[The 'Apostle of Liberalism': Sir James Mackintosh, Scottish historian and Whig politician.] Three Autograph Letters Signed to Rev. Thomas Maurice of the British Museum, on topics including Anglican ordination and a visit to Christie's auction house.

Although he later repudiated his position, Mackintosh is notable for having defended the French Revolution from Edmund Burke's strictures. See the two men’s entries in the Oxford DNB. With regard to Maurice's oriental studies, it is worth noting that Mackintosh was Recorder of Bombay, 1804-1811. The three items are in good condition, lightly aged and worn and folded for postage. The last two show slight evidence of the breaking of the wafer, and the last has minor traces of brown paper mount. All three are bifoliums, and all are signed ‘James Mackintosh’. ONE (‘Serle Street Lincolns Inn August 13th.’): 3pp, 4to. Addressed to ‘Reverend Mr Maurice / Twickenham’. He begins by explaining the reasons why he will be unable to see Maurice at Twickenham before leaving town for the autumn, when he will ‘got to Wales on a visit to a Friend in Monmouthshire’. He continues, with reference to Beloe: ‘From what I have seen of Mr Beloe & heard of his Lady I cannot but regret that I have mist [sic] an opportunity of passing a day in their Company.’ The letter continues with reference to the bearer of the letter ‘Mr Watson’ (a ‘College Companion’ of Mackintosh’s, who ‘has since taken orders (if that be not too high a word for a presbyterian ordination in the church of Scotland’). Watson has returned from Jamaica, and Mackintosh enquires how he should proceed with regard to approaching the Bishop of London for Anglican ordination through Lord Balcarras, ‘Mr Nares [Robert Nares (1753-1829)] & Mr Beloe’ (i.e. Robert Nares (1753-1829) and William Beloe (1756-1817), editors of the British Critic). TWO (‘Charlotte Street / Monday Eight OClock P.M.’): 1p, 8vo. Addressed to ‘Revd. Mr Maurice / Low Layton / Essex’. With two faint postmarks and broken wafer. He has received Maurice’s ‘parcel’ and will avail himself of his ‘hints’. Presumably regarding a review he is writing of a work by Maurice, he states that he had ‘determined to divide the Critique into two Articles’: ‘You may be assured that nothing shall limit praises which my heart or head concur on bestowing but the recollection that if they appear excessive they may prove injurious by being thought partial & insincere’. THREE (‘Wednesday’). 3pp, 4to. Addressed to ‘Revd Thomas Maurice / Great Russell Street’ [i.e. at the British Museum]. With regard to a ‘Subject so interesting’ to Maurice he regrets ‘our postponing a visit to Christie’s [the London auction house of James Christie (1730-1803)] till we could both go which the Obstinacy of Mrs M’s illness has hitherto prevented’. As his wife ‘ventures abroad’ for the first time that day (she is going to Warwick at the weekend), he suggests visiting the auction house that Friday. He laments ‘the loss of a £50 bank note which I was unlucky enough to drop between Hammersley’s in Pall [Mall] where I received it & my own house’. He describes the ‘usual precautions’ he has taken. ‘You may easily conceive that this accident has not a little deranged me’. Postscript: ‘I return the proof sheet & plate with thans for the gratification of curiosity’.