Papers relating to investments in the South Sea Company, 1712-1783, mainly receipts, printed forms completed in manuscript, bonds, legal documents and other papers, some printed. The collection includes correspondence and papers relating to the investments of the Manners family in South Sea stock, 1713-1724, notably Katherine Manners, Dowager Duchess of Rutland, John Manners, 10th Earl and 2nd Duke of Rutland, Lucy Manners, Duchess of Rutland, Lord William Manners, Lady Frances Manners and Lady Katherine Manners; a text, in the hand of Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, of the agreement between the Bank of England and the South Sea Company for the latter to take over the National Debt, 23 Sep 1720; three letters from Charles Cotes to Thomas Snow, Goldsmith, relating to Cote's speculations in South Sea stock, 28 Sep-15 Oct, 1720; a copy of the minutes of the Directors of the South Sea Company on 15 Sep 1720, relating to the Company's dealings with the Bank of England, made in order to gain the legal opinion of Sir John Chesshyre on the enforceability of the contract, 13 Jan 1721; minutes of evidence taken at the examination of the Directors of the Company, Jan-Apr 1721, including the evidence of Edmund Waller regarding his transactions in South Sea stock on behalf of his family and his father-in-law John Aislabie, Chancellor of the Exchequer; an Order to Edmund Waller to attend the Committee appointed to enquire into the parliamentary act allowing the South Sea Company to increase its capital stock and fund, 6 Feb 1721; a copy of the evidence given by Directors of the Company in the House of Lords, 1 Jun 1733, mainly to determine what money had been received from the sale of the estates of the late directors, and the use made of it, including an account of the cross-examination of the Company Director, Sir Richard Hopkins.
