The three letters transcribed below were written by the widowed Lady Templetown to her youngest son Arthur Percy Upton who is launching on a military career which involves learning German and spending a year at a military academy in Berlin, followed by a Commission to the Coldstream Regiment in London. Since I am inviting you to read three long letters I will refrain from a long introduction. Lady Templetown was the wealthy and well-connected widow of a much older Irish peer with whom she had six children, three sons (John, Greville, Arthur) and three daughters (Elizabeth, Caroline, Sophia), with whose lives she is much concerned - though in these three letters, at a distance. Lady Templetown (1747-1823) took an active interest in political matters from a Tory standpoint and was also known as a significant graphic artist: she created many of the designs which Josiah Wedgwood used for his jasperware ("Blue Wedgwood") examples of which are to be found in the Victoria and Albert Museum though her name is mis-spelt there as "Templeton". She was also a sculptor.
Arthur Percy Upton never married; it's likely that he kept these letters from his mother and that they were sold off sometime after he died in 1855 with no direct descendants.
There is a mention in the second letter of "Sophia Upton"; this appears not to be her daughter referred to in the letters as Sophia and author of a letter elsewhere on this site. Rather, this second Sophia appears to be a natural child of Lady Templetown's late husband who was partly integrated into the family and sometimes referred to as Sophy. I owe this (late) discovery to the atricle by Jeremy Warren listed in my References.
This group of three letters is related to two other letters posted elsewhere on this site.
In this letter Sir Edwrad Crofton advises Arthur that he is offered a Commission in the Coldstream Regiment
https://www.otherpeoplesletters.com/2026/08/sir-edward-crofton-writes-in-1793-to.html
And this is a fairly remarkable letter from Naples written by Lady Templetown's 12 year old daughter Sophia:
https://www.otherpeoplesletters.com/2026/07/in-naples-and-aged-twelve-honourable.html
Transcription Letter 1
Addressed
to: The Honourable Arthur Percy Upton chez Monsr. Le Professeur de Beuaclair à Marbourg. Routing endorsements via Cologne and
Frankfurt. Straight-line postmark of SPA
Datelined:
Friday evening July 13th 1792 [ written at Spa]
I received my Arthur’s second most dear letter the day before yesterday, & should have answered it directly had it been possible, but as you know how eager I am to obtain any thing you desire, I thought it better to write immediately to Templetown [ his elder brother John, now second Lord Templetown] with the message you sent to him, that if he should come to Spa, he may have time to get all the things you desire – it was all I could do to send off my letter by today’s post & I have told him how anxiously you wish to see him – do not talk of your letter being stupid, we al devoured it & are delighted to hear of every thing you have done & are to do. I am glad you are to see the Coronation of the Emperor at Francfort of which I shall expect a very detailed account – how different is the life you lead now, & how much more manly & improving than at Westminster [School] – I am sure you must be of the same opinion, & I think you cannot be otherwise than happy with Mr Beauclair. [Arthur is lodging with his language master who is on the faculty of the University of Marburg, Jean Pierre de Rouville gen. de Beauclair, born in Paris in 1752 and now an émigré]
If
Temp. [2nd Baron Templetown, his oldest brother] does
not bring you a gun from England, I could certainly get one from Liege if I
knew how to send it – Spa begins to grow very brilliant, altho’ there are very
few English in comparison of other nations – how much you must have enjoyed the
sight of so many Prussian troops! I hear they are soon to be joined by 15,000
Hessians – if that is so, you will probably see them when they begin to march.
Your
sisters have had some very good Balls & are grown tolerably expert at
dancing the French dances – they are all thought very pretty – but poor little
Sophia [her youngest daughter, born 1780] is not able to
dance much. I know nothing of Greville [ Fulke Greville, her second son
born 1773], but should suppose that by this time he is setting out, as I
think he expected to leave Oxford about the 7th & I think he had
rather come to Spa, than be alone in London.
I
am endeavouring to change my house for a much better one in the town of Spa,
but am not sure whether I shall succeed, as it depends upon a Lady’s taking
this from whom I cannot get a positive answer, & as she is at Bruxelles I
am afraid of losing the one that would suit me, before she is decided – for to
speak the truth, I am not pleased with my abode, & am sure Templetown
would be still less. Mrs Crofton is pretty well – I will tell her of your
enquiry. I had a letter lately from Ldy Bulwer[?]
& fear from her manner of speaking that poor Lady Harriet Ponsonby is in
a very bad state of health – if anything happened to her, it would I know break
the hearts of all her family, yet her constitution is so delicate, that I am
afraid it will never hold out very long what a blessing it is my lovely
Arthur to have very good health pray God preserve it to you.
