[Irish Land Question, 1854.] Autograph Letter Signed from Serjeant Shee [later Sir William Shee] [to James Johnstone or Robert Knox?], regarding the parliamentary response to his speech bringing in the ‘amended Tenants’ Compensation (Ireland) Bill’.

According to his entry in the Oxford DNB, Shee entered the House of Commons as Member for County Kilkenny in 1852, and promptly took charge of the Irish Tenant Right Bill. ‘On 16 February 1854 Shee brought in a bill which, with the exception of three clauses, was the exact counterpart of Sharman Crawford's bill of the previous session, but it met with little encouragement.’ Shee’s speech is reproduced in his ‘Papers, Letters, and Speeches in the House of Commons, on the Irish Land Question’ (London, 1863). The unnamed recipient (whom an associated item by Richard Cobden, offered separately, suggests may have been James Johnstone (1815-1878; Oxford DNB), proprietor of three newspapers, or his edtior at the Morning Herald Robert Knox), has provided Shee with printed copies of the speech, the text of which Shee had presumably furnished him with. The present letter was written on the day after the speech was delivered. 3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with traces of glue from mount near gutter, and some pin holes to the inner top corner of both leaves. Folded twice. Last few lines smudged, including signature. Begins: ‘Dear Sir / I beg to thank you heartily in the way you have got up my speech – I wrote to Lord Charles Manners (Belvoir Castle) [(1780-1855) MP for Leicestershire North] and enclosed a copy and I said it was through the name of Manners – (Sutton) I owed my present position, and as he had most particularly wished when in the House to have a copy I had though late sent him one, I gave one to Lord Granby and to Lord George Manners and sent one to Lord John Manners[.] Lord Joselyn [sic] [Robert, Viscount Jocelyn (1788-1870), of Dundalk House, County Louth] was so pleased with it and came the next day to take one to Lord Palmerston’. He reports that he has ‘had a good deal of fun over it’: ‘Mr. George Dundas [(1819-1880), MP for Linlithgowshire] said he had sent his to Lady Mary Dundas and asked for another for himself.’ Changing the subject, he states that he will ‘not forget to forward the Reform Bill as soon as it comes out as it may [be] usefull [sic] to your paper’. He asks him to ‘forward me some more copies as I have only one left – I have had them asking all round the House – 4..P..M..’ He is enclosing ‘Mr. Cobdens own handwriting to send to the Papers – My Daughter will be here at 5 to Mainfold for all the 6 Morning Papers -’. Ends: ‘I have copied the enclosed as I thought you would wish to have it / Pray send me some more copies / Sinly Yours / William Shee’.