[Suppression of the Opium Trade.] Nineteen Autograph Letters Signed from MPs, Quakers, missionaries, and others (Earl of Aberdeen; Lord Radstock; Viscount Hampden), to Frederic Storrs-Turner and Goodeve Mabbs, with circular signed by Justin McCarthy.

The twenty items in this collection are in fair condition, aged and worn, and present an interesting capsule of political activism in late-Victorian Britain. The printed circular (1p., 8vo) is headed 'THE OPIUM TRADE. | London, March 17th, 1886.' It is signed at the foot by Justin McCarthy (1830-1912), and requests support from Members of the House of Commons for Sir Joseph W. Pease's resolution, during a vote on 23 March. The nineteen letters are addressed to Storrs-Turner and Mabbs as Organizing Secretaries to the Society for the Suppression of the Opium Trade, and although written in response to requests for attendance at meetings and other events, sometimes contain interesting and revealing comments on the question (see quotations below). The letters are written by: Granville Augustus William Waldegrave, Lord Radstock (1833-1913); Henry Bouverie William Brand, Viscount Hampden (1814-1892); Earl of Aberdeen (1847-1934); Samuel Smith (1836-1906); Sir Edward Fry (1827-1918); John Morley, Viscount Morley (1838-1923); Alexander Martin Sullivan (1830-1884); Robert William Dale (1829-1895); Griffith John (1831-1912); Russell Gurney (1804-1878); Samuel Gurney (1816-1882); Samuel Morley (1809-1886); Rev. Alexander Duff (1806-1878); William Sproston Caine (1842-1903); Frederic Harrison (1831-1923); Sir Edward Clarke (1841-1931); Sir Wilfred Lawson (1829-1906); Sir Robert Nicholas Fowler (1828-1891); Protap Chunder Mozoomdar (1840-1905). Duff writes (11 November 1876): 'So far as I know, all upright & generous-minded officials in India would join in abolishing it, as at present conducted, if only anyone would point out how the resulting revenue from the traffic is to be replaced. That, I believe, is the real pinching point with them; & not any liking to it, on its own merits. [...] True; as a question of mere morality, one should cease from what is acknowledged to be an evil - be the temporal circumstances what they may.' Samuel Gurney writes (19 October 1877): 'I suppose you are aware that about forty years ago several members of our family, my Father, Sir T. J Buxton William Fry &c &c myself amongst them took great interest in the question of the suppression of the Opium Trade'. Clarke writes (22 July 1884): 'I cannot please myself as to seconding Sir Joseph Pease's motion, I can only say that I will endeavour to be present and shall hope to take some part in the Debate'. Radstock writes (19 February 1884) that he will be 'glad to lead the Hall for the Anti Opium Society Meeting, provided the Meeting is of a prayerful & non political character'. Sullivan (7 June 1880) states: 'Lord Hartingtons speech astounded me by its cold-blooded negation of all moral considerations'. Mozoomdar (18 May 1883) thanks the Committee for 'the kind manner in which they have appreciated my simple words on the manifold evils of the use of opium'.