NINTEENTH-CENTURY

Scottish historian (1762-1818), friend of Charles James Fox and Sir Walter Scott. 1 page, 8vo. Bifoliate, in very good condition, addressed on reverse of second leaf to 'Mr. John Mounsey | Furrier | Sunderland'. Difficult handwriting. 'Dear Sir. | <?> the beginning of March I sent to Lowth, by Mr Sir Joseph Banks, to be forwarded to you at Sunderland, Two matts or packages of Rabbit skins, containing 2127 Skins.

Fifty-two long lines of text, on one side of a single piece of parchment, roughly inches by. '[...] Between John Guscotte of No. 19 Essex Street Strand [...] and Alexander Brown of No. 342 Strand in the County of Middlesex aforesaid Book Seller'. A ten-year lease for a consideration of sixty pounds and yearly rent of one hundred and four pounds. Includes conditions relating to the upkeep of the premises, whitewashing of the walls, display of advertisements, etc.

Inchbald ran a 'gentleman's boarding academy'. The recipient Ward (1781-1871) was a master cutler and diarist, and one of the founders in 1822 of the Sheffield Literary and Philosophical Society. Three pages, 4to. Dusty but in very good condition, with small piece of second leaf of bifoliate cut away in opening the red wax seal. '[...] I write to you [...] to impose upon you some possibly irksome task. - Things are here in a Train towards the establishing [of] a public library & reading room.

English novelist (1799-1860). On fragment of paper approximately 4 1/2 inches by 1 1/2 inches. In poor condition: creased and discoloured from previous mounting. Reads 'Your most faithful Servant, | G. P. R James'. Docketed on reverse 'March | - | Ap 28 | a 2 May'.

Dean of St Paul's Cathedral (1815-90). 4 pages, 16mo. Heavy discoloration, and rust damage from paper-clip. He is glad that he can address his correspondent as Archdeacon, praising him for having shown 'so much judgement & ability in important positions in convocation'. Goes to great lengths declining an invitation, explaining that for health reasons he intends 'to be as far as I dare get in the South, perhaps to Sicily'. Signed 'R W Church'.