NILE

Printed on one side of a piece of 12.5 x 20 cm green card. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with central vertical crease line unobtrusively strengthened with archival tape. To the left of the page is an illustration of a British soldier officer a Burmese temple. The text is written out in a range of lettering characteristic of the period, and reads: 'Exhibition of Original Burmese War & Nile Expedition Sketches by Melton Prior Special Artist of the Illustrated London News. Under the Patronage of His Royal Highness The Duke of Connaught.

The five items are in good condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. ONE: To Gladys. 2pp., 16mo. Bifolium. Giving personal news. TWO: 2pp., 8vo. He describes matters at Lake Tana: 'At present we are stuck here while the Engineers do their part of the work. I had rather thought as had Pearson that he & I would have to do some travelling round to see various people & give them their presents but the A[byssinian]'s are very suspicious towards us like anything, & they dont want us to separate at all.

Four pages, 12mo, good condition.He thanks him for his letter and some enclosures which he lists (Baker's [African explorer] letter, [Smithers'] reply, Lady B.'s letter), continuing, "Your letter to Baker enters fully into the subject, and makes the state of affairs quite clear, and we can now only await the return of Lady Burton and Dr Baker to England. I hope that you will go on with Catullus [trans. Richard Burton] and your proposals about bringing out two editions of that work appear to be good and commendable ...

Folio, 1 p. Twenty-three lines. Text clear and complete. Good, on lightly-aged paper. His mother Lady Napier, who went to town the previous day, has 'taken charge of the 2 Vols of the Athenaeum' his correspondent sent him. 'Lady Napier has promised to call herself at Leicester Square & deliver the books to you'. If he should be in when she calls, Napier asks him to 'explain to her my theory as to the "Sources of the Nile", briefly embodied in the accompanying paper'.

12mo, 4 pp. Bifolium, with mourning border. Thirty-eight lines. Text clear and complete. On aged and worn paper. The context of the letter is explained by a report in The Times of 2 May 1814, which states that, following Napoleon's abdication, 'The Royal Sovereign and Royal Charlotte yachts are to remain in the Downs, to be ready to sail for Calais for the reception of the Emperor ALEXANDER and the other illustrious personages who will shortly visit this country.