🇫🇷 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Auld Alliance

1812 outer letter wrapper sent to Edouard Drummond, the DUKE OF MELFORT in Gower Street London. Sent 8am on 29 January. Fine wax seal intact showing crown over shield and lion & unicorn indicating sender was likely of noble status - maybe a family member.

Intriguing due to the recipient and the timing. Melforts were Scottish peers and Jacobites sent into French exile in the 17th century. 1812 was during Napoleonic Wars. Wouldn’t have been dangerous for Melfort to be in London but he’d still have needed to mind his step.

PLUS

Another to the Duke, now back in his native France, eight years later. This one sent from Edinburgh to CHoisy le Roi outside Paris, which was a favoured destination for fleeing Jacobite nobility after the failed rebellion. Edouard was born in exile and his title one awarded by the French. The family’s titles were only recognised in GB mid 19th century.