Autograph Letters

Olive's Letter: 3pp., 4to. Bifolium. Addressed, with postmark, on reverse of second leaf to 'H. J. Mant Esq | 2 Wood St | Queen Square | Bath'. The letter is without place or date. Olive has written the letter on behalf of the Bath attorneys Mant & Bruce (he states at the conclusion that 'Mr Bruce requested me to write to save him the trouble'), who are acting for an interested party (Capper?).

Both letters 1p., 4to. Both in good condition, on lightly aged and creased grey paper. Both addressed to Wortham at 75 Courtfield Gardens, London SW5. Letter One: Weeks writes that he has received a letter from Leland Hayward, Inc., 'inquiring whether any steps have been taken to arrange for the sale of the motion-picture rights of CHINESE GORDON [published in England as 'Gordon: An intimate Portrait']'. He plans to 'send off to them proofs [sic] sheets of the book as soon as they are received from the press'.

3pp., 4to. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. He has been reading Wortham's biography ('Gordon: An Intimate Portrait', published in the same year) and asks whether he might be interested in 'a book which was published in 1885 by my mother's uncle, a Mr. Samuel Mossman. I believe he died about forty years ago, and lived in Liverpool.

5pp., 4to. Addressed, with postmarks, to 'John Purdie Esqre | Heriot Row | Edinburgh'. In good condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. Neatly and closely written.

1p., 4to. In very good condition, on lightly-aged paper. With envelope, addressed by Cubitt to 'C F Stuart Esqre | 20 New Norfolk Street | Park Lane', with red wax seal and postmarks, and docketted 'Mr Cubitt. Engineer'. He has received Stuart's letter of 17 May, and has 'since seen Mr. Buchanan with all the Reports Plans Instr[ucti]ons &c &c relative to the question of interference with Lord Blantyre's property', and he will 'more fully examine' them 'during the recess of Parliament'. He has 'also seen & consulted with Mr.

The case was fully reported in The Times, with the issue for 14 April 1842 reporting the pronouncing of the sentence of death on 'Robert Sandys, a stout built Irishman, having a pale and haggard appearance, who was found guilty at the last assizes for this county [Chester] of the diabolical murder of his children by poison, in order to obtain a few pounds from a burial society of which he was a member'. 4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Headed 'Private' by Graham.

2pp., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged paper, with traces of mount adhering at head of reverse of leaf. Regarding Smith's 'note with reference to the selection of a gentleman to fill the office of Chaplain at the Portland Convict Depôt', he writes that he must 'defer the consideration of this question, as it must necessarily be yet some considerable period before the works at the Island are sufficiently advanced for the reception of Convicts'.

1p., 12mo. Good, on aged paper. The letter reads: 'The Dowr. Lady Sligo presents her Compliments to Mr. Shewell, & begs earnestly to solicit his Votes for Henry Jennings at the Election for the Idiot Asylum in April, 1854 - | Lady Sligo can recommend Henry Jennings as a member of a very poor & industrious family -'.

4pp., 4to. Bifolium. 76 lines of closely and neatly written text, including a four-line postscript cross-written on the first page. Addressed, with Chester postmark, on reverse of second leaf to 'Mr. Bill | Boar Lane | Leeds | Yorkshire'. ('Bill Thomas, 7, Boar lane' is listed among the 'Glass, China, and Earthenware Dealers' in Haigh's 'General and Commercial Directory of the Borough of Leeds', Baines & Co., 1839). The reverse of the second leaf also carries the remains of the wax seal, stamped 'Ann'. In fair condition, on worn and aged paper.

1p., 4to. Aged and creased, mounted in windowpane on leaf removed from album. He writes: 'Gentlemen, | I beg leave to inform you, that I shall not have occasion for the Room I have taken at the St. Martins Lane Model Academy, after Michaelás Day next in the present year.' For more information on the Academy, see Sibley's 'Origin, Progress, and Present Condition of the Fine Arts in Great Britain and Ireland' (1841).

Three pages, 4to, fold marks, some chipping and closed tears, mainly discreetly repaired, but text complete and clear. He is responding to Winkworth's request for "an outline of the observations I had the honour to address to the PSL [Philosophical Society of London] on thursday last but fear [...]" Points made as follows. "Ist All philosophers agree that man is characterized as an improveable being [...] 2nd THere is no science that is not capabale of additions no Art that [...] 3rd.

4pp., 16mo. Bifolium. On aged and worn paper, with small spike-hole on one leaf. The letter begins: 'I am sorry to say that the poor man from whom I removed the large tumour has died of Erysipilas - It is a great pity - but one of those results over which we have little or no control - Perhaps the inflammation was a kind of continuance of that which he had on him when the operation was done'. He points out that 'at the present time the Hospital [i.e. King's College Hospital] is remarkably free from Erysipilas - a thing which few of us in London can boast much about in general'.

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. On aged and worn paper with small spike-hole to one leaf. The letter begins: 'A hare and a pheasant delivered here the other day with F.A.B. Reading upon the parchment card - the initials, I immediately concluded of my old friend Mr. Bulley and the first information that he still lives after a certain bloody deed performed upon him many months ago.

1p., 12mo. In very good condition, on lightly-aged paper. 'If you would ever care to look round King Edward's very archaic Oxford abode, I can shew you it, with engravings of its details in his day - coloured and otherwise. It is a nice old house - half Elizabethan, half Queen Anne.' He concludes by explaining that he is 'at Westminster all the middle days of the week, save in the recess', and so requires notice. From the H. E. Wortham papers.

