THE

The recipient Joshua Sharpe (c.1716-86) was a solicitor of Lincoln's Inn, and counsel for various American colonies before the Board of Trade and Privy Council. His brother Horatio was Lieutenant Governor of Maryland. Two pages, folio. Grubby, frayed and worn, with some closed tears and minor fraying and loss to extremities, and minor loss to text. Appears to concern the investigation into a case brought against an English ship by the owners of the Spanish vessel Sancta Barbara ('Patron Joseph de la Torre').

Dimensions. Paper stained, discoloured and ruckled. Trimmed and mounted on a piece of brown paper. Reads 'Shall feel extreemly [sic] obliged if you will have the goodness to allow the Landscape on Copper sent to be placed on the Walls for the ensuing Exhibition at the Royal Academy has [sic] it will confer an obligation on | Sir/ | Your Most Obedient | Servant | G Kirkley | Landscape on Copper | George Kirkley | No. 3 Gilhams Fields | Worship Street'.

Burn (died 1950) was President of the Institute of Actuaries, and a leading figure in twentieth-century British insurance. Dimensions five inches by eight inches. Folded once. In good condition on good thick wove paper. Headed by company crest with motto, between 'HOLBORN | BARS' and 'CHRISTMAS | 1921'. Reads 'With heartiest Christmas & New Year Greetings to all members of the Prudential Staff. | from | Joseph Burn | General Manager | & Actuary'.

Art historian (1867-1948) and Keeper of Prints and Drawings at the British Museum, 1912-32. Four pages, 12mo. Good, but somewhat grubby with a few small stains. Interesting, and characteristically subtle solicitation. He has been examining the book of drawings his correspondent sent the previous week, but is unable to say who formed the collection: 'my colleagues in the library cannot tell anything from the elephant stamped on the binding'. 'The little drawings are mostly old but not of any great merit'.

English lawyer (1802-74) and Master of the Rolls, 1851-73. The recipient (1817-80) was a noted chemist. Two pages, 16mo. Very good, but sumwhat dusty and grubby. Reads 'My dear Sir Benjamin | I am much oblig'd to you for your kind. [sic] I am not aware of the circumstance, or rather the rule you mention or I should not have committed thte 'indiscretion' of asking you to sign my sons recommendation'. Signed 'John Romilly'.

Clerk to the Privy Council (1794–1865) and noted diarist. Items clearly disbound from volume, with minute foliated '84'. The Order in Council is three pages, folio, on two leaves of gilt-edged laid paper. Good, though slightly discoloured, dusty at head, and with several closed tears and stab marks along one edge. Small square cut away from corner of second leaf (not affecting text). Entirely legible in a clear neat hand.

The recipient, E. T. Turnerelli (1813-96), was an artist and leading member of the Conservative party. One page, 12mo. Grubby and creased. Mounted on a piece of grey paper, at the foot of which a newspaper cutting expaining the circumstances of the letter. Reads 'Dear Mr Turnerelli | I am most grateful for the cheque of £10. - from a "Traveller", - & forwarded by the Editor of the "Telegraph" for the Providence Row Night Refuge. Your efforts on behalf of the "Homeless" deserve every praise. - Hoping you are better. I am Yours Most Truly | Daniel Gilbert'.

English conservative politician (1810-61), friend and supporter of Florence Nightingale. Good, but with one small closed tear and with the verso of the second leaf of the bifoliate attached to paper mount. He is 'going to town' for three days from Wednesday, and then returns for a fortnight or three weeks. 'If you think of coming this way soon I sh[oul]d be very glad if you could make your visit during [last word over authorial smudge] my stay here. | The tower is up all but the cornice & is not a bit too high.

British civil servant (1884-1958), controller of public relations at the BBC from 1935 to 1940. Two pages, 4to. Very good, but with minor traces of tape adhering to two edges. Marked 'Private & Personal'. He thanks his correspondent for writing so fully and heartily sympathizes. 'Practically, I am not at all clear what the issue of the delay will be so far as I, and so far as Ryan, are concerned. The B.B.C. job [...] has been announced sooner than was intended & has not lightened my day's work.