Your
present manner of living is more likely to strengthen your body & mind than
the way of passing your time in London – do not you think so. What a blessing
it will be to me if all my wishes about you or half of them turn out as
I could desire! You will then be the consolation of my life – at present you
are the delight of it even in thinking of you. Your sisters charge me to send
you a hundred kisses & little Sophia has been embracing me with all her
powers, in the hope I suppose that her portion of them will travel
better to you. Pray assure M & Mme Beauclair of my best Compls.
Ld.
Mornington is come here but I have not seen him I have had a letter from Monsr.
de Flachslanden [Jean-Baptiste Antoine de Flachslanden
1739-1825, a nobleman who represented Alsace in the French Etats Generaux of
1789 as a convinced Royalist and now an
émigré ] but I want to know by what accident you did not see him, as he
tells me qu’il mourit d’envie de vous embarasser & was then sending
to every place to see if you could be found -
I wish you had seen him, that you might have recollected in your future
life one of the most amiable men, & highest
characters I have ever met with – there is no politics thought of here
but french ones & I confess I am as anxious about them, & for the
success of the Emigrant Princes Noblesse as if I was one of them - & I
sincerely hope that the Prussian & Austrian Troops will break almost all
the bones in the National Assembly. I wish I could have a picture of you with your
cropt hair & your long tail – I do suppose that none of your Friends in
London will know you when you return there – remember you were just 5 feet
& one inch high when you left this english measure – I hope that by
this time twelvemonth you may be 5 foot 4 – we have all begun to ride
out & have got tolerable good horses how do you like the German horses? are
those that you hire pleasant to ride? I will not forget to give [illegible
name] a knife or something from you she is very much obliged to you for
thinking of it. perhaps you never see an English paper & consequently do
not know that Lord Cornwallis has obtained a complete victory over Tippoo Saib [Tipu
Sultan] that terror of the East & has made a very advantageous peace for
England. God bless you my dearest Arthur & make you all that is great &
good [is] the earnest devoutest prayer of yr. most affect. Mother E T
Transcription Letter 2
Addressed
to: The Honorable Ensign Arthur Percy Upton Coldstream Regimt. Whitehall London
Datelined:
Poitiers Oct 19 1794 London receiver postmark: DE[cember] 6
I
think my dearest Arthur may with justice accuse me of never writing to him -
Sophia has always been so ready to take up the pen, that this made me
repeatedly acknowledging your dear & welcome letter of July 30th
since which Sophia has had one (& I believe answered it) of the 23rd
Aug. This was relative to fashions which she thought you are so good a
judge of & this I by no means regret provided it does not preclude a
regular attention to more essential things, & in this I am sure you will be
of my opinion – the fewer one has to wish undone the better - & by which
means one either loses the good opinion of ones Friends, nor ones own which believe me Arthur is above all – how
grieved I am that we shall be longer before we meet but the sudden evacuation
of Flanders & the different eruptions into Germany ( & precisely that
road which I must have taken) made it impossible for me to undertake the
Journey so late in the year. Besides that I am well aprised the Packets have
been repeatedly taken between Helvetsburg [? Hellevoetsluis
close to the Hook of Holland?] & Harwich – without considering the
length of sea at such a time of year – therefore prudence has determined me to
stay this Winter where I am – which is certainly better for Sophia who seems to
gain essentially & I should dread a long Northern journey. In the Spring
however I shall do my best to effect it for we are longing most earnestly to
see our dear Boys & we hope that the same evil Genius may not continue to
preside over us & half Europe by which the human race becomes the victim of
disorder & barbarism – all intercourse is so impeded that Letters can
hardly be obtained – I have had but one from Greville for these 4 months yet am
persuaded he has written. I know not whether there is much to apprehend from
his situation but I should hope not as the season is too advanced for the
French to attempt the conquest of Holland this year & if the thirst for blood
is a little assuaged in that ferocious people since the fall of Robespierre, I
cannot help hoping they will desire a suspension of arms, altho’ their continued victories may have
hitherto retarded it. If you know of any news, pray write us immediately, whether
you owe us a letter or not - is Opposition likely to be very powerful this
Winter? – some of the papers say so. I am in daily expectation of a letter from
Templetown [her eldest son, now second Baron Templetown] in answer to
one where I entreated him to join us at Naples – for he seemed very ready to
quit Berlin. I love to hear of all you do especially when you are spending your
time so pleasantly as you describe it at Sir Barrington Price’s. I really long
to know him & Lady Maria – some friends of mine who quitted Naples last
June Mr Monck & Ldy. Eliza have taken great pains to see you & not
finding you in London have sent you a letter to Nottingham from me - if it is
ever in your power pray endeavour to find them – they have shewn the most
friendly attention to me & yr Sisters.
