OF

A collection of 858 documents, dating from between 1860 and 1893, bearing a total of 800 autographs of British Members of Parliament (765 Members of the House of Commons and 35 Peers). The collection is in good condition, with the usual signs of age and wear, each item having been punch-holed by the collector (whom evidence suggests was a fellow-member) for insertion in a binder.

Six photographs, laid down on recto and verso of 3 cards c.27 x 21cm, sl. faded, good condition. See images (two online, four on application). Images of : First card: The Secundra Bagh, Showing the Breach and gateway (recto), other image (palace or tomb) not yet found; Second card: Gate of the Chhotu Imambra, other image found online untitled; Third card: Both images onine (one at Wellcome) again untitled. See representative images. Full set on request. He predominantly produced albumen silver prints from wet collodion glass-plate negatives.

56 items, comprising an unbroken run of 53 issues from 1911 to 1963, together with the issues for 1967 and 1969, and a copy of the 'Report of the Buchan School Commission | July, 1951'. In two sturdy green cloth boxes ('Supplied for the Public Service'). All 56 items with stamps, shelfmarks and labels of the Board of Education Reference Library. The first eleven issues (ending in 1921) are more substantial than the rest, and are housed in the first box.

Presumably distributed in the streets (of London?) on the news of Nelson's victory. No other copy of the title has been traced, either on OCLC WorldCat or COPAC. Printed on one side of a 34 x 19.5 cm piece of paper, with cropped margins (text area 33 x 17.5 cm). The reverse of the leaf would appear to be blank, the leaf being laid down on a piece of grey paper removed from an album. Printed in double column, with a wavy vertical dividing rule down the middle, beneath the title 'Adm.

The present collection presents the shrewd impressions of 1840s North America (preceding Dickens' visit in 1842) of a highly educated and cultured British aristocrat, a poet who exchanged sonnets with Wordsworth (one letter contains a lukewarm critique of the 'Excursion' of 'dear Wordsworth', which Morpeth has found time to read on his trip, and another contains a six-line original poem by Morpeth, later published by his sisters as 'Indian Names'), and the letters record his impressions of the American literary and social scene and his favourable response to the continent's scenery.

One page, 12mo, neat hand, laid down on slightly larger paper, good condition. The ladies of the Children's Safety Committee gave me permission last Thursday to send to each member of the society ten invitation cards for the meeting of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, in the hope that they would kindly give them to such of their friends as take a real interest in the welfare of Children. May I suggest that you will either write your name on each card or enclose your own card, to secure the invitation from being passed over unheeded.

2pp, foolscap 8vo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with strip of paper from mount adhering to one edge. The document has three horizontal fold lines, one of which has led to wear at along the foot of Dashwood's signature. An interesting assemblage of individuals. Of the six signatories three played a significant part in the American Revolution: King George III and his Prime Minister Lord North, with Charles Townshend, who was responsible for the unpopular 'Townshend Acts', taxing the colonies and leading to the Boston Massacre.

2pp, folio. On a single sheet. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, folded twice into the customary packet. The first page is headed with the king's scrawled signature ('George R.'), he being practically blind with cataracts at the time of signing. The document is countersigned at the end by three Lords of the Treasury: 'Sp Perceval | Wm Eliot | W Sturges Bourne'. The tax stamp is in its customary position in the left-hand margin of the first page.

Four sets of travel instructions by George III, all in his autograph, none dated but seemingly relating to the same journey, taking in the Highfield House estate of General Sir William Augustus Pitt (c. 1728-1809), and also referring to Egham, Basingstoke, Winsdsor, Andover. A referring to the novelist Fanny Burney (1752-1840), narrows the date of at least one of the documents to between 1786 and 1790, the period during which Burney was a Keeper of the Robes. On four leaves, and totalling 5pp, ranging in size from 4to to long narrow 8vo (see descriptions below for dimensions).

The present document carries the signatures of three central figures on the British side during the American War of Independence: King George III, his Prime Minister Lord North, and Secretary at War Lord Barrington, along with the signatures of the Earl of Onslow, Jeremiah Dyson and John Lloyd, Deputy Auditor of the Imprest. 2pp, foolscap 8vo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Thin strip of paper from mount adhering to inner edge on first page.

