Letters, 1810-1813, to Charles Stuart, Baron de Rothesay, Diplomatist, on military and diplomatic matters.

Three bundles of letters addressed to Baron de Rothesay, whilst minister to Portugal and Brazil at Lisbon during the Peninsular Wars. The first file consists of 48 signed letters of Joze Barr (otherwise Jose Barr or Joseph Barr Crispin), deputy British Consul in the city of Faro. The letters date between May 1810 and August 1813, and subjects include French military movement, battles, local news and news from Cadiz, negotiations, trading and commerce, and dispatches to and from Cadiz.

The second file consists of 32 letters signed by H.F. Sampayo, a Portuguese merchant (H.F. Sampayo is cited on numerous occasions in “The Dispatches of Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington”). The letters date between July 1810 and August 1813 and provide insight into the relationship between America and Great Britain. Some of the letters were written during the War of 1812. Subjects discussed include the possible end of the first charter of the Bank of the United States of America, and predicted economic failures in the United States, difficulties in converting bills issued by the Bank of America, imports and exports between Europe and Britain, and America, influential merchants in the city of Alexandria (United States), and American privateers.

The third file consists of 43 letters by an unidentified British officer in Portugal acting as intermediary between Baron de Rothesay and General Sir William Dalrymple, the Duke of Wellington, and Dom Miguel Forjaz, Portuguese General and member of the Regency Council and Secretary of War and Foreign Affairs, amongst others. The letters date between November 1811 and December 1813, and cover a wide range of matters related with the British presence in Portugal. Subjects include the distribution of provisions supplied to the Portuguese government, army supplies, import of barley and grains, import of corn flour from America, Portuguese supply to the British army, grievances between Portuguese and British, and financial matters, including money and supplies issued to the Portuguese government on account of the subsidy.