with browned Spanish barrel formed in two-stages, swamped muzzle section fitted with silver ‘spider’ fore-sight, octagonal breech stamped on the top with gold-lined maker’s marks of Francisco Bustindui (Neue Støckel 137 and 138), a series of gold-lined decorative marks , the owner’s initials ‘HG’, the date in gold and, on the underside ‘Given me by Richard Cumberland Esq.r and brought from Madrid by him in 1782’, gold-lined vent, engraved tang, stepped bevelled lock engraved with scrolls on the tail and signed in script enclosed by fronds within an oval beneath the pan, figured walnut full stock, carved with a scrolling moulding with a scallop shell behind the tang, chequered grip, inlaid with the owner’s initials ‘HG’ in silver wire opposite the lock, engraved iron mounts comprising butt-plate, trigger-guard with acorn terminal, three ramrod-pipes, and horn fore-end cap (later horn-tipped ramrod), 90.7 cm barrel

Provenance

Probably presented by Richard Cumberland to the Irish Nationalist Henry Grattan

Peter Dyson, circa 1998

Literature

John O’Sullivan & De Witt Bailey, Robert Wogdon, Wogdon & Barton, John Barton, London Gunmakers 1764-1819, Bonhams 2019, p. 252-253

Richard Cumberland (1732-1811) was a spy and diplomat during the government of Lord North and is best known as a dramatist, playwright and poet. After leaving Trinity College, Cambridge, Cumberland in 1761 became private secretary to the Earl of Halifax in the Duke of Newcastle’s ministry and later held other government positions. His first success as a dramatist came with The Brothers (1769), a sentimental comedy whose plot is reminiscent of Henry Fielding’s novel Tom Jones, and he continued to write prolifically. The West Indian (1771) was first produced by the great actor-manager David Garrick and held the stage throughout the 18th century. He regarded an early tragedy, Tiberius in Capreae, as his masterpiece but could persuade no management to produce it and his serious works were not successful, with the exception of The Jew (1794) and The Wheel of Fortune (1795). Cumberland was querulous in the face of criticism and quarrelled with many famous contemporaries, notably Sheridan and Oliver Goldsmith, both of whom were opposed to sentimentalism in the drama. (abridged from Brittanica, accessed September 2023).

Cumberland made a number of trips to Spain and Madrid, including a secret mission to the capital in 1780 as Secretary to the Board of Trade. For a full account see Memoirs Of Richard Cumberland, written by himself, Henry Flanders ed. 1826-1911.

Spanish barrels, particularly those from Madr, were prized in the 18th century, as described in Acton’s essay on Shooting (1789) ‘…..The Spanish barrels have always been held in great esteem, as well on account of the quality of the iron, which is generally considered as the best in Europe, as for they pass for being forged and bored more perfectly than any others. It should be observed, however, that of the Spanish barrels, those only that are made in the capital are accounted truly valuable…..’ and ‘…..After the barrels of Madrid, those of Bustindui and St. Olabe at Placentia in Biscay; and of Jean and Clement Pedroestevo, Eudal Pous, and Martin Marèchal, at Barcelona, are the most esteemed; these usually sell in France for 80 French livres, or 3l. 10s…..’