Autograph Letters

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?).

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.

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,

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".

Loose leaf, presumably formerly endpaper of book, 8vo, inscribed "For A.J.A. Symons from Holbrook Jackson" with address and date.

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.

Dramatist (1849-1904). One page, 12mo, in stamped envelope addressed in autograph. "I am very much obliged for the ticket, and will certainly go. I am so glad you have got such a good chance, and I will "signify the same" (i.e. my gladness) "in the usual way".

English Catholic nobleman (1847-1917). One page, 12mo. "Madam, / I beg to comply with your request for my autograph. / I am / Your obedient servant. / Norfolk E[arl] M[arshal]".

English actor-manager (1837-1910). Interesting letter exemplifying the importance of dentistry to the acting profession. 3 pp, 12mo, on mourning paper. "You know I've been away, on Tour with the "Lions" and after that, I took a jaunt to Tronville & Rouen, just returned with a broken tooth. - I've had to be patched up on tour, & have quite given up the idea of a good looking mouth. Any way I shall be glad if you will put a lower front tooth in. I will come to you to-morrow Wednesday afternoon about 3.30. in the hope you'll be free.

Clerk of Assize for the Midland Circuit (1868-1956), son of the actor Sir Squire Bancroft (1841-1926) and the actress Marie Effie Wilton (1839-1921). The letter, 12 May 1926, one page, 8vo, on mourning paper, with embossment White Lodge, Westgate-on-sea. "Pray excuse a typewritten letter. / To certain specified "comrades of the Stage, members of the Garrick Club, in grateful remembrance of their friendship", my father by his Will bequeathes a souvenir.

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

Painter, President of the Royal Academy (1836-1919). Four pages, 8vo. As follows: " I never thanked you for your postcard & its information which adds greatly to the interest of the drawing. " is puzzling certainly, but so unlike "canonico" that I can hardly think it can have been an error in the transcript of that word. I have not yet discovered the other two sketches I possess . . .

Lord Chancellor of England (1837-99). One page, 12mo. Marked "Confidential". "I send for your perusal a letter I have recd fm. Sir F. - you will of course treat it as quite confidential & destroy it when you have read it. It will at least serve to shew that I have done what I cd." Traces of gummed paper from mounting adhering to blank verso.

English actor (1853-1915), admired for his melodramatic villains. The first, to Mr Philip, 14 December 1903, St. James's Theatre, one page, 12mo. "Herewith a cheque for one guinea in exchange for the dinner ticket you sent me a week or so since". The other three all written to Allan Gomme in 1914, with the letterhead 29 St. James's Street. The first of these, March 12, one page, 12mo. "I shall have great pleasure in attending the Inauguration Ceremony of the Burbage Memorial on Monday next, and the luncheon afterwards". The second, March 13, one page 12mo.

Diplomat and administrator (1826-1902). 2 pp, 12mo. A diplomatic refusal. "Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to enlist under your banner, if I thought there was the slightest chance of my being able to write anything that would suit you.

Theatre producer (1908-1973). "Thank you so much for your letter. I entirely appreciate your difficulties and I am most grateful to you. I hope that L. E. Berman can let me have the original manuscript as I should be most grateful. / I am sorry you have not received the photographs as promised and I will look into this immediately." Not in the best of condition: creased and grubby.

Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer (1769-1844), the most successful advocate of his day. One page, 12mo. "My dear Sir / If you will excuse so short a notice & happen to be disengaged on Wednesday next pray do me the favour to join a small party which I have hastily made up with Lord Lyndhurst at dinner here at seven oClock/ Your truly / Abinger / Wednesday 16th. at 7." Scarlett had succeeded Lyndhurst as Lord Chief Baron at the end of the previous year. Discoloured and with heavy traces of mount adhering to blank verso.

Statesman (1831-1907). One page, 12mo. "Dear Sir / Please send my parliamentary papers to Portland Place henceforward. / Yours faithfully / George J Goschen". Traces of mount adhering to blank verso.

English actor-manager (1837-1910). One page, 12mo, in stamped envelope adressed in autograph. "Dear Miss Tennyson. / There are no vacancies at present at the Adelphi. I shall be happy to remember you when opportunity affords - With congratulations on your progress. / Yours very truly / Henry G. Neville