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The recipient of the letter is Mary Amelia Johnson (née Poyser), widow of Major William Thomas Johnson (1827-1893) of the Native Irregular Cavalry. The following year would see the publication of her memoir of her husband: 'Twelve Years of a Soldier's Life | From the Letters of Major W. T. Johnson of the Native Irregular Cavalry | Edited by his Widow' (London, 1897). In addition to Major Johnson, the letter also concerns the third of his four sons, Thomas Gordon Blois Johnson (1867-1918), at the time 'a lieutenant in the 22nd Punjab Infantry'.

The recipient of the letter is Mary Amelia Johnson (née Poyser), widow of Major William Thomas Johnson (1827-1893) of the Native Irregular Cavalry. The following year would see the publication of her memoir of her husband: 'Twelve Years of a Soldier's Life | From the Letters of Major W. T. Johnson of the Native Irregular Cavalry | Edited by his Widow' (London, 1897). In addition to Major Johnson, the letter also concerns the third of his four sons, Thomas Gordon Blois Johnson (1867-1918), at the time 'a lieutenant in the 22nd Punjab Infantry'.

3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice. He announces that he has been nominated for the Presidency of the Medico-Chirurgical Society by the Council, and supposes that he will be elected 'according to custom'.

4pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with the conclusion and signature ('Juliana Horatia Ewing. | (Not an elegant signature!)') of the letter cross-written at the head of the first page. Drawing of a 'round chess board', with explanation, on second page. An excellent intimate letter, to a family member or friend whose name is not clearly written (Marion? Marnie?). She begins by acknowledging her 'very delightful' letter, and expressing pleasure at 'the prospect of our "play" in town'.

4pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with traces of tape from mount adhering to one edge, and overlapping onto loop of last letter of Lockhart's signature. Folded once. Expansive stylized signature. He is obliged to her for sending him 'the Memoir of the late Major Johnson'. He intended to postpone his reply to her letter until after he finished reading the book, but he is too busy to 'read it through for a few days – and meanwhile you might wonder that you received no acknowledgment'. A 'cursory glance' indicates that the book will please and interest him.

2pp, 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged, with strip of paper from mount adhering at foot of reverse. The recipient's name is not decipherable, but he appears to have been a royal equerry. Blakeney hopes that he 'got safe home last night', and thanks him 'for giving me the pleasure of your Company'. He is enclosing a letter from Sir John Wilson (1780-1856) 'who is forwarding an application from Mr Ferrier the Quarter Master of this Establishment in favour of an application to obtain admission into the Cambridge [?]'.

Drummond was a leading proponent of theistic evolution. In 1894 he published his 'Ascent of Man', which argued, after John Fiske, that altruism played an important part in the survival of the fittest. His sermon 'The Greatest Thing in the World' was hugely popular, and is still read, particularly in America. His 2pp, 12mp. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once. Signed 'Henry Drummond.' The recipient is not named, but is probably Rev. William Andrew Wilson (1869-1918), Minister of New Row Presbyterian Church, Coleraine, father of the poet R. N. D.

1p, 16mo. In fair condition, aged and grubby, with remains of glue from mount on reverse. Reads: 'Dear Mr Owen, | I have sent your note to Mr Combe & hope he may be able to send you the work - | Yours truly | Ja Clark'. The note has a light stamp at top left of page, stating that it is 'Ex. Litt. Ricardi Owen', and a gift to Sherborne from 'R. S. Owen'.

1p, 4to. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to the reverse of the blank second leaf, the recto of which has laid down upon it the letter's envelope, with penny red stamp and postmarks, addressed to 'Robert T. H. Bartley Esq | Surgeon | West Hackney | London', with manuscript annotation by post official official stating that Bartley is 'not known' in the area. Folded several times. The letter reads: 'I have much pleasure in certifying that Mr Robert T. H.

Proctor was a much loved individual in literary circles, from the days of the London Magazine to the mid-Victorian period, in which he was the dedicatee of both Thackeray's 'Vanity Fair' and Wilkie Collins's 'Woman in White'. His reputation as a poet was international: he was thought highly of by Pushkin. 1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to blank reverse. The letter reads: 'Dear [Harris?] | Pray tell me where [?] I can have some conversation with you about some patients of the name of [Lealer? Lester?], whom you know.

