Two Autograph Letters Signed (both 'H. Montagu Butler') from Henry Montagu Butler, successively Headmaster of Harrow School and Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, declining an interview with [Sydney Walton of] the Morning Post.

Each 3pp., 12mo, on bifoliums with the first page headed 'Private'. Both in fair condition, on lightly-aged paper with minor staining from paper clip. Letter One: He hopes he will not 'appear wanting in courtesy to yourself or to the Editor of the Morning Post if I say frankly that I had much rather not have any conversation about my coming birthday, which certain old Harrow pupils and friends propose so kindly to celebrate.' He 'must beg' Walton to 'make allowance for my feeling of reserve on so delicate a matter'. Letter Two: He repeats his refusal, adding: 'I have more than once declined proposals from distinguished Publishers to publish incidents of my life, and I must adopt the same course with regard to oral communications however kindly suggested. I greatly prefer to remain unrecorded.' Walton is not named, the letters being both addressed to 'My dear Sir', but the two items are from his papers. Within a few years Walton would be, as his entry in 'Who Was Who' states, 'at Ministry of Munitions, then at Ministry of Food; on Lord Rhondda's personal staff, and later principal Private Secretary to Food Controller; Director of Publicity for Victory Loan in 1919'. For Walton's later and somewhat less meritorious activities, see Keith Middlemas's 'Politics in Industrial Society' (1979).