CUMING

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. He begins by noting that they have not corresponded for a while, and that he has 'been abroad most of my time for several years'. He is sending him 'a set of advance sheets of a little book I am to publish with Cassells at the end of September' ('Recollections of Rossetti'), 'because I have a very grateful memory of all the kind, appreciative and very able articles which you have written about other books of mine'.

2pp., 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Johns's book 'Mind You, or, Lewys Lad and his Friend Shadrach' was published in 1922, and he writes to thank Cuming Walters for his 'appreciative review of "Mind-You" - of which you so kindly send me an advance proof'. Walters' praise has given him 'wonderful encouragement', and he hopes it is 'thoroughly deserved'. 'Robert Lynd was most kind in the "Daily News", giving me a full column - mostly praise.

Laid out in three columns on one side of a 71 x 26 cm piece of newsprint stock. With two illustrations in text ('Chalfont St. Giles: the only remaining Milton home' and 'Facsimile of a Milton Sonnet'). Aged and brittle, with a few words of text lost in two vertical folds which have been repaired with archival tape. Section headings are 'Commemorations', 'Manchester Exhibitions and Addresses', 'A Tribute', 'The English Patriot', 'Milton and Music', 'His Optimism', 'His Self-Confidence' and 'A Poetic Life'.

A notable man by any measure, Walters is a puzzling omission from the Oxford DNB. For many years a central figure in the literary life of the north-west of England, he was an authority on Shakespeare (his extensive papers on whom are now in the Folger), Tennyson and Dickens. Walters was the author of 'about 20 books and [...] 250 lectures', and an 'actual or corresponding member of close upon fifty' literary societies, in addition to his professional work as editor of the Manchester City News (for twenty-five years), and the Manchester Evening Chronicle.

A notable man by any measure, Walters is a puzzling omission from the Oxford DNB. For many years a central figure in the literary life of the north-west of England, he was an authority on Shakespeare (his extensive papers on whom are now in the Folger), Tennyson and Dickens. Walters was the author of 'about 20 books and [...] 250 lectures', and an 'actual or corresponding member of close upon fifty' literary societies, in addition to his professional work as editor of the Manchester City News (for twenty-five years), and the Manchester Evening Chronicle.

This archive records the day-by-day response to the Great War of a cultured and intelligent English newspaper editor operating outside the Fleet Street hegemony. It charts his change of opinion from initial optimism (8 August 1914: 'The instinct is to strike - it is nature's own law.

4to, 2 pp. Good, on lightly-aged and worn paper. Thirty-seven lines of text. He finds himself 'very much in accord' with the views expressed by Walters in his address on 'The New Religion'. His 'chief difference' is 'a dislike to the use of the word "Religion." It has, to me, associations that are certain to rob it of all good.' As a 'working term', in Cohen's view, it lacks 'satisfactory power'. 'However, the great thing seems to me to keep churches & individuals on the move.

A specialist on Dickens and Tennyson, Cuming Walters was for many years a central figure in the literary life of the north-west of England. Shortly before his death (and as reported in The Times, 28 April 1932) he boasted of having written 'between 15,000 and 20,000 leading articles, nearly 20,000 reviews of books, 8,000 dramatic notices, and 15,000 special articles. He had published about 20 books and had written 250 lectures.' The present collection is divided into two parts. A.

It is a singular circumstance that no information whatsoever is available on the Heywood Brotherhood (whose President was the Reverend F. Gordon Mee) on the internet. The five items clear and complete on lightly-aged paper. All leaves of the three letters on the Brotherhood's letterhead (featuring the names and addresses of five of its officials). Letter One (2 pp, one 8vo and one 12mo, with small ink stain at head of first leaf): 18 November 1930. Ramsden asks to 'have the subject of the address you propose to give at our "Brotherhood Sunday" on Sunday, Nov. 30/30'.