HOOD

Each letter 1p., 4to. Both in good condition, lightly-aged. The first letter begins: 'The Livings Committee of this College has been considering how best to fill the vacancy at Kegworth caused by the death of Canon Devereux [Edward Robert Price Devereux (d.1941), Canon of Winchester Cathedral]. I have been asked to approach you as to whether you would be ready to consider going to Kegworth if we offered you the living.' Raven refers to 'happy memories' of Hood's visit to Cambridge, and asks whether he is able 'to consider leaving Keighley'.

On piece of 9 x 14.5 cm card. In fair condition: aged, lightly-stained and with traces of mount adhering to reverse. Reads: 'To | Lord Jeffrey | With Kind regards from | Thos: Hood'.

2pp., 4to. In good condition, on lightly aged and creased paper. He writes that he is sorry that he could not sing the song 'Nancy's Hair' at Preston. He had not brought it: '(I only got your letter on arrival at the concert hall.) Funnily enough I picked it up before leaving home to put in my case as a possible encore & then put it back.' He is 'delighted to know that your mother liked my singing of it, I most certainly enjoy singing it & I hope to be able to help it along'.

3pp., 4to. 59 lines of text. Bifolium. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed on reverse of second leaf, with two postmarks and a manuscript note by forwarding agents the Frères Smitmer of Vienna, to 'Robert Thorp Esqr | Alnwick | Northumberland | England'. Addressing his letter to 'My Dear Brother', Thorp begins by congratulating him on his wedding: 'Sailors are bad hands at Complements [sic] but I cannot avoid expressing the satisfaction I had in hearing who my new Sister was'.

2pp., 16mo. 22 lines of text, closely and neatly written. In fair condition, on aged paper, with small pinholes and a spot of glued paper from previous mounting. The letter begins: 'My dear Draper, | I sail early tomorrow morning. | Enclosed is a ten pound note, and the summons referred to. - I cannot help thinking that a compromise might be effected it it were shown to the summoner by a "lawyer" that I have left England, have no house or furniture of my own, and that the most valuable of my books are gone with me. You will deeply oblige me if you will see whether this can be done'.

Both items are in very good condition, neatly and attractively placed in windowpane mounts of laid paper. The portrait, of which there is no copy of the engraved portrait in the National Portrait Gallery collection, is black and white on 19 x 14 cm paper. Baxter's drawing depicts the head and shoulders of a shrewd-eyed bare-headed Hood, who is dressed in a wing-collared shirt, dog-collar and black coat and waistcoat. Facsimile signatures at foot of 'W. G. Baxter' and 'E. Paxton Hood'.

From the papers of Rev. J. C. Fulton Hood who, having been Chief Chaplain British Forces in Norway in 1940, worked in Iceland between 1940 and 1941. A pencil note on the telegram (see below) refers to 'The Midnight Sun', the troops’ newspaper in Norway and Iceland which Hood founded and edited. He was made a Knight of the Icelandic Order of the Falcon in 1949. The telegram is in good condition, on lightly-aged paper, and bears an oval blue 'LANDSSIMINN' stamp. It is headed 'PRESSE PRODROME REYKJAVIK' ('Prodrome, Reykjavik' being the British Icelandic Legation's telegraph address).

Both items good, on lightly-aged paper. Rosa Hood's sister Adelaide Fanny was the wife of Herbert F. Gye, and letter and reply are written informally. Hood's letter: 3pp., 12mo. She received Mrs Gye's letter that morning, 'and the Queen has read it' and is 'quite pleased with your reply'.

4 pp, 12mo. Bifolium. 73 lines. Text clear and complete. Fair, on aged paper. Hood returned to England from Ostend in 1840, moving into Devonshire Lodge after trying other lodgings. A fine letter, informative, energetic and moving. Jane begins by thanking Mrs Elliot for the 'kind present to my Tom [the couple's son Thomas Hood the younger (1835-1874)]': 'I only wish you could have seen the happy boy - how proud he was - and indeed is, of his new appearance - he sends his love & best thanks. I am sorry to say he does not yet write a readable letter'.

Letter: 8vo, 1 p. Twelve lines. Text clear and complete. Fair, on aged paper, with slight damage at foot of page, and strip from previous mount adhering to blank reverse. Addressed to 'Dear Sir'. As she does not hold her correspondent responsible for the 'accident' no compensation is necessary, and she cannot accept 'the valuable volume [...] under any such principle'.

Folio, 63 pp. In original blue cloth binding, all edges gilt, with decoration in gilt and black by 'IMS' (i.e. J. Moyr Smith), with the word 'PROOFS' in gilt at foot of front cover. Binding worn and stained; book with light damp damage around base of spine, spreading to right-hand bottom corner of plates. Nine proof plates by Doré on india paper, with tissue guards. Four of the plates are signed in pencil at the base by the engraver: 'F. Bacon Sct.', 'E. Brandard Sct.', 'A. Willmore Sct.', 'J.

4to: 1 p. Twenty-four lines of text. On a bifolium of laid paper, and docketed on the reverse of the second leaf. Good, in faded ink on lightly-aged paper. Begins 'La france republicainne [sic] me fait perdre des renttes [sic] viageres'. She complains of the attack on her 'legitimes droits a mes biens de Corses que le roy de france garrante par un Contract', and speaks of 'droits inalterables et inprescriptible'. She asks for a 'paquet' to be passed to 'Milord Hood'.

(Name with quantity of letters and years of writing if known in brackets.)J.T.J. Hewlett to Henry Colburn*, publisher (1; 1844), declining dinner and planning his daughter's visit to the Colburns.Henry Colburn* (13 including one to Walesley, acting as Hewlett's agent; 1840-1844), publisher (BBTI). It appears that Colburn conducted the correspondence while Hewlett looked set for success, but put it in the hands of his staff later on (see below).

Andrew Spottiswoode ( Boase), of the printers and publishers (BBTI as printers only), proprietor of Hood's Magazine from early 1844 (see Jane Hood #3138). Hewlett has obviously followed Hurst's suggestion (above) that he contact Spottiswoode about the editorship of the Pictorial Times and contributions. The latter here replies that there is no vacancy and comments that it is not desirable "to fill up the Pages of a Newspaper with Novels".

Frederick Oldfield Ward, temporary editor of Hood's Magazine (see "The Letters of Thomas Hood", passim). He discusses the prestige of a name (such as "Peter Priggins") and speculates that authors write better under the name "to which their fame is attached". Colburn is trying to insist that Hewlett cannot use this name, but Ward advises a "more independent and more honorable position with regard to Colburn." He mentions Hood's health on several occasions, later mentioning his death. He asks for stories not dependent on College life, explaining why.