A RIGHT ROYAL FUSS OVER THE PRINCE REGENT’S LIBRARIAN AT CARLTON HOUSE - Future Library Guide to Jane Austen

Fascinating letter seemingly written on behalf of the Prince Regent’s very annoyed librarian - and correspondent of Jane Austen - James Stanier Clarke to another member of the Royal household, Colonel Bloomfield, demanding the return of a book denied his patronage. James Stanier Clarke (1766-1834) was a naval officer and biographer of Nelson, turned librarian for the Prince Regent from 1805, with whom he had a turbulent relationship. This letter written on his behalf by another government employee, ‘A Becket’ suggests that at this moment in January 1811 the relationship between the Prince and his librarian was partiacularly fragile. A few years later in 1815 Clarke would famously escort Jane Austen around the Carlton House Library, and suggest that she might include him in her next novel.

DESCRIPTION: 19 line letter written on quarto-sized 1807 watermarked paper (18.5.x22.5cm) 1807 from ‘A Becket’ at to ‘Col[onel] Bloomfield’, dated ‘Stamp Office January 15, 1811’ at the foot of the page and docketed overleaf. Mr Becket requires that ‘the volume put into his [the Prince’s] hands about two months ago should immediately see the light.’ He goes on to state that ‘The Writer without playing the coxcomb... must be permitted to say - that had he not been told by men of literary eminence that it has merit, he would not have sought the protection of the Royal name’ but has been disappointed in his failure to secure patronage as ‘new publications are almost daily submitted to the perusal of the Prince.’ The writer - presumably Clarke - allows Becket to express his regret ‘notwithstanding the goodness and condescension of his Royal Highneww in appointing him to the place of Keeper of the Library at Carlton House’.