EDINBURGH

[Rev. Dr George Croly.] Autograph drafts of three passages from an anonymous article in Blackwood's Magazine entitled 'Russia', dealing with Napoleon Bonaparte's coronation as Emperor of the French. and his entry into and retreat from Moscow.

Author: 
Rev. Dr George Croly (1780-1860), Anglo-Irish clergyman and writer, editor of the Tory weekly The Constitution [Blackwood's Magazine, Edinburgh and London; Napoleon Bonaparte; Napoleonic Wars]
Publication details: 
Without date or place. [Published in Blackwood's Magazine (Edinburgh and London, April 1826).]
£220.00

3pp., 8vo. Bifolium. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. Unsigned, but certainly in Croly's hand. The first page is headed: '- for tho' the Old Law was established in the promises of temporal prosperity, yet the gospel is founded in temporal adversity'. The three extracts, fiercely critical of the French emperor, follow over a total of 61 lines, with a few minor emendations.

[Alexander Williamson, Laird of Balgray.] Autograph Signed 'Copy Discharge Alexr. Williamson to Edwd. Mitchell for Rent of a House in Alison's Sqe. possessed by him from Why 1800 to Why 1801'.

Author: 
Alexander Williamson, Laird of Balgray (fl. 1802) [Edward Mitchell of Alison's Square, Edinburgh]
Publication details: 
[Edinburgh.] 12 October 1801.
£60.00

1p., 12mo. Docketted on reverse. Good, on lightly aged paper. Reads: Copy | Newington Edh. 12th. Octr. 1801 | Recd. from Mr. Edwd Mitchell Twenty Pounds Stg. being the Rent of a House in Alison's Square in Edh. belonging to me and possessed by him for the Year from Why one Thousand Eight Hundred and one, and the same is hereby discharged. But it is to be remembered that I granted another discharge for the said Rent, dated July 1801, which being mislaid, the discharge is granted in place of it, which is not to infer double payment - A. W.'

[Charles Mercer.] Two Autograph Letters Signed to John Jackson, MP for Dover, the first, with account, regarding payments by the banker Sir William Forbes to Lord Keith and Miss Mercer Elphinstone, and the second regarding various payments.

Author: 
Charles Mercer [of Allan Park, Stirling?] [Sir John Jackson, 1st Baronet (1763-1820), Member of Parliament for Dover, 1806-1820; Sir William Forbes of Pitsligo, 7th Baronet (1773-1828)]
Publication details: 
First Letter: Edinburgh. 3 August 1814. Second Letter: Hope Park, Edinburgh. 17 January 1815.
£80.00

Both letters 1p., 4to, and both addressed, with two postmarks, on the reverse, to 'John Jackson Esqr. M.P. | New Broad Street | London'. Both are docketted by Jackson. ONE: Headed by accounts of payments by Sir William Forbes and Messrs Robert Stein & Co, totalling £4600 14s 3d, against the shares of Lord Keith and 'Miss Mercer Elphinstone'. In the letter Mercer explains that Stein's share is for 'his Rent to Lord Keith'.

[John Campbell, 4th Earl and 1st Marquess of Breadalbane.] Autograph Letter Signed to him from Archibald Campbell ('Archd. Campbell') of Edinburgh, reporting on matter relating to Breadalbane's Highland Fencible Corps, the Breadalbane Fencibles.

Author: 
John Campbell (1762-1834), 4th Earl and 1st Marquess of Breadalbane, Scottish landowner [Archibald Campbell; the Highland Fencible Corps; Breadalbane Fencibles]
Publication details: 
Edinburgh; 16 July 1798.
£140.00

3pp., 4to. Bifolium. Address, with two postmarks, on additional leaf. In very good condition, on lightly-aged paper. The letter contains references to Sir Ralph Abercromby, Sir Benjamin Dunbar, Lord McDonald, Lord Stonefield, the Duke of York, 'Mr. Geddes' and 'McGrigor'. It begins: 'Yesterday being Sunday I was prevented from doing any business, or leaving Town, before this day - I called on my friend Mr. Geddes to day, & communicated to him the reason of my absence from the Reg[imen]t.

[Royal Military College, Lanvers, Perthshire.] Printed circular letter from the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, regarding cadets 'incurring Debts with Tradesmen'. Addressed in manuscript to H. G. Watson, concerning his ward D. R. Williamson.

