A printed invitation with manuscript additions, D.J. Garcia, Secretary (of the United City Lodge inviting "BROTHER" [printed) to "attend the duties of the United City Lodge". The address panel contains the name "Mr D'Israeli".

Two pages, irregular shapes (section missing - not affecting text), fold marks, some soiling and chipping. Text of summ ons as follows (manuscript in square brackets): "BROTHER, / You are requested to attend the Duties of the United City Lodge, at the Sign of the East-India Warehouse, Fenchurch-Street, on Monday next, the [27th. Inst.] at [7] o'Clock precisely. / By Order of the R.W. MASTER. / London, [Nov. 24th. 1786 / Raising] / Yours affectionately, [D.J. Garcia] SECRETARY." The identification of the addressee "Mr D'Israeli" with the author and father of the sometime Prime Minister, Isaac D'Israeli, is confirmed by the use he has made of the white space of the letter: he has written the draft of (or notes for) a long and complicated letter (partly etymological) on the subject of something his correspondent has written on Thomas Chatterton, poet, presumably John Sherwin (no addressee or date, but D'Israeli correspondence with Sherwin on the subject which this item would complement is located in the Bodleian - Sherwin published "Introduction to an Examination of some part of the internal evidence, respecting the antiquity and authenticity of certain publications said to have been found in Manuscript at Bristol" in 1809). Even though the name I. D'Israeli and correlative information (e.g. his age in a certain year) appear in records of this Lodge held in the United Grand Lodge Library (London) and elsewhere, Isaac D'Israeli's involvement with Freemasonry (with implications which embrace Benjamin Disraeli, Prime Minister) has not previously been adduced. Note: D'Israeli's library contained at least one book with a masonic interest, "La Maçonnerie mesmérienne, ou les Leçons prononcées par Fr. Mocet" (from a list of his books on display at the Jewish Museum). I am able to supply a scan of the summons on request, and copies of relevant lists.