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Archive Reference / Library Class No.D258/50/25
TitlePersonal letter from Sir William Gell to Philip Gell. Detailed description of prizefighting followed by bullbaiting at Corns Wood near Wimbledon Common. Saw Jerry Abeshaw's wife wandering near spot where he was hanged. At fight crowd of about 1000. After return, supped with the Princess of Wales `according to the prophecy which sayest when thou larkest in the morning let thy evening be in the Palace'. 24 Jul
Date1809
Description`I have been hired to go to Olympia for the winter, to have as many labourers as I like under my command and to cut up the olympic pulvere at my pleasure. Lord Aberdeen, Douglas and Payne Knight have payed £1000 which is to be at my disposition as commander in chief. The place is not 300 yards long where I am ordered to dig and they expect to find statues, bronzes & etc indeed it is the best place in the world for a venture being pickled in sand. I think however this Austrian battle may perhaps put an end to the scheme'. All his three prostitutes are passed but Gell has not yet got the discharge. Has a new pen made of two watch springs and is newly introduced by Sir H Englefield and Mr Jones the optician
Levelfile
RepositoryDerbyshire Record Office
Archive CreatorGell family of Hopton Hall, Wirksworth
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Gell; Sir; William (1777-1836); Diplomat and antiquarian of Hopton.
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