Edward James Eliot: Transcriptions of Newspaper Articles & Clippings

Transcriptions are shown in chronological order by date of publication.

"Ipswich Journal" 26 Aug 1758:
On Thursday last Mrs. Eliot, Wife of Edward Eliot, Esq; Member of Parliament for St. Germins, was brought to Bed of a Son and Heir, at their Seat at Port Eliot in Cornwall.

"Morning Herald and Daily Advertiser" 19 Jul 1782, page 2:
Mr. Eliot, jun. of Port Eliot, was a very proper person for the new minister to appoint to a seat at one of the great public boards. That gentleman's father has it in his power, if he pleases, to return the compliment, by appointing any of the minister's friends to seats in another place, to which he is so fortunate as to be able to send no fewer than eight persons, occassionally.

"Hereford Journal" 18 Sep 1783:
On Wednesday last the Right Honourable William Pitt, immediately after having taken leave of his Majesty, set out for the continent, accompanied by Mr. Eliot, jun. of Port Eliot, and Governor Holdsworth.

"Whitehall Evening Post" 11 Jan 1785:
The match between Mr. Eliot, of Port Eliot, and Mr. Pitt's sister, is certainly agreed on, and will be defferred for nothing but the law's delay.

"Sussex Advertiser" 18 Jul 1785, page 2:
LONDON, July 13.
The match also between Lady Hester [sic], Mr. Pitt's sister, and Mr. Elliot, the eldest son of Lord Eliot, only waits for the lawyers; so that the Minister's influence seems to be incereasing by matrimonial connexions.

"Caledonian Mercury" 28 Sep 1785, page 3:
The public have been much perplexed to know whether it was Mr. Felton Harvey, the Remembrancer of the Exchequer, that blowed his brains out some time ago, or not; but the fact is, that it was not that gentleman, but Captain Harvey, nephew of General Harvey, late Adjutant General of his Majesty's forces. Mr. Felton Harvey died, and died suddenly, though not by a violent death, the very same morning; and hence the mistake. It is this Gentleman's place, worth 1,500 pounds per annumn, that Mr. Pitt has given to Mr. Elliot, who is upon the point of being married to his sister, Lady Harriot Pitt. He is son to Lord Elliot, and is a very accomplished young man.

"Hampshire Chronicle" 3 Oct 1785, page 1:
The exemplary conduct of Mr. Pitt, in regard to the office of Remembrancer, deserves the warmest eulogium, and yet to the disgrace of those gentlemen who are employed in his suite, not a syllable has been uttered in his praise. Shall his conduct with respect to the Pells be extolled, and his more manly — more liberal — more becoming conduct on this occasion be overlooked? In this instance he has yielded to the dictates of proper affection. He has not as we said, disposed of the place for the sake of a vote — for Mr. Elliot voted with him before. He has not opened or shut the mouth of a venal orator — for Mr. Elliot is no speaker. He has rewarded no apostasy — for Mr. Elliot has been regularly his friend. But with the love and tenderness of a brother he has given that provision to the valued husband of his sister, which the misery of Lord Elliott refuses to a son. This is virtue we say again, superior to all the quackery of the Pells.

"Oxford Journal" 7 Oct 1786, page 3:
On Wednesday Evening Mr. Pitt set off from his House in Down-street, on a Visit to his Mother, the Dowager Lady Chatham, at Burton Pynsent, in Somersetshire; --- as did Mr. Elliot to Mr. Pitt's House at Holwood.

"Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette" 9 Nov 1786, page 3:
The Right Hon. William Pitt, and the Hon. Mr. Elliot, son of Lord Elliot, are now on a visit to Lady Chatham at Burton-Pynsent. The servants followed with the infant daughter of the late much-lamented Lady Harriot Elliot, which is to remain with the Dowager Lady, her grandmother.

"Caledonian Mercury" 19 Apr 1787, page 2:
London, — April 16.
Yesterday, Mr. Pitt, and the Hon. Mr. Elliot, returned to town from a visit to the Dowager Countess of Chatham at Burton, in Somersetshire.

"London Evening Post" 9 Apr 1789:
Yester evening, Mr Pitt set off for Holwood for a few days. The same day, the Hon. Mr. Elliot set off from Mr. Pitt's house in Downing-street, to Burton Pynsent in Somersetshire, on a visit to his mother-in-law, the Dowager Countess of Chatham.

