[John Forster; Dickens' friend & biographer] Autograph Letter Signed John Forster to [Alexander Ireland, (1810?1894) Scottish journalist, man of letters, and bibliophile] about donation of his book to the London Library etc.

Four pages,16mo, bifolium, good condition. Dear Mr Ireland, | I will gladly be the means of transmitting your handsome volume [see Note b.] to the London Library. | I thank you for enabling me thus, even before my return, to glance over its pages. Such are my engagements here - that for the present I can do little more; but it has shown me for how much more I shall be indebted to you than I at first supposed. -not for reference only, or past associations pleasantly recalled, but for satisfactory and suggestive reading - When I am able carefully to master, what you have, with such generous [admiration?] bountifully brought together. | I may mention to you that Mr [Procter?][B.W. Proctor, pseud. Barry Cornwall] wrote to me a couple of dasys ago of the pleasure with which he, also, was looking through the volume. | I write now in haste lest you should call here and miss me. I leave necessarily so early in the morning, and so seldom return till close upon the dinner hour, that I much fear I should not see you if you were to put into effect your purpose of calling - and Wednesday will here be my last day. I will hope that at my next visit I may have a better chance - [...] | The Plain Dealer [underlined] was a newspaper which lasted only a very brief [?] indeed. Started by a man named Shaw - also originater [sic] if I mistake not, of a commercial and [shipping?] paper. [...]. Note: a. Forster and his friend, Dickens, were founder members of the London Library; b. Ireland prepared a bibliography of Leigh Hunt's writings, with a similar list of William Hazlitt's, and printed in a limited edition in 1868. [Wikipedia]