English writer (died 1887), traveller in the Middle East, and philanthropist. Four pages, 16mo. Good, but with traces of grey-paper mount adhering to verso of second leaf of bifoliate, to which adheres a cutting relating to the circumstances of Lady Strangford's marriage. She has been in bed for ten days, and although 'still in a state of great weakness - and non-writingness', writes to apologise for Lord Strangford's mistake: 'as he was expecting to be accosted by a lady much of your size he answered accordingly with an enquiry for her husband.

One page, 4to. Good, but creased and with slight damage to reverse from caused by removal from mount. Despite signing 'Anon' the author has written her name and address at the head of the letter. 'Since sending you the two ancient Documents & two Autographs which you courteously acknowledged (816) I have found This Programme which was used by Queen Victoria on Feby 7th. 1891. It was given to me by a friend who was staying at The Old George Hotel, Salisbury & I enclose her letter which accompanied it.

English politician (1762-1847). One page, 4to. Stained, and with several closed tears and one small hole at foot; traces of previous mount adhering to blank reverse. Formal letter in the third person. 'Lord Harrowby presents his Compliments to the Lord Mayor Elect and the Sheriffs and is sorry that his absence from London will prevent his having the honour of attending the dinner at Guildhall on Monday the 9th of November.'

Australian magician and escapologist (1892-1978). One page, 8vo. Very good, but with some loss to edge by removal from mount. Letterhead reads 'THIRD WORLD TOUR | The Great Levante | FAMOUS AUSTRALIAN ILLUSIONIST | WITH HIS MAGICAL EXTRAVAGANZA "HOW'S TRICKS" | This Week: [Chelsea Palace, | London.] | Next Week: [Town Hall, | Pontypridd.]' He thanks him for his letter, returns his card, and encloses a photograph as requested.

Two pages, 4to. Very good, though on rather discoloured paper, and with strip of previous mount adhering to right-hand edge of verso. Johnston desires the settlement of the 'account of Incidental Expenses incurr'd during the period of [Johnston's deceased brother, A. Johnston's] command' in St Domingo.

British military officer (1794-1854). One page, 12mo. In good condition, but with traces of brown-paper mount adhering to the blank reverse. Formal letter in the third person. 'Lt Genl Lord Cathcart is continually receiving so many applications of a similar nature, that he is although with regret obliged to decline to comply with any of them.

English Chancellor of the Exchequer (1766-1851). One page, 4to. Formal letter in the third person. Very good, with remains of brown-paper stub adhering to the verso of the blank second leaf of the bifoliate. 'Mr. Vansittart presents his Compliments to Mr.

Last Vice-Chancellor of England (1779-1850). Two pages, 12mo. Good, but lightly spotted, and with the lower third ruckled by attachment of verso to piece of brown paper. He says he will have great pleasure in 'being a Steward at the Anniversary Festival of the Saint Ann's Society Schools'. He would have answered the note before, 'but it came at a time when I was much occupied & I put it by with the accompanying Papers till the Vacation arrived'. Signed 'Lancelot Shadwell'.

One page, 4to. Very good, though on discoloured paper, and with traces of grey-paper mount adhering to blank reverse and minor damage at foot affecting one word. Reads 'I am favored with your Letter of the 1st. instant, enclosing One Guinea subscribed by Rudston Calverley Rudston Esqr.

Aristocrat and politician (1780-1863). Two pages, 4to. Grubby, stained and creased. Several folds. Remains of mount adhering to one edge, and with small piece of glued paper at foot of verso. Formal letter in the third person. 'The Marquis of Lansdowne presents his compliments to the City Remembrancer, & will be happy to present the petition of the Corporation of the City this day as requested. The House of Lords in consequence of the event of yesterday is to meet this day at two oclock, & may possibly adjourn soon afterwards.