Author: 
[Royal Military College, Sandhurst; H. G. Watson of Edinburgh; Cadet D. R. Williamson]
Publication details: 
Royal Military College [Sandhurst]. 9 June 1845.
£120.00

1p., 4to. On bifolium. Addressed on reverse of second leaf to 'H. G. Watson Esqr. | 13 St. Andrew's Square | Edinburgh', with three postmarks, and docketted 'Lawers | Military College 9 June 1845. | Tradesmens Bills'. In good condition, on aged and worn paper, with a few closed tears. The signature is illegible, but does not appear to be that of the Governor, General Sir George Scovell.

['Public Baths for the Working Classes' in Nicolson Square, Edinburgh.] Three items relating to the project, two in manuscript (long circular letter, and accounts with 'Remarks') and printed prospectus.

Author: 
'Public Baths for the Working Classes' in Nicolson Square, Edinburgh; Charles Gardner, Secretary to the Committee; D. McLaren and William Johnston]
Publication details: 
Printed prospectus dated Edinburgh, 14 July 1847. Circular letter from Committee Rooms, Cranston's Temperance Coffee House, High St, Edinburgh; 1 August 1844. Accounts at 12 August 1844.
£450.00

Surprisingly little appears to have been written about the public baths at 12 Nicolson Square, Edinburgh; with no references to it on the Scottish Archives Network. There is however an informative reference to the subject in Francis H. Groome's 'Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland' (1884): 'Good public baths, of various kinds and various extent, for the upper and the middle classes, are in several parts both of the city and its environs. Public baths for the working classes were long a desideratum, though earnestly desired by many of the working classes themselves.

[Sir Alexander Young Spearman (1793-1874), Assistant Secretary to the Treasury.] Secretarial Letter, signed by Spearman ('A Y Spearman'), to the Directors of the Bank of Scotland, regarding the remittance of Scottish Revenue to London.

Author: 
Sir Alexander Young Spearman (1793-1874), Assistant Secretary to the Treasury [Bank of Scotland, Edinburgh]
Publication details: 
Treasury Chambers [Whitehall]. 28 June 1837.
£300.00

2pp., foolscap 8vo. On aged and worn paper, with slight loss to one edge from disbinding. On mourning paper (for King William IV).

[James Smith.] Two Autograph Letters Signed (both 'Ja Smith'), the first headed 'Note for Alexr. Blair Esqr. Treasurer of the Bank of Scotland', and docketted 'Report on City [of Edinburgh] Improvements'.

Author: 
James Smith [Alexander Blair, Treasurer, Bank of Scotland; George Smith (1793-1877), architect to the Edinburgh Improvement Commissioners]
Publication details: 
First Letter: No place. 25 July 1837. Second Letter: Edinburgh. 31 July 1837.
£250.00

Both 1p., foolscap 8vo, and disbound. Both in good condition, on aged paper, with loss at edge from disbinding, causing slight loss of text in second letter. Letter One: Docketed on reverse of second leaf 'James Smith | July 25 1837 | Report on City Improvements.' The document begins: 'Having carefully examined the state No. IV. made up by the Improvement Commissioners, and submitted to the Bank of Scotland &c, and also, inspected the works with Mr Geo. Smith Architect for the Commissioners, I take leave to submit the following observations thereon'.

[The Caledonian Canal, Scotland.] Manuscript Letter, signed by James Hope of Rickman & Hope, solicitors, to the Bank of Scotland, regarding 'dues collected for the passage of Vessels through the Caledonian Canal'. With detailed accounts of receipts.

Author: 
[The Caledonian Canal, Scotland, designed by Thomas Telford and completed in 1822; James Hope of Rickman & Hope, Edinburgh; George Sanby of the Bank of Scotland]
Publication details: 
31 Moray Place, Edinburgh. 27 December 1825.
£580.00

4pp., foolscap 8vo, on two bifoliums. On aged and worn paper, with slight bloom at head and a little loss to spine from disbinding.

[New Zealand; Maoris; Admiral David Robertson-Macdonald.] Autograph transcripts of 3 documents (defence of Kororarika, NZ, against an attack by 'natives' during the Flagstaff War). With 88 (eighty-eight) newspaper obituaries and other biographical matter.

