The letters between Johnson and the family began in 1765, but their correspondence ended following Hester Lynch Thrale’s second marriage following her husband’s death, to an impoverished Italian music teacher who had taught her children (Gabriel Mario Piozzi). Johnson did not approve, and their correspondence ceased in 1783, though hey would reconcile just before Johnson’s death in 1784.
“Initially, I was asked to value a collection of books and rugs for a family who had recently taken over their ancestral family home," said Werner Freundel, Director at Chorley’s auction house. "I spent a long afternoon between the library and drawing room, collating volumes of Tillotson, Defoe, Kipling and Scott that had been separated throughout the years during their time in the various generations of the family.
"One of the cupboards in the library yielded several manuscript volumes detailing the household expenditure during the late 18th and 19th centuries. There were also fascinating diaries, accounts of society gossip, family feuds about inheritance, as well as advice on etiquette, marriage, and grumbles about failing health. I then came across a volume of over 100 letters that the family weren’t aware of and I asked if I could take them away to go through. Later, alongside a manuscript specialist we examined everything in more depth and it wasn’t long before our curiosity was piqued by the mention of Sarah Siddons, Hester Thrale-Piozzi, several members of the Hoare banking family and Samuel Johnson. Finally, a letter from and signed by, the famous Dr Johnson appeared towards the end of the volume."
It is unknown how the letters came into possession of the family, but among other letters from the same Gloucestershire property is a series of 30 letters between Hester and Sophia, written between 1805 and 1821 when Sophia had married the banker Henry Merrick Hoare. The letters are of considerable length and reflect the deep affection between the two. They divulge society gossip and include their own poetry and verse. This set of letters is encased in an unbound leather album bearing the bookplate of Sophia’s husband and have never been published. Within the same box was a selection of other letters mostly to Sophia from the stage actress Sarah Siddons (1755- 1831) which includes a page where she complains that she must "embrace the dreadful fatigue of playing every night". They carry an estimate of £15,000-£20,000.