"Public Advertiser" 30 Apr 1790:
Tuesday, the Hon. Mr. Eliot arrived in town from Burton Pynsent, where he has been these five weeks on a visit to the Countess Dowager of Chatham.

"Public Advertiser" 24 Nov 1790:
On Monday, the Hon. Edward James Eliot arrived in town at the Minister's house in Downing-street, from the Dowager Lady Chatham's at Burton Pynsent, Somersetshire.

"Kentish Gazette" 5 Apr 1791, page 3:
Private meetings are almost daily held at Mr. Matthew Montague's house in Manchester-square, on the business of the Slave Trade, which are attended by Mr. Wilberforce, Mr. Eliot, and a number of other Members, zealous advocates for the abolition of that species of traffic.

"Kentish Gazette" 7 Feb 1792, page 3:
Friday there was Board of Treasury held, at which a great deal of public business was transacted. Mr. Pitt assisted thereat, attended by Lord Bayham and Mr. Eliot.

"London Record" 4 Mar 1792:
Sir Joshua [Reynolds] has left the bulk of his fortune to his two nieces, Mrs. Gwatkin and Miss Palmer, we believe not in equal proportions. The latter lady, who is said to have the greater share, was some years ago proposed as a partner for the Hon. Mr. Eliot, who, upon its breaking off, married Lady Hester [sic] Pitt, the Minister's sister. Sir Joshua was, notwithstanding, over upon the strictest terms of intimacy with Lord Eliot and the family.

"Leeds Intelligencer" 19 Mar 1792, page 1:
The House of Commons on Wednesday, on the motion of Sir John Calt, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole house on the wine licence bill, the Hon. Mr. Elliot in the chair. — The Committtee entered into a resolution, that in future no person shall have a licence to sell wine by retail, unless he shall first have a licence to sell ale.

"Norfolk Chronicle" 12 May 1792, page 4:
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Thursday, May 3.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved for leave to bring in a bill, pursuant to the resolutions adopted by the House, for the abolition of the Slave Trade.
Leave was granted; and Mr. Pitt, Mr. Fox, Lord Mornington, and Mr. Eliot, were ordered to prepare and bring in the same.

"Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette" 18 Oct 1792:
HOUSE OF COMMONS
London, Tuesday, Oct. 16.
This morning Mr. Eliot set off, from his apartment in Downing-street, for Dowager Lady Chatham's seat at Burton Pynsent. &mdash Mr. Eliot has not yet thrown off his sables for Lady Harriot.

"Kentish Gazette" 15 Jan 1796, page 2:
War Office, Jan. 9.
Cornwall Regiment of Fencible Light Dragoons.
Hon. Captain Edward James Elliot to be Major.

"Cumberland Pacquet, and Ware's Whitehaven Advertiser" 3 May 1796, page 2:
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Monday, April 25.
Mr. Elliot brought in a bill for preventing unlawful combinations among workmen in the paper manufactories, and for the better regulation of their wages, which was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second.

"Evening Mail" 21 Jul 1797, page 2:
The Hon. Mr. Eliot is gone to Bath, for the recovery of his health.

"Chester Courant" Tuesday, 26 Sep 1797, page 2:
LAST NIGHT'S POST
London, September 21
Yesterday noon an express messenger came up to Mr. Pitt's house, in Downing-street, with an account of the death of the Hon. Edward James Elliot, son of Lord Elliot, at his father's seat in Cornwall, by which the valuable post of Remembrancer of the Exchequer becomes vacant, worth near 2000 pounds per annum.

"True Briton", Tuesday, 26 Sep 1797:
The remains of the Hon. E.J. Eliot late Remembrancer of His Majesty's Exchequer, will be interred this morning in the Family Vault, at his Father's Seat at Port Eliot, Cornwall.

"True Briton", Saturday, 23 Sep 1797, page 3:
The disorder of which Mr. Eliot died was a spasmodic affection of the stomach.

"Sherborne Mercury" Monday, 25 September, 1797, page 4:
On Sunday the 17th instant, at Port Eliot, Cornwall, died suddenly, after a short illness, the Hon. Edward James Eliot, eldest son of Lord Eliot, much universally lamented. — Deeply impressed with a sense of every duty, moral and religious, his life was truly virtuous. He had the warmest affections and the mildest manners. In his religion he was fervent, but unaffected: In the service of his King and country, faithful, zealous, and able. Bountiful to the poor, and most active in promoting whatever could conduce to their relief and comfort. He was sincere in his friendships; a kind brother, an affectionate son, the tenderest of husbands, and the best of fathers. He has left an only daughter, by his marriage with the late Lady Harriot Pitt, daughter of the last, and sister of the present Earl of Chatham.