Author: 
Admiral David Robertson-Macdonald (1817-1910), Scottish Royal Navy officer who served under six sovereigns [his son David Macdonald Robertson-Macdonald (1857-1919)]
Publication details: 
[Edinburgh, Scotland; Kororarika, Nelson and Auckland, New Zealand.] The transcripts, made by the Admiral towards the end of his life, from documents dating from 1845. The newspaper obituaries all dating from 1910. Other matter from 1918.
£450.00

At the outbreak of the Flagstaff War, Robertson-Macdonald was serving as Commander of HMS Hazard. On 11 March 1845 he was severely wounded while leading the defence of the town of Kororarika (now Russell) from 'the attack of an overwhelming body of natives', resulting in the loss of six of his men. The three transcripts that form Item One below relate to this action, and were presumably made out by the Admiral himself towards the end of his life, in a shaky hand and with a number of errors.

Autograph Letter Signed from Polish refugee Dr Severin Wielobycki to an unnamed lady, enclosing a printed report of his brother Dionysius Wielobycki 's trial in Edinburgh for forging the will of Margaret Darling, headed 'Dr Wielobycki's Trial'.

Author: 
Severin Wielobycki (1793-1893) and his brother, Dionysius Wielobycki (1813-1882), Polish refugees who both trained as doctors in Edinburgh, before becoming homoeopaths [Isabella Darling]
Publication details: 
Letter: 55 Queen Street, Edinburgh. 26 January 1857. Newspaper report reprinted 'From the EDINBURGH NEWS of Saturday, Jan. 10, 1857.'
£180.00

Both items in fair condition, lightly-aged and worn. Severin Wielobycki's letter is 1p., 12mo. On the recto of the first leaf of a bifolium. It reads: 'Dear Madam. | I am much delighted that you take interest in my brother; all friends of his are of the same opinion tat he has been treated very unjustly. I hope your influence will if not relieve him, at any rate shorten his horrible sentence. | I beg to enclose two copies of the document according to your request' (only one copy present). The report of 'Dr Wielobycki's Trial' is 1p., 4to, on grey paper, in two columns of small print.

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.

Autograph Signature ('A. Tweedie MD.') of the Scottish physician and writer Alexander Tweedie

Author: 
Alexander Tweedie (1794-1884), FRS, Scottish writer and physician [London Fever Hospital]
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£28.00

On 3.5 x 11 cm piece of laid paper. In good condition, on lightly-aged and spotted paper. An elegant signature, firmly written with no surrounding text.

[Printed handbill prospectus with specimen pages.] Uniform with Johnston's "Chemistry of Common Life." In Monthly Numbers, price SIXPENCE each. The Physiology of Common Life. By George Henry Lewes, Author of "Sea-side Studies," "Life of Goethe," &c.'

Author: 
[George Henry Lewes (1817-1878), writer and partner of the novelist 'George Eliot' [Marian Evans (1819-1880)]; W. Blackwood & Sons, Edinburgh and London]
Publication details: 
W. Blackwood & Sons, Edinburgh and London. [1858.]
£65.00

4pp., 16mo. Bifolium. Very good, on lightly-aged paper, with slight traces of glue to fold edge. The first two pages carry the 'Prospectus', beginning: 'NO Scientific subject can be so important to Man as that of his own life. No knowledge can be so incessantly appealed to by the incidents of the every day, as the knowledge of the processes by which he lives and acts. At every moment he is in danger of disobeying laws which, when disobeyed, may bring years of suffering, decline of powers, premature decay.

Typed Letter Signed from Major A. M. Urquhart, Royal Artillery, to Rev. William Henderson Begg, giving a summary (as President of the Committee of Adjustment) of what has been done regarding his brother Captain Robert Henderson Begg's estate in India

Author: 
Major A. M. Urquhart, Royal Artillery [Rev. William Henderson-Begg (1877-1934), Rector of St Paul's and Canon of Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh; Captain Robert Henderson Begg (d.1915); Siege of Kut
Publication details: 
The Arsenal, Ferozepore, India. 27 April 1916.
£56.00

2pp., foolscap 8vo. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper. Captain Begg had died at the Siege of Kut Al Amara, Mesopotamia (now Iraq), and Urquhart begins by informing the Rev. Begg that the inventory which he sent of his brother's effects has 'gone astray'. 'In order to save any further delay I am forwarding you a complete list including some things recently recovered from Kirkee Arsenal. Would you kindly point out what you wish returned to you. The remaining items will be sold by auction here.' He continues with 'a summary of what has been done up to date'.

