Thomas Steavens (c.1718–1759). Grand Tour Letters Cayley, Ev...

Thomas Steavens (c.1718–1759). Grand Tour Letters Cayley, Evans, Buchanan, Knight, Potenger, Carter and Pulteney. 1748–1751. Twenty five letters, chiefly autograph letters signed, together with at least one letter fragment; written on folded sheets, many with contemporary dockets, several with integral address panels and wax seals or remnants. Old folds, occasional toning, tears and minor paper loss. William Cayley, Hanover, 13 July, 30 August and 14 September 1748, and London, 13 December 1748, 5 May 1749, 20 February 1749 and 8 June 1750; Richard Evans, a surviving concluding portion docketed 16 December 1748, Leipzig, 2 May 1749, a letter docketed 20 November 1749, and Berlin, 25 June 1750, together with a further fragment requiring collation; Buchanan, 21 July, 29 August and 11 October 1748; H. Knight, Hanover, 1 November 1748, Golden Square, London, 6 December 1748, and Florence, 10 January 1749; Potenger, Prague, 27 November 1749 and 6 January 1750, and The Hague, 26 May 1750; Carter, 11 October 1748, 9 May 1749 and London, 17 May 1750 O.S.; and William Pulteney, Viscount Pulteney, Leipzig, 9 December 1749, and Vienna, 8 August 1751. (26) The letters give a detailed picture of the friendships that accompanied Steavens's travels. Their writers expect news of his movements and health, exchange introductions, and ask him to arrange purchases or payments across Europe. Cayley's letters are particularly candid about friendship, expense and the difficulty of keeping up appearances abroad; Buchanan describes the cost of obtaining and maintaining an army commission; Knight asks Steavens to procure Dresden porcelain and ruffles; and Potenger writes from Prague and The Hague about money, goods and mutual acquaintances. Alongside these practical matters runs a lively exchange of political and social news. Evans reports on his circumstances and developments on the Continent, while Carter recounts London theatre, masquerades, literary publications and affairs of government. The two letters signed by Lord Pulteney show the closeness of Steavens's connections: writing first from Leipzig and later from Vienna, Pulteney discusses mutual friends, thanks Steavens for introducing him to Count Firmian, and expresses sustained concern for his health.

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