[W. H. Prescott [William Hickling Prescott], celebrated American historian of the conquest of Mexico and Peru.] Two Autograph Letters Signed, written while in England to ‘Lady Theresa [Lewis]’ regarding a stay at Grove Mill House, Watford.

Written during Prescott’s 1850 visit to England, where he was greatly feted and lionized. Both items in good condition, lightly aged and worn. Both folded for postage. Both to ‘Dear Lady Theresa’ and signed ‘Wm. H. Prescott’. See the Oxford DNB entry for the recipient Lady (Maria) Theresa Lewis (1803-1865), whose family home was the Grove, Watford, but who lived in Kent House in Knightsbridge with her second husband Sir George Cornewall Lewis, Bart, her first husband having been the novelist Thomas Henry Lister (1800-1842). ONE ‘Trentham / Sep. 2d.’ 1p, 12mo. Begins by explaining that he will be ‘in London on my way to Ampthill on Thursday the 5th’. He asks her to allow him to avail himself of her kind invitation ‘to pass the night at Grove Mill House - & come down on the afternoon of Thursday?’ He asks her to ‘drop a line’ to him at ‘Mivart’s - Upper Brook St - it will find me’. TWO: ‘London, / Sept 4th’. 2pp, 12mo. He has just returned to London, and will be ‘most happy to come down to you to morrow - Thursday - by the train which reaches Watford at 3.45. I avail myself of your permission to pass four & twenty hours with when [sic] I shall be reluctantly compelled by my engagements to leave you at half past two on Friday’. He ends by sending his regards to ‘Mr Lewis’.