Typed Letter Signed ('Mountbatten of Burma') from Lord Mountbatten [Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma] to Mr

Author: 
Louis Mountbatten (1900-1979), 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma [Lord Mountbatten], last Viceroy of India (1947), uncle of Duke of Edinburgh [Brian North Lee (1936-2007), bookplate historian; ex libris]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Newhouse, Mersham, Ashford, Kent. 22 July 1996.
£125.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, laid down on backing and a little creased. He thanks him for a letter about 'the study you are doing of Royal bookplates, and of course I remember the icon you had had [sic] of my great aunt Ella and was so pleased to have the postcard of it you kindly sent me'. He is also pleased to learn that Lee has been able to identify the print which his father sent Lee of his bookplate as the work of George Taylor Friend, 'which I am sure he would have been very pleased to know'. Lee's research 'must produced quite a few headaches, but with very interesting results'.

Autograph Signature ('Geo Combe') of the Scottish lawyer and phrenologist George Combe.

Author: 
George Combe [Comb] (1788-1858), Scottish lawyer, phrenologist and author
Publication details: 
Without place or date.
£25.00

On one side of a 5 x 8 cm piece of paper, cut from a letter, and backed with card. In good condition, lightly-aged, with the top two corners rounded. Reads: 'I am | Gentlemen | Your very obed Sert | [signed] Geo Combe'.

'Children's Book' in the autograph of Edith Louisa Henderson-Begg, wife of Rev. Canon William Henderson-Begg of Edinburgh, filled with information on the childhood of her three sons Robert John, Colin and Alec, with letters by them and photographs.

Author: 
Edith Louisa Henderson-Begg [née Cornish], wife of Rev. William Henderson-Begg (1877-1934), Rector of St Paul's and Canon of Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh [their sons Robert John, Colin and Alec]
Publication details: 
St Mary's Rectory, Edinburgh, Scotland. The notebook contains entries dating from January 1911 to June 1926.
£250.00

43pp., 12mo. Closely written in a ruled black cloth notebook, titled on first page 'CHILDREN'S BOOK'. Internally in good condition, on lightly-aged paper; torn scraps of paper adhering to the waxed cloth covers. Containing such information as date and time of birth, weight of child, name of doctor and 'nurse-housemaid', teething ('R. J.s first eye-tooth'), first walk, first words ('R. J. said ("I'm a pe-pe" - this probably only imitation; since called himself Baby).

[Manuscript] Address panel only, signed "John A. Murray", addressed to "David Laing Esq.| Bookseller | S. Bridge | Edinburgh

Author: 
[David Laing, bookseller, Edinburgh] John A. Murray [Sir John Archibald Murray, Lord Murray, (1779-1859), Scottish judge.]
Publication details: 
[Printed] Bannatyne Club Meeting | Monday, May 29 1837 [Dated] London May [excision] 1837 Thirteen [initialled] JAM" i.e 13 May 1837..
£120.00

Address panel, c. 13 x 8cm, edges sl. ragged, mainlky good condition.The reverse is blank apart from remnants of glue for prior laying down, and the identification of John A. Murray as "Lord Advocate | M.P. Leith". The Bannatyne Club, founded by Sir Walter Scott, in 1823, disbanded 1861. David Laing "had an antiquarian turn, and was the first Secretary of the Bannantyne Club on its foundation on 27 February 1823. In 1826 he was elected a Fellow of The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. He became Librarian of the Signet Library in 1837, gave up the bookshop and sold the stock.

Typed Letter Signed ('David') from Sir David Russell to his cousin Frank Carr Nicholson, discussing Rodney Collins's book on Ouspensky, Alexis Aladin, and 'books we have read'. With copy of his anonymous pamphlet 'Iona. A Short Chronological Table'.

Author: 
Sir David Russell (1872-1956) of Silverburn, Leven, Fife [Frank Carr Nicholson (1875-1962), Librarian, Edinburgh University Library; Alexis Aladin (d.1927); Rodney Collins; Gurdieff; Ouspensky]
Publication details: 
Letter on letterhead of Silverburn, Leven, Fife; 4 April 1956. Pamphlet printed by McLagan & Cumming, Edinburgh;1932.
£220.00

Both letter and pamphlet in very good condition. Letter: 8pp., 4to. Written a few days before Russell's death on 12 March 1956. On the first page he describes how the London esoteric bookseller J. M.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Flora C. Stevenson') from Flora Clift Stevenson to 'Ella', asking for 'somebody to play with me'.