A. BACKGROUNDAt his death in 1904 Piers Thursby, Esq., of Broadwell, Gloucestershire, was a respectable member of the local gentry, the brother of a baronet, a Justice of the Peace, active with his wife in church affairs, and taking a benevolent interest in the welfare of local children and the conditions of the inmates of the workhouse. In contrast, as these letters reveal, half a century previously he had enjoyed a good deal of 'fun' as a captain in the 9th Lancers, slaughtering 'Pandies', 'niggers', 'treacherous murderous brutes' and 'black Cawnpore murderers' during the Indian Mutiny.

See her entry in the Oxford DNB. Since 2017 she has been depicted on the Scottish ten pound note. On 2.5 x 8.5 cm slip of paper, cut from letter. In good condition, lightly aged. Laid down on 4 x 9.5 cm piece of paper. Reads 'Yours truly | Mary Somerville'.

1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once. Reads: 'Mr. Robert Anning Bell regrets that he is unable to accept the kind invitation of the President of the Corporation of the Royal Literary Fund to become a Steward at the Anniversary Dinner on July 6th.'

Both letters annotated in pencil in contemporary hand 'To Townsend Warner Historian'. (Warner was a history master and head of the ‘modern side’ at Harrow School, and co-editor of one of the most popular British history textbooks of the period. His only child was the novelist Sylvia Townsend Warner.) Both letters in good condition, each with pin hole from former attachment.

Written while Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in Benjamin Disraeli's second administration, from India, where his father the Earl of Mayo, the Viceroy, would be assassinated within days of the writing of the letter. From the papers of the recipient Charles Burslam Saunders (1821-1888), British Resident, Hyderabad. 3pp, 12mo. Bifolium on paper with mourning border. On aged and creased paper, worn at extremities. Endorsed: 'The Honble Robert Bourke | Recd. Jany 26/72', and in a later hand 'Afterwards | Ld. Connnemara'. The signature is certainly 'Bourk' rather than 'Bourke'.

2pp, 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged. A daughter from Lady Derby's first marriage was married to the Earl of Galloway, from whose seat Derby writes. Addressed to 'G. [sic] Norbury. Esq.' Having received the letter of the unnamed male recipient, he feels he 'must decline to give my name as patron of the now proposed society of water colour painters in Liverpool: not because I do not approve of the formation of such a society, but because your invitation to join it is the first intimation I have received of any such project being in contemplation'.

3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged. Folded twice, with short closed tears at edges of a couple of the folds. Endorsed on reverse of second leaf 'H H The Maharajah of Benares | Recd. April 5/75'. Although the whole letter may be in the Maharaja's autograph, the body of it is more likely to be in a secretarial hand. The signature is somewhat stylised, and looks more like 'Shree' or 'Ishree' than 'Ishwaree'. The recipient is the wife of Charles Burslam Saunders (1821-1888), Resident at Hyderabad, of which Sir Salar Jung (1829-1883) was Prime Minister.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. As a captain in Howe's army, he served in the American War of Independence at Lexington, Bunker Hill (where he was severely wounded) and in all but one engagement up to November 1778. 1p, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, with central spike hole to both leaves, on aged paper, with reverse of first leaf laid down on part of leaf cut from an album, captioned in a nineteenth-century hand. The reverse of the second leaf is addressed, with three postmarks, to 'Messrs. Barlow & Co | Wine Merchants | Black Friars'.

See Henslow's biography in his father John Stevens Henslow's entry in the Oxford DNB. (Botany ran in the family: in addition to father and son, George's sister married J. D. Hooker.) 1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, laid down with light glue staining on a leaf from an autograph album, carrying a biographical caption in a nineteenth-century hand. Henslow writes the recipient's name ('G S Clair') at bottom left. He thanks him for his book (presumably 'Darwinism and Design', London, 1873), and is sending his own in return, 'also a paper on Natural Theology to wh.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged, with traces of yellow paper mount adhering to the blank reverse. Reads: 'Mr & Mrs. Bohn present their compliments to the Mayor of Liverpool and Mrs. Hubback, and have much pleasure in accepting their polite invitation for the 15th. proxo.'

