Collector acquires letters from 1763

PHILIP Milton, local businessman and collector of North Devon postal history, has acquired two fascinating letters from 1763. The first, sealed with a beautiful wax seal of incorporation of the Borough and Parish of Barnstaple, is to two MPs, Messrs Den

PHILIP Milton, local businessman and collector of North Devon postal history, has acquired two fascinating letters from 1763.

The first, sealed with a beautiful wax seal of incorporation of the Borough and Parish of Barnstaple, is to two MPs, Messrs Denys Rolle and George Amyard with grateful appreciation for their pressure to avert a "further duty on cyder and perry passing into a law."

A wonderful reply was received which noted that the letter "breathed" the spirit of liberty and it notes necessity "to preserve a consistency of character and conduct" and continues that he trust he "shall approve myself a truly loyal subject of our present gracious Patriot Prince (George III) as well as a zealous assentor of the "Freedom of Englishmen".

"In the light of the indiscretions in Parliament at the moment, the thought that such works of integrity did indeed exist and take place in 1763 are inspiring," said Mr Milton, who is fighting the North Devon seat for the Conservatives at the forthcoming General Election.