KING GEORGE IV (GREAT BRITAIN) - DOCUMENT SIGNED 07/15/1813 CO-SIGNED BY: MARQUIS ROBERT STEWART (VISCOUNT CASTLEREAGH) LONDONDERRY - HFSID 56605

KING GEORGE IV of the UNITED KINGDOM
The future King of England, acting as Regent for his father, King George III, affixes the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland to a document relating to the Treaty of Defensive Alliance between the United Kingdom and Russia.
Manuscript DS: "George P.R." as Prince Regent of England and "Castlereagh" as Foreign Secretary, 1½ page, 7¾x12½, bound with black ribbon to 6½p related unsigned manuscript document of same size. 1¾-inch diameter paper seal affixed at left margin. Carlton House, London, England. 1814 August 11. In full: "In the Name and on the Behalf of His Majesty, Our Will and Pleasure is, that you forthwith cause the Great Seal of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland to be affixed to an Instrument bearing date with these Presents (a Copy whereof is hereunto annexed) containing our Ratification, in the Name and on Behalf of His Majesty, of a Supplementary Convention to the Treaty of Defensive Alliance between His Majesty and His Good Brother The Emperor of all the Russias concluded at Chaumont on the First Day of March last, New Stile, by the Plenipotentiaries of His Majesty and of His said Good Brother duly and respectfully authorized for that purpose. - and for so doing this shall be your Warrant. - Given at the Place of Carlton House the Eleventh Day of August 1814, in the Fifty Fourth Year of His Majesty's Reign". KING GEORGE IV (1762-1830, reigned from 1820) served as Regent of Great Britain from 1811, when his father, George III, was declared insane. As Prince of Wales he had very poor relationships both with his father, and with his wife, Princess Caroline of Brunswick, whom he forbade to attend his coronation and tried to divorce. As Regent, however, his choice of cabinet helped conclude the Napoleonic Wars (1815). War's end brought both peace and depression when government demand for supplies ceased. Prices fell and thousands became unemployed, instigating the first labor unions. He took steps to curb the depression with such acts as the Corn Law (1815). During his reign as King of Great Britain & Ireland (1820-1830), George IV's appreciation of the arts led to the development of Regent Street and Regent's Park and the restoration of Windsor Castle. He also initiated penal code reform and abolition of the death penalty (1822). George became increasingly unpopular, due in part to his lavish expenditures. His visit to Scotland in 1822 was the first by a British monarch since 1650. Robert Stewart (1769-1822), who had been given the courtesy title of Viscount CASTLEREAGH when his father was created Earl of Londonderry in 1796, became Foreign Secretary in 1812, two years before signing this document. In that capacity, Castlereagh was instrumental in negotiating the quadruple alliance between the United Kingdom, Austria, Russia and Prussia at Chaumont in March 1814. At the Congress of Vienna, he developed a form of security for Europe that settled a number of disputes, but his system collapsed by 1822 due to differences of opinion between the quadruple alliance. Normal mailing folds. Slightly toned. Light surface creases. Edges slightly worn and soiled. Small tears along edge. Otherwise, fine condition.