ALISON

[Sir Henry Holland of Knutsford, physician to William IV and Victoria.] Autograph Letter Signed ('H Holland') to Dr George Gregory, pressing the claims of William Pulteney Alison to succeed Dr James Gregory as Professor of Medicine at Edinburgh.

Author: 
Sir Henry Holland (1788-1873) of Knutsford, physician to William IV and Victoria and travel writer [William Pulteney Alison (1790-1859), Professor of Medicine, University of Edinburgh; George Gregory]
Publication details: 
Mount Street [London]; 10 April 1821.
£350.00

See the entries in the Oxford DNB of Holland, and of the recipient of the letter, the physician and vaccinator George Gregory (1790-1853), and of the two individuals mentioned in it, James Gregory (1753-1821), Professor of the Institutes of Medicine at Edinburgh, and James Gregory's nephew William Pulteney Alison (1790-1859), who assisted him with his lectures and succeeded him in the professorship. 2pp, 4to. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with thin strip of paper adhering to the reverse of the second leaf, which is addressed, with small seal in red wax, 'To | Dr G.

[William Benjamin Carpenter, biologist.] Autograph Letter Signed ('William B. Carpenter') to the physician and geologist John Bostock

Author: 
William Benjamin Carpenter (1813-1885), biologist and administrator at the University of London [John Bostock jnr (1773-1846), physician and geologist]
Publication details: 
22 Park Street, Bristol. 7 February 1840.
£250.00

4pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with thin strip of paper from mount adhering at gutter edge of reverse of last leaf, and covering the last few letters of Carpenter's signature. After explaining that he is directing Bostock's attentiont to 'the accompanying Remarks', he announces that he has 'lately decided upon relinquishing the practice of my Profession, and upon devoting myself altogether to the pursuit of Physiology and its allied branches of Science.

[William Benjamin Carpenter, biologist.] Autograph Letter Signed ('William B. Carpenter') to Professor William Alison of Edinburgh University, addressing an accusation of plagiarism laid against him by fellow-student John Hughes Bennett.

Author: 
William Benjamin Carpenter (1813-1885), biologist and administrator at the University of London [William Pulteney Alison, Professor of Medicine, University of Edinburgh; John Hughes Bennett]
Publication details: 
22 Park Street, Bristol; 8 November 1837.
£400.00

According to his entry in the Oxford DNB, 'Carpenter studied initially at the Bristol medical school and then in London, and in 1835–7 and again in 1839 in Edinburgh, where he took the MD degree.' The present letter dates from the hiatus in Carpenter's Scottish studies, to Professor William Pulteney Alison (1790-1859) of Edinburgh University, addressing an allegation that he has plagiarised from fellow-student John Hughes Bennett. 4pp, 4to. Bifolium.

[ Hugh Foss, Bletchley Park codebreaker ] Draft Autograph Letter UNSIGNED with substantial corrections, all in Foss's hand, to a "Miss Kaye" thanking her fopr a "pleasant evening's dancing".

Author: 
Hugh Foss [ Hugh Rose Foss ] (1902-1971), British cryptanalyst, a Bletchley Park codebreaker [Japanese; Chelsea Reel Club (for Scottish country dancing); German Enigma Code; Japanese Naval Codes ]
Publication details: 
No place or date. Written on notepaper with printed heading "Hon. Secretary, London Fencing Club."
£90.00

Foss was a distinguished cryptanalyst, and his career is described in his entry in the Oxford DNB. At Bletchley Park during the Second World War he was the first person to decode a day's worth of the German Enigma Code (in 1940); and heading the Japanese Naval Section in Hut 7 (between 1942 and 1943). His wife Alison (née Graham, 1908-1979) inspired his interest in Scottish country dancing in the early 1930s. He was Vice-President of the Chelsea Reel Club on its formation in 1935; and became Chairman in 1938.

[ Hugh Foss, Bletchley Park codebreaker. ] Draft of Autograph Letter Signed ('Hugh Foss') as Vice Chairman, Chelsea Reel Club: a circular regarding 'the first meeting of the new season', including the meeting's 'Agenda' in six numbered parts.