Second baronet (1838-1928), English Liberal statesman and historian. Two pages, 8vo. Very good, with three small mounts adhering to verso of blank second leaf of bifoliate. Reads 'I am much obliged for your letter, and the kind invitation of the Palmerston Club to their annual dinner on Saturday 15th June at the Clarendon Hotel, but I regret very much that I am already engaged for that day'. Signed 'G O Trevelyan'.

British architect (1798-1877), brother of Sir Robert Smirke (1781-1867) and builder of the British Museum Reading Room. One page, 12mo. Folded twice. In good condition but with small hole in top right-hand corner. Reads 'The Print you have seen of the Brit: Museum must be [^a] surreptitious one; certainly not published by authority and probably very incorrect: I have not seen it.'

British artist (1840-1916). One page, 12mo. Folded twice. Very good, on somewhat discoloured paper with crease to one corner. Reads 'I return you the cards signed. I regret I cannot do a sketch as it has rained requests of a similar nature this Xmas & I am now obliged to refuse with many thanks for all your good wishes'. Signed 'James Linton'.

Judge (1792-1853) and author. One page, 12mo. In very good condition. Reads 'My dear Mrs Adolphus, | I lament to say that severe illness makes it impossible for me to leave the house, & consequently to dine with you & <?> today. I hoped better things yesterday. | Sincerely yours | Robert Comyn'.

Second baronet (1838-1928), English Liberal statesman and historian. Two pages, 12mo. In good condition on foxed grey paper, and with traces of previous mounting adhering to verso of blank second leaf of bifoliate. 'I am sorry to say that, as I have written to Mr James Watson, I cannot get to Newcastle or the Tyneside till the 1st. October, when I am to preside at the Welsh Disestablishment meeting.' Signed 'G O Trevelyan'.

Chairman of the Board of Indian Railways (fl. 1916). One page, 12mo. In very good condition, with one rough edge caused by removal from mount. 'It is my intention to be present at the dinner of Devonians in London on 3 May'. Signed 'F. R. Upcott'.

Son (1794-1842) of King William IV by Mrs Jordan. One page, 12mo. In good condition, though slightly grubby and with remains of brown-paper mount adhering above address on verso of second leaf of bifoliate. Reads 'Lord Munster presents his Compts: to Mess Evans & Co of Pall Mall & will feel obliged to them to give him some information respecting some Arabic or other oriental MSS - which they are to sell by auction -'. Munster was for some time President of the Asiatic Society. For Robert Harding Evans (1777-1857), the greatest of all book-auctioneers, see M.

Irish aristocrat (1787-1856). One page, 12mo. In good condition, but with slight staining at head and traces of grey-paper mount on reverse. 'Lord Carew has this day received Mr Collins letter - | Mr. Holmes shall have every facility of engraving from Lord & Lady Carews Portraits, on his calling here.'

Speaker of the House of Commons (1829-1912). Two pages, 12mo. On mourning paper. Folded once. In very good condition. Thanks his correspondent for the letter of condolence on the 'heavy calamity' of the loss of his daughter Eleanor. 'You knew dear Ella so well - that you can imagine how much her high spirits & her genuine and unselfish nature are missed here - and how irreparable is the loss to me and to her mother & sisters.' Signed 'Peel'. He is been touched by 'the sympathy of friends (which is abundantly given)'.

Politician and essayist (1780-1857). The recipient (1788-1864) was an antiquary and member of the Roxburghe Club. Four pages, 12mo. In very good condition, although rather grubby and with traces of stub adhering to one edge. He finds 'a letter of Pope to Beau Nash transmitting him an inscription [^ (not copied)] for, as I guess, a statue or bust of Fredk. Prince of Wales.

Scottish advocate and statesman (1742-1811). One page, quarto. Bifoliate on good laid paper watermarked 1798. Grubby and somewhat ruckled, and with small printed notice neatly pasted in bottom right-hand corner. 'My Dear Sir | I have your letter, and should be glad to see you before you see Lord Liverpool or any other Person. Will you dine with me tomorrow. | Yours sincerely | Henry Dundas'.