Autograph Letters

Head Constable of Liverpool. He discusses the prospect of Johnson being appointed Chief Constable of Lancashire, promising instruction and a place inat his office. He praises his active nature and describes the high opinion which "distinguished officers" have of him.

English dramatist (1838-89). One page, 12mo, on mourning paper. "I am sorry I forgot the card. Did you get the stalls all right / In any way I can serve you / I am / Yours faithfully / J. Albery". Docketed in a small hand in ink. Minimal loss to one corner. Bearing traces of previous mounting.

English actor-manager (1837-1910). One page, on monogrammed paper. "Dear Mrs. Lewis. / I shall be delighted to accept your kind invitation for the 4th July. / Sincerely yours / Henry Neville". Heavily creased and with slight tear to one edge, and with traces of paper and glue on reverse of blank second leaf.

Bohemian musician and pianist. One page, 8vo, sl. batterd but the text is unaffected, and clear. "My dear Mr Masson/ Every bottle drawn by your beautiful corkscrew shall be emptied to your good health and that of your sister [presumably Elizabeth Masson, vocalist and teacher, see DNB], and you will both live in our recollection as highly valued and long tried friends. With best thanks . ..... I. Moscheles

"Westminster" neatly written on a piece of 12mo paper. Beneath this, in another hand, "With Westminster's Compliments". The recto of the blank second leaf attached to a piece of paper torn from an autograph album.

Religious, devotional and educational writer (1815-1906). Three pages, 8vo, light foxing not affecting clarity of text, laid down. A good letter about her relatively new educational venture in which she clarifies the status of the prospective pupil. "[The school] has not been established for the children of an upper class". She claims that the groundwork is well-laid, repeats that classes are mixed, recalling her own education on the Isle of Wight - "I certainly never gained any harm from it". She describes St Bonifaces as it is ("in its infancy", few boarders, the need for a governess).

English music-hall comedian (1869-1954). Fragment, 2¼ inches square, cut from letter. "yours / Geo. Robey". Mounted on a piece of paper, 12mo, docketed "Comedian / known as Prime Minister of Mirth / Made many successes in Pantomime / Invested as a Commander of the order of British Empire for his remarkable work in raising many thousand for war charities."

One page, 4to. Difficult handwriting. "Sir / On my return to this Cottage from Houghton I had the favor of your letters. I enclose a letter to Ld. Sandwich [...] I also enclose a letter to Sr. Horace Man [...]" Sir Horace Mann (1701-86) was British envoy at Florence. Docketted on verso of second leaf, "Ld. Orford, inclosing one to Ld. Sandwich wch was imediatly [sic] delivd. [...] Ensign Commis at Patna." Creased, and with loss to second leaf from removal of a seal.

English comic actor (1795-1842) and manager of the Adelphi Theatre. 2 pp, 4to. Eccentric handwriting, of uncertain decipherment. "We must trouble you by return of Post to send us up the last tune but one & the finale to the Pantomime / Make Puck if you please come out of the Fairy Mounds tell Harlequin & Columbine the Chace is done. Then loves rewards and change to the last tune the Fairy Temple - Then dance & a short finale - one verse <?> & Chorus - / [...] / I hope all goes well with you. We are all alive - Let us have it by return of post".

Lord Chancellor of England (1819-85). 2 pp, 12mo. "I am much obliged to you for sending me the resolutions adopted at the large & influential meeting which assembled under your presidency at Belfast to express the opinions entertained in that part of the Kingdom on the Questions of Foreign Policy which now occupy so deeply the public mind.

Statesman (1806-1863). Vestiges of its having been laid down in an album. Part of a letter as follows: " . . . chloroform, & with perfect success but she has since suffered much pain. Her recovery, I am happy to say, is . . ." and overleaf the following " . . . & therefore I conclude that it was quite groundless" Ever yrs truly/ GCLewis". Tantalising fragment but Queen Victoria was a well-known pioneer in the use of chloroform in child-birth, and is the likely subject for a letter by a member of her Government.

English actor-manager (1844-1912). On two pieces of paper. 2 pp, 12mo and one page, 8vo, the second piece with the letterhead of Terry's Theatre in the Strand. "Here again in Harness Thank Goodness - Royalty Glasgow next week then Brum where I hope to see you. Cannot tell you where I shall stay yet as my People are away in Wales did you see the enclosed / Kind regards to all yours / from yours / E. Terry". Postscript on second piece of paper: "P.S.

Historian and essayist (1834-1895). One page, 8vo. He discussses Baron Tauchnitz's involvement in one of his books [probably the "Life and Times of Stein; or, Germany & Prussia in the Napoleonic Age" (Todd 1849, Cambridge, 1878)]. "As to the honorarium, I am advised that Baron Tauchnitz ought to make an offer".

Politician (1826-93). 2 pp, 12mo. "Sir / In answer to your letter of the 2nd: I agree that the Charing Cross Hotel will be a suitable place for the Kentish Liberal Unionists to meet, and the hours you mention seem convenient: as to the day I think it had better be early in March than February, as there is a better chance of attendance later." Grubby, and with three pieces of gummed paper from mounting adhering to the recto.

4 pp, 8vo. A long letter discussing the restoration of the ship. "[...] I have always appreciated (and envied) your personal experience of sail in days when seamanship in the old sense really meant something. [...] No one is better qualified to speak with authority on the restoration of a historic sailing vessel than you are". Five points are discussed: "The position of the upper topsail yards. [...] royal yards [...] fitting sails [...] ropes [...] Maintenance."

2 pp, 8vo. "I am induced by the partiality of my friends, to offer myself as Candidate for the important Office of Chancellor, which has become vacant by the decease of the venerable Marquis Camden, & I am induced to do so with more confidence in consequence of my close official connection with The University. Should you deem me worthy of your choice for an Office so honorable and so dignified, I can with sincerity assure you that my best exertions shall be devoted to maintain the true Interests of the University.

Politician and journalist (1831-1912). One page, 8vo, remains for page of album."The Executive of the Radical <?> by me to state that they are not at present disposed to meet the deputation that called upon me on Saturday. . . ". With (conjoined) a copy of the letter his correspondent sent in reply, one page, 8vo, outlining plans for a meeting at the Liberal Control Board and assuming that Labouchere would not "divide the Liberal interest".

Publisher, writer, etc. (1891-1975). One page, 8vo. He is following up an article Miss Harvey had written in "Country Life" about "pargetting". He says that "recessed ornamentation is still done where he lives (Suffolk) and wonders how "relief patterning is accomplished".

Litterateur and Journalist, editor of the "Edinburgh Review" (1813-1895). Four pages, 8vo, foxing, text clear. Reeve has received an article by Tuckwell on "the Literature of the 18th Century . . . Its defect seems to me to be that in title, in spirit, & in substance, it is somewhat too wide & vague - an article more appropriate for an Encyclopaedia than to a Review." He would have preferrd a paper of 20-25 pages on a specific topic such as Latimer's prose. "In writing for the Reviews there is no greater mistake than to embrace too large a field" resulting in a lack of "point".

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.

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".

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.

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.

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?).

Bold signature on paper cut to 4" x 1", some staining marginally affecting clarity.

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.