Author: 
Flora Clift Stevenson [Flora C. Stevenson] (1839-1905), Scottish social reformer and educationalist, one of the first women in the United Kingdom to be elected to a school board
Publication details: 
On her monogrammed letterhead of 13 Randolph Terrace, Edinburgh. 'Saturday' [no date].
£65.00

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. The letter reads: 'My dear Ella: | It wd be very kind if you cd come to see me as I have never recovered & am downstairs again. - Will you come to tea to-day or tomorrow. I want somebody to play with me!'

Signed autograph itemised receipt by William Croslie [wine and spirit merchant, Castle Douglas?], for food and drink provided to 'Fanny Wilson for fathers funeral' in Scotland.

Author: 
William Crosbie, wine and spirit merchant, Castle Douglas [Fanny Wilson; funerals in Scotland]
Publication details: 
1 October 1810.
£56.00

Possibly submitted by the 'Mr William Crosbie, wine and spirit merchant', whose death at Castle Douglas on 15 March 1821 is recorded in Blackwood's Magazine, April 1821. 1p., 8vo. Neatly written out on watermarked laid paper. Headed 'Fanny Wilson for fathers funeral | To William Crosbie | 1810'. Eleven entries for the funeral on 1 October 1812, including two plum cakes, '11 Cakes Short Bread'; '2 Gallons <?> Rum' and '2 1/4 ditto Whisky'; '6 Bottles Old Port' and '6 ditto Sherry'. Receipt of payment on 5 November at foot, signed by Crosbie.

Autograph Letter Signed from the Rev. Charles Rogers, LLD, to the autograph hunter J. T. Baron of Blackburn, discussing the availability of his 'Boswelliana' and 'Century of Scottish Life'.

Author: 
Rev. Charles Rogers, LLD (1825–1890), Church of Scotland minister and historian [John T. Baron of Blackburn, autograph hunter]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 3 Brandon Street, Edinburgh. 15 March1882.
£60.00

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. With remains of envelope, addressed by Rogers. He states that his 'Boswelliana', which was 'published at a guinea can be got for twelve shillings', and that 'a bookseller has undertaken to hunt for 'A Century of Scottish Life' which has long been sold off; it will cost you six shillings - six was the original price.' After forwarding the address of Sabine Baring-Gould he states that he is 'now living in Edinburgh at the above address'.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Dalhousie') from George Ramsay, 9th Earl of Dalhousie, on going to India, to Mr Forbes of 76 Queen St, Edinburgh, giving character references of three of his servants (Wood, Thomas Robertson and Robert Combe).

Author: 
George Ramsay (1770-1838), 9th Earl of Dalhousie, Governor-in-Chief of British North America,
Publication details: 
Dalhousie Castle [Midlothian, Scotland]. 16 April 1829.
£250.00

3pp., 4to. Bifolium. In original envelope, with black wax armorial seal, addressed by Dalhousie to 'Mr. Forbes | 76 Queen Street | Edinr.' Very good, on lightly-aged paper. Dealing with his 'own Servant' Wood, first, he states that he has been with him for five years, 'in keeping my Cloaths, and my Butler latterly altogether; I have found him at all times sober, attentive active, and I believe him perfectly honest, & trustworthy. He has kept my house accounts, my Cellar Books, & all house matters regarding the men Servants, & that both at home and abroad to my satisfaction.

Engraved portrait of Major Patrick George Craigie, CB, from a photograph by Reinhold Thiele & Co., with anonymous printed biography of 'Major P. G. Craigie, C.B.' in 'Heywood's Authentic Series of Press Biographies', in green printed folder.

Publication details: 
Heywood & Co. Ltd., 150, Holborn, London. Biography dated 'October, 1902.'
£160.00

The two items and the folder are all lightly-aged and in good condition. Green card folder, with 'Heywood's Authentic Series of Press Biographies. | Major P. G. Craigie, C.B.' and 'C/21' printed on front. The printed biography is 9pp., 8vo, on nine loose leaves attached to one another by a brass stud. The engraving, by Art Repro Co, from a photograph by Reinhold Thiele & Co. of Chancery Lane, is on a piece of thick paper 29 x 21 cm. Dimensions of plate 15.5 x 10.5 cm. A bearded Craigie stands in formal attire with right hand in pocket.

