in the event of a regency until her son reached majority in 1756.
Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney (1733-1800) was brought him back into office by Rockingham as a Lord of the Treasury on 12th July 1765. He became secretary of state for the home office in July 1782, after a few months as secretary at war under Rockingham. In those days the home department included responsibility for the colonies. He is famous for his support of the plans for a convict settlement in New South Wales. On 26th January 1788 Arthur Philip named Sydney in New South Wales in his honour.

Item Date:  1766

Stock No:  41001      £475

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