We
shall remove to Winter quarters at Naples in a fortnight, altho’ nothing can be
more delightful than our present abode – there are few English here – the
pleasantest are Ld. & Ldy. Fitzgerald whom I hope you will know one of
these days – they are most amiable people, & are quite attached to us all
but among the numbers one meets of ones own Country people it is amazing how
few are worth cultivation & how many little intrigues & jealousy one
finds among them – in a little while I suppose you will change yr quarters
& if you are in London pray when every attention that does not appear to
them troublesome ….. [words missing from breaking of the
seal] Boughtons [ her own family’s members, she was born Elizabeth
Boughton] – they have been extremely kind to Greville, & to Sophia Upton
[ NB! This appears not to be the Sophia who travels with her – see introductory Notes]
during my absence, & you know that I always wish to pay as I receive.
Adieu Dearest Arthur our precious Mrs Crofton is now at Tunbridge but I am sure
I need not admonish your actions be all known of & approved by her she is
your kindest Friend, & your heart must of course dictate your conduct –
besides she is your Mothers best consolation.
Your
sisters say everything that is kind to you
Your
most affect. Mother E T
One
of our best friends the Prince d’Avilla [Charles Colonna, prince
d'Avella 1737-1819, conservative member of the Senate of Bonaparte’s First
Empire] is with us & desires his love to you – you would love him
excessively if you knew him
Transcription Letter 3
Addressed to: The Honourable Ensign Arthur Percy Upton Coldstream Regimt Whitehall London
Postmarked: Napoli
Datelined: Naples
Dec 6 1794
I begin to long for a letter from my dearest Arthur. I am certain I answered your last but neglecting to set it down cannot tell how long it is since it might have reached you – all the disastrous events that have been accumulating one upon another during this whole Campaign keeps one in perpetual dread of Postdays and one needs some letter of consolation from a beloved Friend or Child to teach one to support the rest. I trust in God my Arthur that you go on well in every respect – you owe it to yourself, as well as to an anxious & absent Parent whose days I am sure you would not wish to embitter but on the contrary to give them ease & joy. I cannot get one line from Greville [ her son the Hon. Fulke Greville Howard] – this is a cruel mortification to me & I am convinced it is not his fault. I have written 6 times without any answer. The last & only one I have had from him since his being with the Army was dated the 15th of Aug. For gods sake write to him & tell him my anxiety on this account, & when you get a line from him, send it to me if any thing should prevent you writing yourself – you may conceive what I feel when I read of actions between the French & our army – my blood runs cold yet when we conduct ourselves right we must consider that all is guided by an unseen hand & in that we must invariably confide.
Templetown [her
eldest son born 1771 and now 2nd Baron Templetown and later an
M.P. for Bury St Edminds] is I hope pleased with his [military] situation
at Berlin, as it seems wholly to engross him. I am waiting here my Arthur until
circumstances will enable me to leave it with safety – many who have attempted
the Journey are I understand stopt in different parts of Germany- it is useless
to undertake it until one can go straight thro’. Peace is talked of with all
powers but with England – how is this relished by all parties? & is it
thought that Mr Pitt will notwithstanding, preserve the public confidence &
stand his ground? I beg of you to become a Politician for my sake, & tell
me the temper of things in London upon the opening of Parliament – tell me who
are your greatest Friends & associates – if the Drummonds are returned
& their house pleasant as usual.
We
are exceedingly quiet here, very few English, & nothing funny going
on, but thank God we are all well. Sophia certainly better than she has been
any Winter & it is certainly well for her that I have been obliged to stay
a little longer in this warm Climate – Believe me that we are all as impatient
to see you, as you can be to see us. I need not ask if you go often to our dear
Mrs Crofton for in her you have a Mother & a Friend that is rare to be met
with, & you can never show her too much gratitude & attention -
how few my Arthur there are even among our nearest relations, who would adopt
all our interests, & devote herself to our welfare as she has done on every
occasion! God knows what I should have done without her since I have been
abroad. O pray do not forget other little duties - of calling sometimes on my
Brother Rouse Boughton & Ldy. B – also my poor Aunt Greville whenever she
is in Town – these little duties one must fulfil with a good grace because
things are due from the young to the old, & shew the goodness of the heart.
My old Aunt L… also cannot be very long for this World & now
& then the calling to ask how she does wd. be decent & right – all this
you will think very dry but so are many things that our
situation requires.
God
bless you my dearest Arthur your sisters [Elizabeth,
Sophia, Caroline] send their kindest love to you.
Your
most Affect. Mother
E
Templetown
Remember
me kindly to Mr Price – now I think of it the letter I last wrote to you was
inclosed to him & was of the 21st of July, I now see from
my memorandum book.
References
Wikipedia: Arthur
Upton
Wikipedia:
Elizabeth Upton, Baroness Templetown
Wikipedia:
Viscount Templetown [ = 2nd BaronTempletown]
Wikipedia:
Charles Colonna d'Avella
Wikipedia : Fulke Greville Howard
Wikipedia:
Uvedale Price, First Baronet
https://www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/object/852231 [long article by Dr Jeremy Warren]
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