41 items of ephemera relating to the Edinburgh Rudolf Steiner School and Garvald School, Dolphinton, Peeblesshire (Rudolf Steiner Educational Association, Scotland), with manuscript and typed accounts and mounted photograph.

Author: 
[Edinburgh Rudolf Steiner School and Garvald School, Dolphinton, Peeblesshire (Rudolf Steiner Educational Association, Scotland)]
Publication details: 
Dated items from between 1951 and 1964.
£220.00

From the papers of the nuclear physicist Robert Kersey Green. The collection contains periodicals, advertisements, handbills, prospectuses (one damp damaged), reports, form, invitations, two cards and a ticket. In fair condition, on aged paper, and with a couple of items carrying traces of damp. Five sets of accounts, four for Edinburgh, 1958 and 1963, and one for Garvald (see below), of which four are typed copies and one in manuscript ('Notes re 76 Polwarth Terrace'). Mounted long black and white photograph of architectural model, captioned on reverse 'SCHOOL.

Autograph Manuscript Signed ('John Bowring') from Jeremy Bentham's literary executor Sir John Bowring to Professor James Pillans of Edinburgh University, asking him to assist 'M Mallar', who is reporting on 'the state of education in Scotland'.

Author: 
Sir John Bowring (1792-1872), polititian, diplomat and writer, literary executor of Jeremy Bentham [Professor James Pillans (1778-1864) of Edinburgh University]
Publication details: 
London. 10 August 1833.
£120.00

1p., 4to. Good, on lightly-aged paper, with remains of stub to reverse. His friend 'M Mallar' has come to Great Britain, 'recommended by the French government for the official purpose of looking into the state of education in Scotland'.

Autograph Manuscript Signed, an untitled holograph poem by the Scottish writer and artist James Ballantine, beginning 'Confide ye aye in Providence, for Providence is Kind'.

Author: 
James Ballantine (c.1807-1877), Scottish writer and artist in stained glass
Publication details: 
Edinburgh; 16 August 1856.
£500.00

1p., landscape 8vo. On the first leaf of a bifolium. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. Well presented, with the second blank leaf neatly inserted into a windowpane border. The poem is sixteen lines long, arranged in four stanzas, neatly written out on a piece of wove paper. The first stanza reads 'Confide ye aye in Providence, for Providence is Kind | And bear ye a' lifes changes, wi a calm an' tranquil mind | Though pressed an' hemmed on every side, hae faith, an' ye'll win through | For ilka blade o grass keeps its ain drap o dew'.

Autograph Letter Signed from the Scottish author Anne Grant to 'Mrs. Drysdale', boasting of her behaviour to 'People of the Highest Rank', and making 'perhaps the last' joke.

Author: 
Anne Grant [n
Publication details: 
'Coats Crescent [Edinburgh] | Friday' [no date].
£220.00

2pp., 12mo. 33 lines of text, written in a close, neat hand. Good, on lightly-aged paper. She begins with a five-line 'encomium', before assuring Mrs Drysdale that she is 'pretty safe': 'I have been considered By People of the Highest Rank to whom I was known merely as a private teacher &c &c of moral virtues To possess of <?> for the highest talents & the purest Virtues I have been familiar I need not say why. None of these I ever flattered.

[Printed handbill poem by 'B. B.'] On a favourite Dog, interred in the Grounds of Dryburgh Abbey, MDCCCXIV. [With Victorian photograph of a dog.]

Author: 
'B. B.' [Sir Brooke Boothby (1744-1824)?] [Dryburgh Abbey, property of David Steuart Erskine, 11th Earl of Buchan]
Publication details: 
Date and publisher not stated. [Scotland, circa 1814?]
£400.00

Poem: On one side of a piece of 12mo paper. Fair, lightly-aged and a little ruckled, with traces of gum from previous mounting on the blank reverse. The 12-line poem is written in heroic couplets, and begins 'POOR, faithful animal, adieu! - | To Nature's kind affection true, | For fourteen years, thy grateful heart, | Devoted, play'd its humble part.' At the end a contemporary hand has ascribed the poem to 'B. B.', and the same hand gives the date as 'September 3d'.

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