[ Henry Montagu Butler, Headmast of Harrow School and Master of Trinity College, Cambridge. ] Two Autograph Letters Signed (both 'H Montagu Butler'), regarding the presentation to 'our best Greek Scholar' of 'two beautiful volumes'.

The two items are addressed to the same individual, who is not named. Both in good condition, lightly aged, with minor traces of mount at head of second leaf. ONE: 2 June 1870. 3pp., 12mo. He begins by apologising for the tardy reply which has caused the recipient to write again, saying that he has 'scarcely been able to command a leisure moment'. He hopes that Harrow will be 'more fortunate than last year in securing your presence at our Speeches. [...] I need hardly assure you how gratefully I shall present to our best Greek Scholar the two beautiful volumes that have found their way to our booksellers. I cannot doubt that he will prize them highly, the more so if I [sic] am able to present them to him in person.' TWO: 16 June 1870. 2pp., 12mo. The letter begins: 'You cover me with shame, though in the kindest and most generous manner. The beautiful books arrived safely, and the labels have been given to Messrs. Crossley to insert in the volumes which first reached them.' He explains that he has been 'sadly "demoralized", as a soldier would say, during the last few days by an amount of work beyond my strength.' He asks him to 'make more than due indulgence for my long and strange delay'.