"Kentish Weekly Post", 26 Sep 1797, page 3:
The Hon. Mr. Elliot, whose death we with real regret, announced in our last paper, was married to Lady Harriet Pitt, whose death, a few years ago, he had never recovered. He mourned her loss with an affection and deeply rooted melancholy regret, which probably conduced to his own premature dissolution. Mr. Pitt entertained for his amiable brother in law the strongest attachment, of which he was every way worthy.

The Hon. Mr. Elliot was a descendant on his mother's side [sic] from a natural daughter of Mr. Secretary Craggs. His family on the side of his father has been traced back to the reign of Edward IV. Sir John Elliot in the reign of Charles the first, was one of the Committee appointed by the House of Commons to manage the impeachment of George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, in the year 1626, and was sent to the Tower for his concern in the transaction, but soon after released, upon the remonstrance of the House of Commons.

"Hereford Journal", 27 Sep 1797, page 4:
London, Sept. 21. Yesterday an express arrived at Mr. Pitt's house from Cornwall, with the news of the death of the Right Hon. Edward James Eliot, his brother-in-law, at the house of his father, Lord Eliot. Mr. Pitt was so much affected by the receipt of the news, that he refused to see his most intimate acquaintance; and of course was absent from the Levee and Councils. By the death of the Hon. Mr. Eliot, the offices of Remembrancer of the Court of Exchequer, and one of the Commissioners for the Affairs in India, with a salary of 2500 l. a year, become vacant.

"Gentleman's Magazine", Volume 67, Part 2, Oct. 1797, page 896:
At his father's seat in Cornwall, of a spasmodic affection of the stomach, the Hon. Edward James Eliot, M.P. for the borough of Liskeard, King's remembrancer in the Court of the Exchequer, one of the commissioners for the affairs of India, and brother-in-law to the Rt. Hon. Wm. Pitt. He succeeded the Hon, Felton Lionel Harvey, as remembrancer of the Exchequer, 1785; and first act of appointment to that lucrative place was to restore to its regular course the succession to the places of the sworn-clerks, which, before, was open to be purchased by a fixed premium. He was eldest son of Edward Eliot, created Lord Eliot 1784; was elected to represent St. Germans in 1776, and appointed one of the lords of the treasury 1783. He married, Sept 24, 1785, Hester [Harriet], youngest of the two daughters of the late William, Earl of Chatham, who was nearly of the same age with himself, both being born in 1758, within three months of each other, and who died Sept. 25, 1786, without issue. He mourned her loss with an affection, deeply-rooted melancholy and regret, which probably conduced to his own premature dissolution. Mr. Pitt entertained for his amiable brother-in-law the strongest attachment, of which he was every way worthy. Deeply impressed with a sense of every duty, moral and religion, Mr. E's life was a life of virtue. He possessed the warmest affections and the mildest manners. In his religion he was fervent, but unaffected; in the service of his king and country faithful, zealous and able; bountiful to the poor, and most active in promoting whatever could conduce to their relief and comfort; sincere in his friendship; a kind brother, affectionate son, and tender husband. His remains were interred, on the 26th, in the family vault at Port Eliot, in Cornwall —Mr. E. was a descendant, on his mother's side, from a natural daughter of Mr. Secretary Craggs. His family, on the side of his father, has been traced back to the reign of Edward IV. Sir John Eliot, in the reign of Charles the First, was one of the committee appointed by the House of Commons to manage the impeachment of George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, in 1626, and was sent to the Tower for his concern in that transaction, soon after released, upon the remembrance of the House of Commons.

"The Monthly Magazine" Vol. 4, 1798, page 329:
Died. — At Port Eliot, the hon. E.J. Eliot, eldest son of lord Eliot, M.P. for Liskeard, remembrancer of the court of exchequer, and a commissioner for the affairs of India. Mr. Eliot was married in Sept. 1785, to Lady Harriot Pitt, who died in Sept. 1786, in consequence of a cold contracted during her lying-in. The grief which preyed upon her husband from this period, brought on a series of spasmodic attacks, in one of which he suddenly expired.

"Ipswich Journal" 23 Sep 1797, page 6:
The office of Remembrancer of the Exchequer, now vacant by the death of Mr. Elliot, is so snug a thing, that upwards of 30 of the Minister's independent friends have already applied for it.