Autograph Letters

English sculptor (1799-1872; DNB). On piece of paper 4 inches by 3 1/2. Somewhat grubby, and with remains of glue on blank reverse. Difficult hand. 'Dear Sir Martin | I am just returned from & shall have much pleasure in dining with You tomorrow. | believe me | very sincerely Yours | Richd Westmacott | '. The foot of the note has been cropped but this does not affect the signature.

Antony Vandyke Copley Fielding. Watercolour artist (1787-1855). One page, 12mo. "My dear Miss Coates, / Pray be so good as to give my kind Compliments to your mama, & say that I shall have great pleasure in coming to Bedford Place on Tuesday eveg. & with my best remembrance to your Aunt Julia, & many thanks to you for your obliging note, / I remain / very sincerely yours / Copley Fielding". One very small hole at head and slight creasing, but in good overall condition.

English artist. 'Life has been one continual rush since we returned from the States. I have been hoping for a chance to get down to see you. When you are in Town & this way do call in & see us.' Describes a window memorial in a church, dedicated to 'your dear Father'. 'How lovely to think of the two dear souls their memories yet more precious as the years advance'.

Historical painter (1816-1879). 3 & 2pp., 8vo. (4 Sept.) He is doing his best to facilitate the sale of a painting through a friend ("Haynes"), "the de Witt picture", owned by a Col. Gordon. The market for "luxury" items is affected by the depression, but he hopes for an upturn. He admires both the de Witt and "the portrait of Mary". (28 Sept.) He will do his best with regard to both pictures but outlines problems. 2 items,

Artist. One page, 4to, tears on folds, but text clear and complete. He is annoyed at not meeting up and discusses his much-felt loss of a brother. "His death was as tranquil as his life." He sends good wishes to the Smiths.

English portrait-painter (1803-81; DNB). Piece of paper approximately three inches by five. Slightly discoloured but in good condition, and attached to piece of brown card. Reads 'Remember me very kindly to the Ladies, and after to your Sons, and believe me | Every yours most sincerely | John P. Knight'

Two pages, 4to, chipped, spike-hole, small loss, mainly readable.

Robert Williams Buchanan, Author (see Dictionary of National Biography). One page, 8vo, good condition, thanking his correspondent for a letter and a book (to come) which he will check, adding "Macmillan's edition was full of atrocious 'misprints', but I presume Mr Bell and Mr Nichol had read the proofs this time carefully?" In the Postscript he asks for "local help" for an edition of his collected poems just issued by King & Co.

M.P. for Thirsk, d. 1831. Document A, two page, 4to, chipped, one hole, with marginal textual loss, headed "York Courant / Tuesday Aug. 23d 1785 / City of York", measures taken against "Highwaymen, Housebreakers, Pickpockets, Horse--stealers, Common Thieve, Cheats, Sharpers, and other offenders with their confederates, resort topublic places & Fairs to meet their accomplices, & perpetrate their villainies . . ." described (presumably in the newspaper in the heading) by "Geo. Townend / Common Clerk".

Miscellaneous Writer (see Dictionary of National Biography). Two pages, 12mo, faint foxing, other minor defects, but mainly good condition and text clear. "Allow me to congratulate you & the Conservatives of Manchester on your great triumph - a double victory, since it not only brings you into the House, but keeps Jacob Bright out!"

English writer (1866-1945). The letter is 2 pages, 8vo, and the notes are 9 pages octavo. Neatly written on one side each of eleven matching leaves, all ruled with blue lines. In good condition overall, but with the paper somewhat discoloured, creased and ruckled, and with some rust stains from a paper clip and closed tears. He is sending as promised 'the evidence of the bishop's mitre having come down to us from very ancient times'.

English ecclesiastic (1729-77; DNB). 2 pages, 8vo. On paper stained and discoloured, with several small closed tears. Amusingly bad-tempered missive.

English aristocrat and military commander (1819-1904; DNB), grandson of George III and cousin of Queen Victoria. 2 pages, 16mo. In good condition despite minor discoloration and one ink stain. He asks her to forgive him for being unable to come to her house the previous day 'as I had most fully intended to do'. Signed 'George'.

English cleric (1803-84). 1 page, 16mo. In good condition. Formal letter written in the third person. Reads 'Chester, October 28, 1875. | The Bishop of Chester presents his Compliments to the Editor of Debrett's Peerage, &c, and has the satisfaction of stating that he has found no occasion to offer any remark on the inclosed Paper.'

Turner (1815-85; DNB) was the son of the noted botanist and autograph collector. 4 pages, 16mo. Creased, stained and grubby. Odd cross between an offer of work and a begging letter. Marked 'Private'. From their 'former relations' Hamilton feels sure Turner will assist him as he did before, when he was 'engaged in bringing out the West-End'. He hopes 'it will not be long before I can again avail myself of your facile pen for a few more of your graphic sketches of what comes under your observation.

Admiral (see DNB). 4 pages, 8vo, small piece of tape masks the month and another word, ow good and clear. His correspondent's letter to him has depressed him because it underates the "immense appriacation we as Seamen have for the patriotic line you have lately taken up." He is "delighted" with Maurice's book [prob. "Military History of the Campaign of 1882 in Egypt" published this year, 1888]. "I quite agree with you in all you say & consider your views the real statesmanlike Views of that immensely important point.

