Beschreibung:

GEORGE II, King of England (1683-1760). Clerk of the Kitchins Book to his Majesty George II . Manuscript on paper, Kensington Palace, 1736, 80 leaves, and 5 additional loose leaves, Oblong folio (396 x 160mm) , written in brown ink in several informal hands, with calligraphic flourishes, front pastedown inscribed, back pastdown with pentrials and doodles (hinges worn, occasional soiling or greasespots, worming to a few leaves). Contemporary vellum over pasteboard, the lower cover titled in manuscript. With : 3 autograph certificates loosely inserted, each 1 page, folio , 1748-1751, appointing Daniel Durant as second yeoman 'of the privy kitchin' and 'yeoman of the mouth', with endorsements (tear along one fold, some wear to one document). Provenance : William Daniel ('Mr Daniels Book, Master Cook') -- [Daniel] Durant of Shrewsbury, his son, (d.c.1775) -- Thomas Jeffreys, Shrewsbury -- Reverend Hugh Owen (inscription, front pastedown). A FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT OF MEALS SERVED TO GEORGE II AND QUEEN CAROLINE; an array of extravagant dishes recorded by the Master Cook at the Hanoverian court. The manuscript opens with dinner for Her Majesty alone at Kensington on June 1st 1736 (George II was kept away from England for long periods during 1736-7) and continues until December 1st 1737, with omitted days, covering meals served to Their Majesties at St James's. The missing periods include Queen Caroline's illness and death (on 20th November 1737). The account provides an insight into dining at the royal household, not only in terms of the dishes served, which included puffins, frogs, boar's head and haunch of bear, but also in terms of table settings (longways on each side the center'; 'in the nooks, twixt the angles') and life in the kitchens (a list of chickens 'left in the scalding office at Hampton Court'). (4)