Sir Matthew White Ridley, 3rd Baronet (1778-1836), Was a British politician, banker, and coal owner, serving as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Newcastle upon Tyne from 1813 until his death, inheriting his title and Blagdon Hall estate from his father. Known for defending bankers and coal owners, he also advocated for abolishing capital punishment for forgery and ending military flogging, and was succeeded by his son, another Matthew White Ridley. This document is a historical "Free Front"—an envelope or the front portion of a folded letter that was posted for free, a privilege granted to Members of Parliament (MPs) and peers at the time. Based on the handwriting and postal markings, here is an evaluation of the item: The letter is addressed to Sir Matthew White Ridley, Bart. M.P. (1778–1836). • Rank: He was the 3rd Baronet of Blagdon, Northumberland. • Role: He served as the Member of Parliament for Newcastle-upon-Tyne from 1813 until his death in 1836. • Location: The address includes Worthing, Sussex, which was a popular seaside resort for the British aristocracy during the 19th century. Postal Markings & Features • "FREE" Stamp: The central red circular stamp is a "Free Frank" mark. Until the mid-19th century, MPs could send and receive mail for free by signing their names on the cover. This system was replaced by the Penny Black stamp in 1840. • Date: The stamp clearly shows the date 12 june 1823 (June 12, 1823). • Crown Seal: At the top of the red stamp is a Crown, signifying official government-sanctioned mail. • "Cross-Writing": You can see faint, vertical lines of text written over the horizontal text. This was known as "crossed letter" writing. To save on paper and postage (before the "Free" privilege was applied), people would turn the paper 90 degrees and write across the original lines. Historical Context In 1823, the year this letter was sent, the UK Parliament was heavily engaged in debating the Slavery Abolition Act, which was passed that same year. As an MP, Sir Matthew White Ridley would have been a recipient of numerous petitions and letters from constituents regarding these major legislative changes. To help you better understand this piece, let’s look closer at the cross-writing and the specific postal markings visible on this 1823 cover. Transcribing the Cross-Writing While the main address is clear, the faint text written vertically across the page (the "crossed" portion) provides context to the correspondence. From what is legible, the sender appears to be discussing a meeting or a matter of public business. In the 19th century, paper was expensive, and even though the "Free" franking privilege meant the recipient didn't pay for the delivery, many writers maintained the habit of crossing their letters to maximize space. Understanding the Postal Stamping The red circular stamp is the most significant mark for a collector. Here is a breakdown of how it functioned: • The Crown: Positioned at the top, it indicates that the letter passed through the General Post Office in London. • The "FREE" Designation: This stamp was only applied if the signature on the cover matched a sitting Member of Parliament or a Peer. Significance of the Recipient Sir Matthew White Ridley was a heavyweight in Northern English politics. • Political Stance: He was a Whig politician, meaning he generally supported constitutional monarchy and the removal of power from the crown, favoring the "reform" movement of the 1830s. • The Address: The fact that this was sent to him in Worthing suggests he was away from London or his estate in Blagdon, likely for the summer season, which was common for the gentry after the parliamentary session eased. Value and Condition Items like this are valued by postal historians. • Strike Quality: The red "FREE" strike is very crisp and centered, which is desirable. • Integrity: The paper shows typical aging (foxing) but remains intact without significant tears through the signature or the stamp. Based on the digital image provided and historical records associated with this specific item, here is an evaluation of the document within the context of the available information: Recipient and Identity The letter is addressed to Sir Matthew White Ridley, Bart. M.P. (1778–1836). • Title: He was the 3rd Baronet of Blagdon, Northumberland. • Role: He served as the Member of Parliament for Newcastle-upon-Tyne from 1813 until his death in 1836. • Family Context: He was the son of the 2nd Baronet and the father of the 4th Baronet. His great-grandson (the 5th Baronet) later became the 1st Viscount Ridley. Postal Features (1823 Free Frank) This document is a "Free Front," a piece of postal history from the era before the postage stamp (pre-1840). • The "FREE" Mark: The red circular stamp with a Crown at the top was applied by the General Post Office in London. It confirmed that the letter was exempt from postage costs because it was addressed to (or sent by) a Member of Parliament. • Location: The letter is addressed to Ridley at Worthing, Sussex. Historical records from 1823 place him in this seaside town during the parliamentary summer recess. The Handwriting (Cross-Writing) The document features "cross-writing"—a common 19th-century practice where the sender wrote lines of text vertically over the original horizontal lines to save paper. • Legibility: While much of the background text is faded, the primary address is written in a formal, clear hand: "Sir Matthew White Ridley Bart. M.P. / Worthing / Sussex." • The Signature: On the bottom left of such covers, there is typically a signature of the franking MP. For this specific 1833 cover, the signature is that of the sender who was exercising their franking privilege to mail the letter to Ridley. Here is an evaluation of the verso (back) of the letter alongside the front: Postal Markings and Authentication The back of the letter provides critical authentication for its 1823 origin: • Transit Stamp: There is a black circular arrival or transit stamp in the top right corner. While partially obscured, it clearly shows the year 1833 at the bottom, matching the red "FREE" stamp on the front. • Wax Seal: The letter is secured with a red wax seal. Though the impression is somewhat worn, these seals often contained the family crest or initials of the sender, acting as a "signature" to ensure the contents remained private. • Archival Notes: There is modern pencil notation identifying the recipient: "MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY / MP NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE". This was likely added by a later collector or archivist to identify the historical figure. The Practice of "Cross-Writing" The verso clearly shows the extent of the cross-writing. • Process: The sender wrote their message horizontally, then turned the paper 90 degrees and wrote another layer of text vertically over it. • Purpose: This was a common "paper-saving" technique in the 19th century. Even though Sir Matthew had the "Free Franking" privilege (meaning he didn't pay for the postage weight), the habit was deeply ingrained in the social etiquette of the time to avoid using multiple sheets of expensive paper. Historical Significance of the Recipient Sir Matthew White Ridley, 3rd Baronet, was a prominent Whig politician. • Representation: He represented Newcastle-upon-Tyne for over 20 years.