[Francis Clifton, physician to Frederick, Prince of Wales.] Autograph Note Signed ('Fr. Clifton') to 'Mr Rousse', directing copies of his 'State of Physick' to be sent to 'Dr Shaw & Mr Hawksbee'.

On one side of 8 x 18 cm piece of paper. In fair condition, lightly aged. Neatly laid down on a leaf of cream paper. Reads: 'Mr Nourse | Pray let Dr Shaw & Mr. Hawksbee have each of 'em a Copy of my State of Physick upon my acct. | Yr humble Sert | Fr. Clifton'. The publisher of 'The Stater of Physic', which had appeared the previous year, was John Nourse. From the distinguished autograph collection of the psychiatrist Richard Alfred Hunter (1923-1981), whose collection of 7000 works relating to psychiatry is now in Cambridge University Library. Hunter and his mother Ida Macalpine had a particular interest in the illness of King George III, and their book 'George III and the Mad Business' (1969) suggested the diagnosis of porphyria popularised by Alan Bennett in his play 'The Madness of George III'.