Anglo-German soprano vocalist, mother of Richard Mansfield. 2 pages, 16mo. Grubby and creased, but in good condition overall. Written in purple ink in a small tight hand. She wonders whether the Maitlands have 'set me down by this time as the most illmannered and ungratefull of all beings', or if they know what she has been doing since they sent her 'the information about Liverpool'. After the evening they spent together she 'had the children home, your kind information came and I discussed the matter with Harry'.

2 pages, 16mo. Somewhat grubby and creased, and obtrusively docketed in ink, with the phrase 'Sent off | 10th 28' written across the text on the recto. Reads 'Dear Sir, | You hoped to return my book (album) last week but no doubt the holidays interfered. I am just sending a line to say I am leaving Town for the Country for the summer early on Monday next so hope it may be returned this week | Yours sincy | E Lechmere'.

Wordsworth (1807-85) was made Archdeacon of Westminster in 1865 and Bishop of Lincoln four years later. 1 page, approximately 3 inches square. In good condition. Neat tight handwriting. 'With Archdeacon Wordsworth's compts. requesting a receipt for 5 - 13 - 0. | enclosed'.

English author (1856-1936). 2 pages, 8vo. In good condition. As Shorter has sent his letter to Baumann's home instead of to 'the office of the paper' it will be too late to insert it that week, 'as the paper was practically made up when I left this afternoon'. There are three letters dealing with Shorter's first letter in that week's issue. As Shorter may want to reply to them he is returning the letter, 'which otherwise will be published next week'. 'A letter should reach the office (10 King St. Covent Garden) not later than noon on Wednesday.' Signed 'Arthur A. Baumann'.

1 page, 8vo. Grubby but in good condition. 'In case you have not already seen it, I beg to enclose you a leaflet relating to my new book. | I shall be grateful for any help that you can give it.' Signed 'G. E. Manwaring'. The book was 'My Friend the Admiral. The life, letters, and journals of Rear-Admiral James Burney' (Routledge, 1931).

Peel (1829-1912) was a Liberal politician and Speaker of the House of Commons. Primrose (1846-1923) was a Privy Councillor, Secretary to Gladstone and Speaker of the House of Commons. Both items are 3 pages, on 16mo bifoliates. Both are creased and discoloured. Between 1873 and 1874 Peel was Patronage Secretary to the Treasury. The exchange apparently concerns an election or by-election in Exeter.

English divine (1794-1868). 3 pages, 16mo. Heavily damp-damaged. Text entirely legible. 3 pages, 16mo. With attractive pencil drawing of country house, and crude plan, in pencil on blank reverse of second leaf of bifoliate (conceivably drawn by the recipient, Croker). Among his many reasons for regretting 'the haste with which I was compelled to pass thro' London' on his way to Oxford was his 'disappointment at Kensington on Saturday'.

Preacher, politician and author (1786-1864). 3 pages, 16mo. Grubby and discoloured, with some damp damage to second leaf of bifoliate, but no loss of text. He says he is 'ashamed of having kept yr MSS so long - | I think the Analysis of Michaelis very useful - & shd think it likely to be very acceptable as a pamphlet, were it not the disgraceful fact that there is no sale for the work itself, wh is a mere drug in the trade. It is a most interesting book - to me, at least -'. Discusses Teulon's spelling of 'Scripture names'.

Catholic theologian, author of 'Natural Theology' (1891). All three letters are on 16mo bifoliates. The first two are 3 pages, and the last is 2 pages. All in good condition, but all with some discolouration and closed tears, and with pin marks in one corner. All three letters concern James Martineau's 'Study of Religion' (1888). In the first letter he praises 'Dr. Martineau's great work', from which he has taken notes. 'I admire the loftiness of his mind and the elegance of his style.' He apologises for the fact that there is no reference to him in his book.

Successively Bishop of Lichfield and Archbishop of York (1826-1910). 1 page, 16mo. In good condition despite minor discolouration. 'Please send me a post card if you can the name of a book which your son had with him - with short accounts of some of the great <?> of the world's history'. Signed 'W D Maclagan'.

Roman Catholic cardinal-archbishop of Westminster (1802-65). Paper dimensions approximately 2 3/4 inches by 4 inches. Grubby and creased. Reads 'Yours sincerely &c | N. Wiseman'.

Dean of St Paul's Cathedral (1815-90). 4 pages, 16mo. Heavy discoloration, and rust damage from paper-clip. He is glad that he can address his correspondent as Archdeacon, praising him for having shown 'so much judgement & ability in important positions in convocation'. Goes to great lengths declining an invitation, explaining that for health reasons he intends 'to be as far as I dare get in the South, perhaps to Sicily'. Signed 'R W Church'.

Dean of St Paul's Cathedral (1815-90). 3 pages, 16mo. In poor condition: discoloured and with rust damage from paper clip. Begins 'My dear Mr. Prolocutor | I think the best arrangement will be for the members to meet at the Chapter House to robe, not later than 10.30'. Describes the arrangements for a procession 'to the West end of the Cathedral' and a service involving 'Holy Communion with Sermon'. Signed 'R W Church'. Apologises in a postscript for not answering sooner: 'I only got the necessary information this morning.'

Last of the cursitor Barons of the Exchequer (1788-1856). 2 pages, 16mo. In good condition though grubby. 'As I am afraid my former letter may not have reached you, I venture again most earnestly to request your support being convinced that the fate of the contest may probably be determined by a small number of votes, & that consequently the personal attendance of every friend to the cause of which I am an humble advocate becomes of the most serious importance under these circumstances you will I trust excuse the earnest manner in which I urge my present applications.'