Autograph Letters

Cartoonist. Threee pages, vestiges indicating it derives from an album affecting only the blank fourth page. "I am sorry you could not turn up at the Club as my time is very uncertain there ...". He invites his correspondent to meet him at the Club after a meeting he is attending. "I would gladly give you suggestions about the bust." In case they don't meet he suggests his correspondent mention his ideas to "Mr Draper". He is uncertain whether he will make a meeting.

Playwright, biographer, actor and poetaster (1882-1937). One page, 12mo, in stamped addressed envelope. "In reply to your letter, I am afraid I cannot manage to come just at present as I am going abraod [sic] early in April and shall be away for some weeks, but if later on we can arrange a date I will try to do so."

Irish-born playwright (1784-1862). 3 pp, on a folio sheet folded to make two leaves, with red wax seal bearing the stamp "J. S. K." In very bad condition, with the address cut away resulting in loss of text, and with a hole in the first leaf causing damage to the signature. The greater part of the letter is taken up with an apology in fittingly melodramatic tones for the oversight of an engagement. "I am truly overwhelmed with confusion at my unfortunate forgetfulness with regard to New Year's day. Will you ever forgive me?

British general (1838-1911). 2 pp, 12mo. "Can you tell me Miss Langham's address - / The <?> Hospital people say she has gone to K<?> / She has been appointed to the Ind. <?> Service".

Novelist (1776-1850). Text as follows: "Ever yours most faithfully/Jane Porter/ I shall return it to your care before I leave /<?>/ Sir M.A.Shee.?>

2 pp, 8vo. "Would Friday evening next at say 9 o Clock Suit you to play off our heat. If not let me know when would be convenient to you and I will try and fit it in."

English journalist and radical politician (1831-1912). One page, 12mo. "Dear Sir / I am afraid that I have no time at my disposal / Yours faithfully / H Labouchere". Slightly discoloured, and with traces of previous mounting on blank verso.

Irish-born playwright (1784-1862). On one page of a folio sheet folded to make two leaves, with the address on the reverse of second leaf "Allan Cunningham Esq / Lower Belgrave Place / Pimlico / 27". "I am much obliged to our common friend Forster [John Forster, 1812-1876, biographer of Charles Dickens] for telling me that, a few orders for Covt. Garden might not be unacceptable to you."

Chemist (1827-1902). "I am trying to get small collections of natural objects for our Pupil Teachers' Schools, as we wish these teachers of the future to have some systematic knowledge of natural history and other elementary science. Could you tell me where we could best purchase typical specimens illustrating the different orders of plants &c. Possibly some small cabinets are to be obtained." Traces of mount to verso adhering to blank second leaf.

English comic actor and dramatist (1802-79). 2 pp, 12mo. Concerning the staging of a new play. "Yates has the first & 2d acts complete - It must be in 4 parts / I am now on the 4th.: when can I have the sheets & illustrations of the entire romance?" Details of the first two acts follow. "When I get your work complete a very few days will complete me, - I leave town on the 20th of this month for a fortnight and am anxious to (indeed I must) finish before I start / Rodwell is composing "Jolly Rose" for Bedford to sing at Woods party." Somewhat grubby, with browning in the margins.

English actor (1830-1904). One page, 12mo. "My dear Farquhar / Quite right! I had already written to Mr. Lumley on the subject & expect him to Rehearsal on Monday. Hope Coventry's trip has done him good."

Orientalist and philologist (1823-1900). One page, 12mo. "Sir / I am still on the invalid list, and in answer to your question can only say that we have no means of knowing the language of the builders of the Tower of Babel". Müller died 28 October 1900. Traces of mount to verso of blank second leaf.

Author (1766-1848). On a small piece of paper, 3" x 1.5", mounted, D'Israeli has written "Proverbios in Lingua araba, Persiana e Turca 1688 vo. Les illustres proverbes historiques. I. D'Israeli. I Mar. (?)"

English dramatist (1851-1929). One page, 12mo. "Life won't bear looking at, will it; from / "Whitewashing Julia" / by / Henry Arthur Jones". Jones's comedy was printed by the Chiswick Press in 1903. Negligible rust-staining from paperclips in one margin.

Actor and dramatist (1802-1879). Three pages, 8vo, some marking but good condition. He asks for a mention of his Benefit. It is his last night at the Haymarket before he joins Madame Vestris at the Lyceum. He names the play, "The Beaux Startagem", adds that "Mr John Reeve son of the late celebrated comedian will also make his first appearance in Public in one of his father's characters, while Mr Buckstone will follow in Mr Planche's highly successful Drama of "The Jacobite".m He encloses cards (for entry?).

English Admiral of the Fleet (1735-1823). The upper part of a letter on one 4to leaf. Recto: "Mortimer Street / the 18th of February 1807 / Sir / I have the honor to acknowledge the Receipt of your Letter of the 10th Instant reporting the account communicated by Lieutenant Batt, of <...>". Verso: "I have the honor to be / Sir / Your most obedient / humble Servant / St. Vincent". Grubby and with loss to one corner.

