[Restoration London]. Album of documents and autographs, c.1660-90 comprising: 1. Petty (Sir William, 1623-1686), Autograph letter signed to John Evelyn (1620-1706), 24 March [16]74/5, concerning arrangements for supper, single sheet, 12 lines, written in brown ink, with Evelyn's autograph endorsement verso ('Sr Wm Petty 24 Mar 1674 579'), and of William Upcott (1779-1845) recto ('Sir William Petty, to John Evelyn, by whom it is endorsed. W. Upcott'), 19.2 x 15.7 cm, 2. Povey (Thomas, 1613/4-c.1705), Autograph letter signed, 26 November [16]68, to 'My Lord' (probably Sir William Temple, 1628-1699), concerning the recipient's patronage of Povey's nephew (i.e. William Blathwayt), single sheet, written on both sides, spotting, two words obliterated recto, 31.5 x 20 cm, 3. ibid., Treasury warrant for payment of twenty-five pounds to Thomas Povey, 15 June 1681, manuscript document, signed by Laurence Hyde, 1st Earl of of Rochester (1642-1711), Sir John Ernle (1617x20-1697), Sir Edward Dering, 2nd Baronet (1625-1684), Sidney Godolphin, 1st Earl of Godolphin (1645-1712), and Sir Stephen Fox (1627-1716), all as commissioners of the Treasury, single sheet, spotted, stained, repaired and restored, 30 x 18 cm, 4. Jermyn (Henry, 1st Earl of St Albans, 1605-1684), Warrant signed as Lord Chamberlain to Ralph Montagu, 1st Duke of Montagu (1638-1709) as Master of the Great Wardrobe, 14 August 1672, requiring provision 'to Francis Rogers Esqr keeper of His Ma[jesty's] standing wardrobe at Whitehall one greate elbow chayer & footstoole for his Ma[jesty] and ... chayers of crymson velvet with crymson fringe', 12 lines including addressee, single sheet, spotted, very minor loss to one edge, typescript label to foot, 30.1 x 18.7 cm, and approximately 15 other items, including: tally court receipt dated 13 January 1687 and signed 'Brouncker' (possibly Henry Brouncker, 3rd Viscount, c.1627-1688, cofferer to Charles II) ; fragment of letter dated 20 February 1679/80, list of books ordered on one side (with prices), shorthand notes on other (pencilled note to mount: '?Pepys'); London Gazette, numbers 691, 2021, 2026 (London: Thomas Newcomb, 1672-85); engraved bookplate of William Hewer (1642-1715), naval administrator; 3 loose contemporary manuscript fragments (one with pencilled note '? Evelyn'); and various engravings and later newspaper cuttings, all items (except manuscript fragments) tipped in or mounted, mounted typescript captions, home-made 20th-century album, 4to (31.5 x 24 cm) (Qty: 1)NOTESProvenance: 1) Sotheby's 11/12 October 1976; 2) Estate of John Lawson (1932-2019). Evelyn dined at Sir William Petty's on 22 March 1675 'with the Bishop of Salisbury, and divers honourable persons'. In his diary the event is the occasion for an effusive portrait of his learned contemporary: ‘There is not a better Latin poet living, when he gives himself that diversion; nor is his excellence less in Council and prudent matters of state … If I were a Prince, I should make him my second Counsellor, at least’ ( Diary and Correspondence , Bell and Daldy, 1870, volume 2, p. 102). As Povey's career as a colonial entrepreneur and administrator began to suffer in the 1660s it became clear that he could hope of securing patronage only for his talented nephew and heir William Blathwayt. In 1668 he and Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington 'induced Sir William Temple to employ the young Blathwayt as a clerk in the embassy at The Hague. His linguistic skill (he was the only official at the embassy who knew Dutch) rendered him a most useful member of the staff' (ODNB).
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