See his entry in J. F. Smith, 'The Admission Register of the Manchester School'. 6pp, 12mo. Written in a neat, close hand. In fair condition, lightly aged. Folded three times. A vivid example of the methodology of the nineteenth-century English clerical antiquary. The main subject is the controversialist Richard Montagu (1577-1641), Bishop of Norwich, about whom, in January of the following year (that of his death), Backhouse would publish a letter in 'The Academy' under the title 'The Abbreviations in Bishop Mountagu's [sic] Dedication'. The recipient is not identified.

1p, 12mo. In fair condition, aged and creased. Folded twice. Written in a shaky hand, as explained by the text: 'My dear Sir / | Agreeable to promise I send my Likeness, I wish it was something worthy of your acceptance - suffice it to say the original saw the death of Nelson and Abercrombie. Served under Wellington in the Spanish peninsular War, attended his funeral, and from 1797 to 1814 was by Sea and Land in 23 Actions[.] I am well in health but cannot see what I write - My sincere love to Mrs. Macwey - God bless you'.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The item is a nice association between Austin and his birthplace. An 8 x 13.5 cm post card, printed on both sides. In fair condition, aged, with central vertical fold. The form is a request for a ticket to the degree ceremony, but Austin has altered the text in autograph to read: 'I shall be glad [if you will kindly admit the bearer of this] ticket [to] the Degree Ceremony, at the Town Hall, Leeds, on Thursday, October 6th, 1904.' He signs 'Alfred Austin' at bottom right, underlined with two short lines.

6.5 x 11 cm calling card, with the words 'The Governor of Massachusetts' printed at centred of one side. Above this Bullock signs 'Alexander H Bullock', and below it '1867'. On the reverse Bullock writes: 'For | Master | Walter G. Webster'. In good condition, lightly aged, with the reverse carrying traces of grey paper mount at the four corners.

In addition to the usual sources see the paper by Iqbal Husain in 'Proceedings of the Indian History Congress': 'The 1857 Rebellion in Shahjahanpur: Role of the Local Gentry' (1988). The only one other copy of this item traced is in the National Army Museum, whose entry describes it as a 'Stapled Memoir' and makes no mention of the map. [3] + 52 + [2] pp, 4to. Internally in good condition, lightly aged; in good tight binding with 'bloom' to covers (particularly the back) towards the fore-edge. Duplicated Typescript, printed on rectos only.

75pp. (and leaves), 4to, attractive green buckram gt, corners bumped, wear to extremities of spine, mainly good to very good. Bookplate front endpaper, The Royal Dublin Fusiliers; another bookplate of sorts recto of free endpaper This Book was Royal United Service Institution. WITH Autograph Letter Signed CH Dale, two pages, 12mo, [ headed ] 12 Clarendon Villas, Hove, to Bird [Secretary of the Oriental] discussing the manuscript which he has sent his correspondent apparently, Woods' MS Notes and talking about the two [? handwriting difficult ] typed copies.

Three pages, 8vo, bifolium, fold marks (for post), good condition. The enlargement of your Church as to give accommodation to all the Parishioners is most desirable. In order to accomplish so beneficial a measure without raising an opposition which may defeat the object, the general consent of the Parishioners should be [previously?] obtained, and then, if the means are sufficient there will be no difficulty. The Society I think will certainly give you some assistance. | I sincerely congratulate you on the increased attendance at Church, and the success of the Sunday Schools.

One page, 12mo, black-bordered, bifolium, staining (from soaking away from album leaf) I shall be very glad to allow my name to be proposed as a member of the Abergavenny Habitation of the Primrose League.

Four pages, 8vo, bifolium, good condition. I rejoice that the N.L. Club is about to give you a complimentary Luncheon. The Committee asked me to propose, so to speak the Toast of the Guests. Most reluctantly I had to decline, mainly owing to the state of my health, but partly too because I am uncertain whether I can be in London in time for the function. | I trust, and feel sure, that there will be a great and appreciative gathering worthy of the guests and of the occasion. | It seems almost an age since I saw you and I have often chided myself for not calling upon you.

One page, 12mo, black-bordered, bifolium, staining (from soaking away from album leaf)/ I shall be very glad to allow my name to be proposed as a member of the Abergavenny Habitation of the Primrose League. [...]