Sir John Leveson Gower: Patronage and Public Reputation

Description:Sir John Leveson-Gower was amongst the wealthiest and most influential public figures of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. In addition to his ownership of extensive estates in Staffordshire, Shropshire and Yorkshire, he was a prominent politician holding numerous public offices throughout his lifetime. Sir John’s wealth and influence meant that he was in the position to offer patronage to others in order to assist their professional development.

Amongst Sir John’s personal papers are a number of letters written by a man named Mr. Ossenda. Mr. Ossenda’s letters indicate that he was under the patronage of Sir John, his letters expressing his ‘veneration and respect’ for his patron. The letters are addressed to a lady named Mrs. Clifton and to Sir John himself. Intriguingly, the letters also include a copy of some amorous verses.

Mr. Ossenda’s letters apologise to Sir John for his involvement in an incident of romantic intrigue with a mystery women whilst visiting Bath in 1706. Ossenda’s letter to Sir John tells us that Sir John was displeased to hear of Ossenda’s conduct in the Bath affair. Ossenda writes that he ‘much suspected at your Lordships displeasure’ at the incident. His comments suggest that Sir John was concerned about his public image as patron of a young man involved in dubious conduct.

Ossenda’s letter to Mrs. Clifton provides an overview the incident. Ossenda writes ‘my departure from Bath was upon Extraordinary Occasion which I can informe you of’, telling Mrs. Clifton ‘I received a few verses from somebody, and would be glad to know the author’. Ossenda encloses the verses which he received in his letter to Sir John. The verses are entitled ‘to my friend Mr O____s on his secret and sudden departure hence’. The poem is full of romantic imagery and classical allusions and suggests that Ossenda had been encouraging a lady to ‘yeild’ to his love. Ossenda’s letter to Mrs. Clifton indicates that he was already involved with a lady, to whom he refers as ‘my Dear Angell’. The verses and letters he received from another woman would suggest that he had been unfaithful to this lady. Ossenda’s letter to Sir John reflects how this conduct was viewed as morally unacceptable.

In his letter to Sir John, Ossenda assures his patron that ‘I received 2 letres from Bath without any name, besides a coppy of verses, all which I take to be joakes’. Ossenda strongly denies any involvement with the author of these verses, writing in his letter to Sir John ‘the woman that writ the inclosed I am disposed altogether a stranger to, not knowing who she is’.

Ossenda’s letter indicates that Sir John was suspicious of Ossenda’s directions to Mrs. Clifton to ‘burn the letter’. Ossenda defends himself, stating ‘my saying burn the letter was in hope to find out the verses, for if a thing be desired to be kept secred, Generally ‘tis the sooner published’.

Ossenda assures Sir John ‘I never did any thing, or design’d to doe other then what your Lordship…shou’d be very well acquainted with, and on whose favour and commands I always was’. As someone under Sir John’s patronage, Mr. Ossenda’s behaviour would reflect upon his patron. Sir John’s censure of Ossenda is evidently associated with a desire to safeguard his own public reputation.