1p, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice. Written a few months before Bleuler's death to an unnamed recipient ('Liebster Freund!'), regarding the possibility of consciousness within the plant kingdom. As a nonbotanist ('als Nichtbotaniker') Bleuler has no knowledge of 'die Falle, wo Pflanzen Gedichtnis oder sonst eine psyche-artige Funktion zeigen', with the exception of 'der Mimosen', and it strikes him ' dass ich eigentlich die Pflicht hatte, das Material so weit als moglich zu kennen, bevor ich etwas drucken lasse'.

1p, 4to. On bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Addressed on reverse of second leaf, with two postmarks and seal in black wax, to 'C. J. Johnstone Esqre | M. B – | 53 Tavistock Square | London'. Twenty-two lines of neatly-written text. He is pleased that Johnstone has declared himself 'a candidate for the vacant office of Lecturer in Chemistry at St. Bartholomew's hospital', and assures him that he has his 'warmest wishes' for his success.

2pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice. Dunn is not named as the recipient, but his 'Essay on Physiological Psychology' was published in 1858. He is 'glad to find' that Dunn has 'brought out your views on Physiological Psychology, the only sound Psychology', and he thanks him for 'the Copy you have kindly sent me'. He continues: 'I wish we had more such Psychology in our Ethnological Society.' and concludes: 'I hope you will not desert us'.

1p, 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged. Reads: 'Dear Sir Henry | The King desires to see You at Carlton House to morrow Morning at eleven oclock - punctually. | Yours affect | W Knighton'. Knighton was instrumental in clearing the king's enormous debts in three years from 1822. Such was his influence that letters from the King to Knighton were addressed to 'M[y] D[ear] F[riend]'. From the distinguished autograph collection of the psychiatrist Richard Alfred Hunter (1923-1981), whose collection of 7000 works relating to psychiatry is now in Cambridge University Library.

1p, 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with strip of paper from mount on reverse, which also has another strip of paper strengthening a crease. The document is written out by Halford, with Tierney signing beneath his signature. A general announcement, with no recipient named. Reads: 'The King is not able to receive company at the Drawing Room to day – His Majesty having experienced an attack of the Gout in the night. | Carlton Palace | April 23. 1823 - | Henry Halford | Matthew John Tierney'.

2pp, 12mo. On first leaf of bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with several folds. Twenty-two lines written in a close, crabbed hand. Begins: 'My dear Sir | I looked for you at the last meeting of the Antiquarian Society [i.e. the Cambridge Antiquarian Society] – in vain.' He is forwarding a letter he has received from 'Mr S. Jackson of Keswick, Cumberland – concerning some coins & medals for sale', He does not 'wish to be a purchaser', but Akerman may wish to give notice to 'some one who would wish to possess some of the collection'.

A poignant letter, in which Campbell declares, on his retirement, that he has begun to find the military life of 'constant movement' and 'marching' 'very wearisome', and that he looks forward to finding himself his 'own master for the little time that may yet remain to me to wander in the world'. He also looks forward to seeing his old friends, declaring: 'how few remain to me!' 4pp, 12mo, crosswritten on both sides of a 12mo leaf. In fair condition, lightly aged, with closed tears at edges of both folds. The earlier part of the letter is dated 'Simla April 15th.

Elizabeth Bury, illustrator and theatre designer, wife of and collaborator with John Bury (1925-2000), British theatre designer noted for his innovative work with Peter Hall, the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre (see his obituary in the Guardian, 15 November 2000). Two ring-bound 8vo Christmas keepsake private printings, both filled with full-page illustrations by Bury. Both inscribed by her to the playwright Christopher Fry. Both in good condition, with light signs of age. Uniform in layout, both with coloured covers of striking design.

1p, 8vo. On bifolium addressed on verso of second leaf to 'Mr. Erskine'. In good condition, lightly aged. Autograph jeu d'esprit, signed at foot 'J. Jekyll. | June 30th. 1800'. A short poem reading: 'Tell Mrs. Crewe | I envy You. | But sit on Lu- | nacy. || Yet Mrs. Crewe | will think I'm stu | pid in my lu | -cid Intervals.' Jekyll's entry in the Oxford DNB concludes, perhaps unkindly: 'If he is remembered by later generations, it is chiefly as a wit. It has to be said, however, that his wit, which consisted in large measure of excruciating puns, has not lasted well.'

