Archaeologia Volume 32 Section X. Letter from the Viscount Mahon (age 41), President, FRS. &c. &c., to Sir Henry Ellis (age 68) K.H. Secretary upon the wish expressed to his Lordship by Prince Alexander Labanoff to obtain the opinion of the best English Antiquaries respecting the alleged Residence of Mary Queen of Scots at Hardwick Hall [Map].

Read 14 May 1846.

My dear Sir Henry

Grosvenor Place, May 11. 1846.

In a letter dated St Petersburg the 15th of March last, which I have received fron Prine Alexander Labanoff, the accomplished editor of the "Correspondence of Queen Mary of Scots," he expresses anxiety to ascertain the opinion of the best English antiquaries respecting the alleged residence of that princess at Hardwick Hall [Map], as is well known, the property of the Duke of Devonshire. He states, that in 1839 some doubts were expressed to him by le savant Dr. Hunter (age 63), meaning I conclude, our esteemed brother-member of the Society of Antiquaries the Rev. Joseph Hunter (age 63), whether in reality Queen Mary had ever been at Hardwick [Map]. At the time when those doubts were expressed to him Prince Labanoff did not concur in them; but, on a further comparison of dates and consideration of circumstances, he has become convinced that those doubts are perfectly well founded. "After long research," says he, "I am bound to acknowledge that no trace exists of any visit of Mary Stuart to Hardwick Hall [Map]: on the contrary, her correspondence appears to prove that she never was at that place."

Considering the interest which is raised by every particular in the life of Queen Mary of Scots, and the minuteness of the local traditions which assert her residence at Hardwick [Map] and point to traces of her stay, I think that the question thus brought before us by Prince Labanoff is by no means undeserving the attention and research of any British antiquary conversant in the history of that period.

Believe me,

Ms dear Sir Henry,

Yours very sincerely,

MAHON, P. (age 41)