NONCONFORMIST

2pp., 4to. In good condition on a lightly-aged leaf of wove paper. The recto gives a list of some of Gladstone's speeches and actions on religious matters between 1834 and 1846, beginning with 'IN 1834, MR. W. E. GLADSTONE, then recently returned to Parliament, first made himself known to the public by his speech against the admission of Dissenters into the Universities.' The page ends: 'In 1846, MR. W. E.

28pp., 8vo. Disbound pamphlet. In good condition, on aged paper, with manuscript shelfmark at foot of title-page. Uncommon. No copies at the British Library or at Doctor Williams's Library, and only four copies traced on COPAC.

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'.

2pp., 12mo. Fair, on aged paper. In pencil at head: 'Autograph of the Rev W. B. O. Peabody'. In ink in a contemporary hand, between the title and body of text: 'Autograph of Mr Peabody '. Twenty-four lines, arranged in three eight-line stanzas. The text presented here differs in certain respects from that printed in A. P. Putnam's 'Singers and Songs of the Liberal Faith' (1875). In the present version the first stanza reads: 'Black the heaven is overcast! | Breathless is the sultry blast.?>

One page, thirteen lines, 8vo, small closed tears, text clear and complete. "As I cannot continue my lectures on [? see scan], for some time to come I return a proportion of the balance of money collected in various towns. I have not taken one penny for my labours, but I propose to retain about one third of the balance [underlined] as there were innumerable etceteras about a work like mine. If any of the subscribers object to this, please let me know. - I enclose a cheque for £5." Best has listed 6 recipients of shares of this £5 on the verso of a conjoint leaf ,and with a small sum.

12mo, 2 pp. In bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Difficult hand. He has not considered the question carefully, but his impression is that 'the Monopoly of the printing of the Holy Scriptures in Scotland and Ireland might cease by the Kings Printers not only without injuring but with benefit to the public'.

Irregularly-shaped (like an 'L') piece of paper, cut from the head of a letter with a mourning border. Dimensions (very roughly) 4 and 3 cm high and 7 cm wide. Good, with minor traces of two tissue mounts adhering to reverse. The following written vertically across three lines of writing: 'to all your family, & I am, dear Sir, truly yours | [signed] H. Martineau'. The remains of the three lines acoss which the above is written read: '<...> dear Sir | <...> I am | <....> ur sister <...>'.

12mo, 3 pp. Very good, with a strip of cream paper from previous mounting adhering to the blank verso of the second leaf of the bifolium. He has 'received a Catalogue of the Friends Book Society's Annual Sale held by your and Mrs Barrow's kind invitation'. He and his wife 'should have enjoyed being present very much: if for no other reason, yet in remembrance of thirty years ago, when I used to enjoy the Sales exceedingly', but they will be 'in London on the day fixed'. Shorthouse was born into the Society of Friends, but joined the Church of England.

Four pages, 12mo. Very good, with strip of brown paper adhering at the head. Text clear and entire. A long letter, casting light on the effects on the English middle classes of the financial crisis of 1825. Clayton begins by thanking Procter for the 'card case'. He 'will gladly do any thing that may fall within [his] power, to assist the Associate Fund', but does not think that he can 'do much'. 'The times are such, that Cases of <?> distress so multiply in our different communities, as to swallow up a large proportion of our pecuniary means'.

Both items one page, octavo, and on aged and creased paper. Regarding Lucas's selection from Parker's works, 'Detached links; extracts from the Writings and Discourses of Joseph Parker' (Richard D. Dickinson, 1873). LETTER ONE: Thanks Lucas for his 'kind note', but does not 'see how the suggestion it conveys can be realized. I am afraid you would find it difficult to get a publisher.' Advises Lucas 'not to pursue the idea any further'. LETTER TWO: In a shaky hand explains that he is 'so poorly just now that I cannot give any phot[ographe]r. a sitting.