Author: 
Hugh Foss [ Hugh Rose Foss ] (1902-1971), British cryptanalyst, a Bletchley Park codebreaker [Japanese; Chelsea Reel Club (for Scottish country dancing); German Enigma Code; Japanese Naval Codes ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 37 Robyns Way, Sevenoaks, Kent. Undated. [ Shortly before 'the Ball at Chelsea Town Hall on Friday, 29th October, 1937'. ]
£220.00

Foss was a distinguished cryptanalyst, and his career is described in his entry in the Oxford DNB. At Bletchley Park during the Second World War he was the first person to decode a day's worth of the German Enigma Code (in 1940); and heading the Japanese Naval Section in Hut 7 (between 1942 and 1943). His wife Alison (née Graham, 1908-1979) inspired his interest in Scottish country dancing in the early 1930s. He was Vice-President of the Chelsea Reel Club on its formation in 1935; and became Chairman in 1938. While at Bletchley he taught a regular class on the subject.

[ Mona Caird, Scottish novelist and suffragist. ] Two Auograph Letters, one Signed 'Mona Caird', discussing her inability to provide financial assistance to the causes she supports.

Author: 
Mona Caird [ Alice Mona Caird; née Alice Mona Alison; married name Alice Mona Henryson-Caird] (1854-1932), Scottish novelistt, proponent of women's suffrage, and theosophist
Publication details: 
Both on letterhead of 'Cassencary, Creetown, N.B. [i.e. Scotland ]' One dated 'May 6th.' and the other '19th. Dec.' Years not stated.
£300.00

Both items in good condition, lightly aged and worn. ONE: Autograph Letter Signed, dated '19th. Dec.' 4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. As 'the public is not apparently able to rise to the occasion', the recipient's appeal should be helped, but she is 'unable to help anything just now. I have been most seriously involved in the Australian

Two numbers of 'Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine', containing 'Adventures in the North of Ireland: the demon of the mist', G. W. Hemans; 'Evils of the state of Ireland', William P. Alison; 'A glance at the state and prospects of Ireland', Macleod Wylie

Author: 
[ Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine; William Pulteney Alison (1790-1859), Scottish physician; George Willoughby Hemans (1814-1885), architect; MacLeod Wylie, hymnologist ]
Publication details: 
ONE: No. 252, October 1836. William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh; and T. Cadell, London. TWO: No. 264, October 1837. 'Theodore Foster's Edition' and 'New American Edition'. New York: William Lewer, Publisher, Broadway, Corner of Pine-street.
£50.00

Both numbers are in the distinctive Blackwood's printed covers, with illustration of George Buchanan. Both are good tight copies, on lightly-aged paper, in worn and aged wraps. All articles are anonymous, and attributions are from the Wellesley Index. ONE: No. 252, October 1836. Unopened. Several advertisements bound in front and back. 144pp., 8vo, paginated [2] + 437-578. Hemans' piece, paginated 459-467, is the second in the volume, and Alison's, paginated 495-514, is fourth. The volume also contains work by George Croly, D. K. Sandford, John Wilson, John Eagles and Alfred Mallalieu.

[ Admiral Sir William Alison Dyke Acland, Royal Navy. ] Autograph Signature ('W A D Acland').

Author: 
Admiral Sir William Alison Dyke Acland (1847-1924), Royal Navy
Publication details: 
Without place or date [1895].
£18.00

On 3.5 x 9.5 cm slip cut from a letter. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with remains of stub at one edge. Reads 'Yours truly | W A D Acland'. On reverse, in a contemporary hand: 'Capt Acland R.N. | H.M.S. S. Australia | Guard Ship Cow<?> | Augst. 1895.' Beneath this, in pencil: 'Admiral Sir Wm. Dyke Acland'.

Autograph Letter in the third person from the Scottish clergyman and writer Archibald Alison to Lady Charlotte Campbell, playfully lending her a copy of Thomas Campbell's recently-published poem 'Gertrude of Wyoming'.

Author: 
Sir Archibald Alison (1792-1867), Scottish lawyer and historian [Lady Charlotte Campbell (1775-1861), novelist and diarist; Thomas Campbell (1777-1844), Scottish romantic poet]
Publication details: 
'Bruntsfield Links [Edinburgh, Scotland]. Sunday Eveng. [5 March 1809]'.
£90.00

1p., 4to. Bifolium, addressed by Alison on reverse of second leaf to 'The | Lady Charlotte Campbell | D<?>cks Hotel'. Good, on aged paper, with label at head in a contemporary hand attributing the letter to Alison, who was seventeen at the time of writing, but already at Edinburgh University. Docketed by Campbell 'from Mr. Alison | recevd Edinh. | March Seven 1809'. An interesting letter, casting light on the reading practices of the upper classes in Georgian Scotland. Alison's conceit is that he is writing a letter of introduction for a real person.

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