1p, 12mo. Folded twice. In good condition. Presumably in response to a request for an autograph, the central third of the page carries Patmore's signature ('Coventry Patmore.') beneath a four-line quotation from Patmore's best-remembered poem, 'The Angel in the House': 'Spirit of Knowledge, grant me this: | A simple heart and subtle wit | To praise the thing whose praise it is | That all which can be praised is it!'

1p., 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. Addressed in type to 'My dear Shepard,' but with the last word corrected in autograph to 'Ernest'. He has now 'made sufficient progress with Monmouthshire' to be able to give Shephard 'a line': 'The first two verses bear upon the Wye valley and the Usk valley, of which Tintern is the best symbol.

On 10.5 x 3.5 cm piece of paper. In fair condition, lightly aged. Laid down on a piece of card, which has a vertical crease in having a minor effect on the slip itself. Wilkes's signature is above Forsters', beside the printed words 'Commissioners in Lunacy.'

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Two days before the writing of this letter the London Gazette had announced (10 November 1846) that Napier, then Deputy Adjutant-General in Ireland, had been promoted to Lieutenant General. The letter, in which he writes to his Commander in Chief in Ireland, is headed 'Private'.

1p., 8vo. In fair condtion, lightly aged and creased. The typed text of the letter appears to be duplicated, with the salutation 'My dear Mr. Vice Chairman' added at the head, and the identity of the recipient added at the foot: '(Leicestershire) | Lt. Col. H. Howard, D.L.' The letter explains that Roberts has been asked to 'speak at a public meeting organised by the National Service League at the Drill Hall, Wolverhampton, at 8 p.m. On Friday, 14th March', with the Mayor of Wolverhampton in the chair, 'in a non-committal capacity'.

On two slips of paper cut from letter and glued together to make a 4.5 x 17 cm strip. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. The letterhead and date have been cut from the top of the letter, and Raczynski's valedictory signature has been cut from the bottom (above typed text ('/Edward Raczynski/ | Polish Ambassador.'), with the two strips glued together.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. The year of writing is supplied in a contemporary hand. Beside his address at the head if the ketter Tayler writes: 'This will sound tarnation rural in the catalogue.' He begins the letter by explaining that he is 'dating from my little Cottage here', and that he has let his house in town, 'reducing my Rent to less than half and I can paint to more purpose and without interruption of idle Callers here'. The delay in replying has been occasioned by 'so much of bustle and packing'.

Both letters in good condition, lightly aged; and each 1p., 12mo. ONE: He thanks her for her letter asking him if he has any of his drawings for sale, and states that he has some book illustrations and a few drawings that he made 'for Punch when I was a member of the staff'. He continues 'I have one or two from my favourite book “The Wind in the Willows”. All the illustrations that I did for the “Pooh” books I gave to the Victoria and Albert Museum 2 years ago.' He ends: 'Perhaps you will kindly let me know how much you wish to spend on a drawing'.

The present item presents an opportunity to observe a leading Victorian historian at work, and the evolution of one of his major texts. For information on Kaye see his entry in the Oxford DNB, and his obituary in The Times, 27 July 1876. Educated at Eton and the Royal Military College, he served for some years as an officer in the Bengal Artillery. On the transfer of the government of India from the East India Company to the British Crown, he succeeded John Stuart Mill as Secretary in the Political and Secret Department of the India Office, receiving the Star of India for his services.

For an overview of the post of King's Messenger, see 'The Cambridge History of British Foreign Policy', ed. Ward and Gooch, vol.3 (1923), which states that during the two men's time in the post (i.e. in 1822) 'the number of the corps was raised to thirty-eight. Eighteen of these were placed under the immediate orders of the Foreign Office for foreign service only. They were required to be British subjects, not over thirty-five years of age, good linguists and good horsemen; and the choosing of them rested in turn with each of the three Secretaries of State'.

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, aged and worn. He writes to inform him that 'Mr Bertie Williams Wynn's political views are strictly Conservative & in accordance with those entertained by the great body of the Carlton Club'. Wnn is 'still anxious to become a Member of the Club', and Combermere gives his Shropshire address.