2pp., 4to. Aged and creased, mounted in windowpane on leaf removed from album. Liscard Hall was built for the former Mayor of Liverpool and slave-ship captain Sir John Tobin. Allen writes that since arriving there he has 'painted too little subjects', and that he has 'a wish' to 'leave them behind me - but not unframed - size of Pictures 16in: x 12in:' If Cobbett does not have 'two tolerable frames of that size' he asks him to order two: 'I do not require the "best double distilled - extra hyper - superfine" - but something tolerably good looking'.

Part of a page, 20 x 12cm, foxed, mainly good condition. Surviving text as follows: "I have the honor to be | Sir, | Your most obedient Servant | Palmerston". Subscription probably secretarial.

One page, 12mo, good condition. "Thank you very much for your kind letter & I am delighted that you have elected me. | Gunn had telephoned to me with the good news which was very considerate of him. [...]"

Two pages, cr. 8vo, fold marks, good condition. "Do not I know that sort of critic. He probably knows nothing about Hospitals. It is so easy to make general statements. "Wasted" indeed. I wonder how one could waste money in feeding these poor people many of whom would be far better if we could feed them up. A short time ago one of our doctors suggested suet & treacle for his patients and got the reply 'we can't afford it'. It is miserable economy to starve patients. And as to nurses it is absolutely essential that their food should be appetizing & varied.

One page, 12mo, crupled but text clear and complete: "I shall have very great pleasure in diding with your Ladyship on Monday next - & some of the Ladies will be most happy to follow me in the evening. [...]" Note: joint author of 'Rejected Addresses'.

Four pages, 12mo, closely written, good condition. "Your approval of my criticism on the '[?] of Hector' has greatly gratified me. Gladstone is twenty fold a better Grecian than S.C.M., but he is crochetty, and a crochetty man sees what no one else sees, and refuses to see the palpable. I have not seen his colour blindness paper: but ifd he says there is no 'blue' in the Iliad he is distinctly wrong.

Postcards, c.11 x 9cm, some smudging but mainly good condition, text clear and complete. Postcard One: "Dear Mr Wynne, | Very best thanks for your valued gift: a fine & distinguished poem."; Postcard 2: "[...] | The books can be got separately & there are cheap editions of those two books any bookseller can secure for you for 2/- & 2/6 each. | I'm afraid London has had enough of my plays. My daughter's paly is not about [?] folk." Two items,

Two pages, 12mo, good condition. I have just sent off by rail folios 1-24 of Isaiah, to middle of Chap. xiv, though I hardly expect you will be able to make much progress with that book at your next meeting. It is interesting work, but will not be huried. | I have also enclosed a copy of my 'Proleomena' (25 copies printed separately from the Hexapla) for your kind acceptance as the Fascicules (which will include it) may not be out for some weeks, though quite out of my hands.

4to, 1 p. Ten lines, edges a little damaged but text clear and complete, on flimsy paper. "You are welcome to the quotation from my school-boy story - if it is worth while. I could have wished, however, that in an anthology of serious prose you had given me credit as a serious writer & chosen something more interesting. With compliments [...]"

Two pages, 12mo, large hand, accepting an invitation on behalf of her niece and herself and asking acceptance of a "[posie?] that I have just received from the country." Note: Catherine Stephens became Countess of Essex in 1838. Note added on her identity in another hand.

Three pages, 12mo, bifolium, good condition. She has found a letter to W.C. Hazlitt from her correspondent about Margaret Hazlitt's diary and asks its whereabouts. Her letter about it in "The Times" had produced no results, and P.P. Howe (extensive writer on her "great grandfather William Hazlitt") would like very much to find it still existed. SAhe concludes, "It is now my care to keep the Grave of William Hazlitt in good order at St Anne's Soho".

A Collection of Autograph Letters In Russian, and typed descriptions, transcriptions and translations in English which derive from previous owner. They concern a major literary periodical in Russia (Chekhov was a contributor), Severnyi Vestnik (Northern Herald) which was run by Nina Evreinova and, later, by Anna Mikh. Evreinova (a founding member of the Union for Women's Equality, etc - see further note below). The later history of this periodical emerges from this correspondence.A. Evreinova, Anna Mikh. (1844 - 1919*)DRAFT Autograph Letter Signed. 5 quarto pages, 27 September, 1888.

Three pages, 12mo, fold marks, good condition. "I have the greatest pleasure in giving you a testimonial. Both from personal knowledge & from what I have always heard of you I can testify to your high & honorable character. | I have known you for some considerable time now & have not the least hesitation in thoroughly recommending you. | The fact that you belong to a family for which I have the greatest respect makes it an additional pleasure to write this."

One page, 8vo, good condition. [J. York] "Gent[leme]n | Please favour me with a reply to my application to publish extracts from Old Curiosity Shop for use with Magic Lantern. I fear it has escaped your notice." Frederic Chapman has added his note to the foot of the page, "If you acknowledge that you have our permission as you did before, you may publish the Extracts."

The three items in good condition, on lightly-aged paper, the second letter having a few very short closed tears on fold lines. The first two signed 'W F Hook' and the third 'Walter Farquhar Hook'. ONE (26 July 1828): 2pp., 12mo. Apologising because 'waiting upon' the Corries will now be impossible, as 'Sir Robert and Lady Wilmot intend to come on a Visit': His Mother will not be able to see Sir Robert, so Hook will be 'compelled to stay at home to entertain him'. TWO (16 April 1829): 2pp., 4to. On gilt-edged bifolium.

3pp., 4to. On bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with slight damp-staining to one corner. '[...] The measure of applying to the English counties was proper & indeed necessary - and I doubt not that, as the evil complain'd of is very general, we shall find a very general & ready cooperation on their part in our endeavours to procure redress.