ellor,
on 1st July 1769.]

[Footnote 88: The cultured but indolent Edward, Lord Harley,
afterwards Earl of Oxford (son of the great minister), sold
Wimpole to Lord Chancellor Hardwicke in 1740 to pay off a debt
of L100,000. He had married Lady Henrietta Cavendish Holles,
daughter and heiress of John, Duke of Newcastle, who brought
him L500,000, most of which he dissipated. Their only child,
Margaret, the "noble lovely little Peggy" of Prior, married
William Bentinck, second Duke of Portland. Lady Oxford sold
to the nation the "Harleian Collection" of manuscripts, now in
the British Museum.]

[Footnote 89: Who died there in 1721.]

[Footnote 90: Alluding to the rarely printed poem "Colin's
Mistakes," where "Bright Ca'ndish Holles Harley" is seen in
the glades of Wimpole by the dreamy youth, and mistaken for
Gloriana, Belphebe, etc.]

[Pageheading: PROPOSED VISIT TO PEEL]

_Sir Robert Peel to the Prince Albert._

WHITEHALL, _9th November 1843._

SIR,--I was greatly gratified by learning on my return to London last
night from Witley Court that it is not improbable that Her Majesty and
your Royal Highness may confer the high honour of a visit to Drayton
Manor towards the conclusion of the present month.

I venture to think, from what I saw of Witley Court, that the
arrangement proposed by your Royal Highness will be more convenient to
Her Majesty than the staying at Witley Court.

I can assure your Royal Highness that nothing shall be left undone by
Lady Peel and me to contribute to the comfort of Her Majesty and your
Royal Highness during your occupation of Drayton Manor, and to mark
our sense of the kind condescension of Her Majesty and your Royal
Highness in making it your abode.

I have the honour to be, Sir, with sincere respect, your Royal
Highness's most faithful and humble Servant,

ROBERT PEEL.

[Pageheading: TRAVELLING ARRANGEMENTS]

_Sir Robert Peel to the Prince Albert._

WHITEHALL, _Sunday, 12th November 1843._

SIR,--I send to your Royal Highness a little book which is published
every month, giving very useful information as to distances, or at
least times, on all the railways. Possibly your Royal Highness has
this book regularly sent to you.

I think, before Her Majesty promises a visit to Witley Court, there
are one or two points worthy of consideration which are in favour
of proposing to the Queen Dowager