Orientalist and philologist (1823-1900). 2 pp, 12mo. "Here we have been for about a fortnight, - it is a very dreary place, but the brine baths seem to do my wife good, and so we must stay on for another week. Birmingham, I see, is so near that I should like to run over and see you again and have a quiet talk, supposing that you are not entirely absorbed in business. Perhaps you would let me know what day would suit you best. I cannot ask you to come over here, it is too dreary. My poor wife cannot come with me, she has to take a bath every day." Slight discolouration.

English dramatist (1851-1929). The first, one page, 12mo, 2 December 1896, with letterhead Townshend House, North Gate, Regents Park. "If Macmillans have no objection I am quite willing for you to include Michael and His Lost Angel in your volume of plays. Will you see or write them?" The second, no date, Townshend House, Regent's Park, on deleted letterhead of the Queen's Hotel, Southsea, one page, 12mo. "I'll see Macmillan's when I am in town and will write you further - meantime I suppose you won't be publishing". Two items,

English actor-manager (1844-1921), knighted in 1907. The first, to [?] Burgess, 25 November 1895, on letterhead of the Hôtel Métropole, 2 pp, 8vo. He thanks him for a letter which "my wife & I prize very highly", and says he is sorry that his correspondent will not be able to be present. The second, to "Sir Philip", 27 November 1903, with letterhead 75 Upper Berkeley Street, Portman Square, one page, 8vo.

English Admiral of the Fleet (1735-1823). One page, 12mo. "Lord St. Vincent will thank Mr Handley to convey the inclosed, to Mr. Willan, as soon as possible / Rochetts / 13th. June 1817".

Philologist and anthropologist. One page, 8vo. He expresses his appreication of Rost's "portrait" of (the recently deceased) Dr Burnell (Sanskrit scholar). It is a memorial which make sus mourn the more in knowing how much we lost".

Dean of Norwich (1818-97), and writer on religious matters. One page, 12mo. Recto: "<...> "The Homes for the Widows and Unmarried "Daughters of deceased Clergymen," and its object is to provide gratuitously for such Ladies clea and quiet Lodgings in a respectable part of Londo. The Instin is struggling on with fair success, and since its commencement one or two new Lodging Houses have been affiliated under Miss Reid's (the Foundress's) superintendence; but the last year was, for causes over which <...>".

Astronomer and meteorologist (1809-1903). One page, 12mo. "The Leicester committee having closed, The London Committee will meet at 3 & 4 Bishopsgate at Mr Silver's on Friday next at 4 o clock Feby 24 / Yours truly / James Glaisher". Glaisher and Henry Tracey Coxwell (1819-1900) made many pioneering ascents by balloon for meteorological purposes. Dusty and with fraying at the head.

English actor-manager (1837-1910). 4 pp, 12mo. Interesting letter in which he declines a play. "Its an awful shame to have kept your mss. so long, but I think I told you, I was too deep in promises &c. to give immediate attention! / If domestic Drama were popular now, I should not hesitate to play yours, it is full of pure incident and effective situations, and the dialogue is clear and interesting. [...] In my opinion this is not big & bold enough for "Drama" and not "elegant" enough or adapted to "up to date" models. [...]" Somewhat grubby.

Poet and playwright (1800-1886). 8 (eight) pages, 8vo. He writes concerning a local (Bournemouth) religious controversy and "lay advowsons", giving considerable detail, expressing opinions, and requesting the Archbishop's opinion.

4 pp, 12mo. "My dear Veitch / You give a better account of yourself. I am so sorry to have been unable to come over but I have scarcely been out of dorrs for the last week. / I think we can take care of you if you will come. You need not dress for dinner, or leave your room if you prefer to stay there, and I am sure this house is warmer than your's. I will send the Brougham for you whenever you will allow me to do so. / Ever yrs / Hylton". Docketted in pencil beneath signature, "Soldier rallier of the Balaklava charge - Capt Jolly".

Dramatist and actor (1834-84). One page, 12mo. "My dear Simpson: / I am getting the dates of the performances and sums paid and in a day or two will call on you and fix up the affair." Traces of glue and paper to the blank reverse.

(1762-1830), King of Great Britain and Ireland. One page, 12mo. Large florid signature "George PR", 2 inches by 4, on piece of paper 3 inches by 8. To the right and below signature: "By His Royal Highness the Prince Regent of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. / These in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, to authorize you by beat of Drum or otherwise, to raise so many Volunteers in any County within that part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and <...>". Slight discolouration to paper.

English actor-manager (1837-1910). "Dear Miss Tennyson, / "Reading a play" is very actable, and would suit an actor like Chas. Collett, & important & voluble, & there are several who would make a success of it. But I'm afraid I am not one of them. Sorry to have kept the MS. so long. [...] MS. [not present] returned herewith registered."

Statesman (1761-1830). One page [8vo- sm. folio folded in two]. "Particular engagements" prevent him from dining wiht the friends of "Mr Old Wood(sic)". [Other half of sheet has address and Tierney's frank.] With (laid down): contemporary cuttings from newspaper, obituary of Tierney abd a brief account of Pit and Tierney's duel.