MELVILLE

[Duke of Montrose [James Graham, 3rd Duke of Montrose], Scottish nobleman and Tory politician.] Autograph Letter Signed to Robert Saunders Dundas (the future Viscount Melville), regarding the amending of a ‘very insufficient’ act of parliament.

Author: 
Duke of Montrose [James Graham, 3rd Duke of Montrose; until 1790 Marquis of Graham] (1755-1836), Scottish nobleman and Tory politician [Robert Saunders Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville (1771-1851)]
Publication details: 
5 January 1809; Grosvenor Square [London].
£65.00

See the two men’s entries in the Oxford DNB. In good condition, lightly-aged, with small triangle cut away from letter in opening red wax seal, of which minor traces remain. Folded and addressed in the customary manner. Franked to ‘Right Honble / Robert S: Dundas &c &c &c / Downing Street / Montrose’, sent from ‘Grosvr: Sq: 5th Jan 1809’ and signed ‘Montrose’. Begins, without salutation: ‘I wish you would look to this act, as it appears to require attention.

[ 'Lewis Melville' [ Lewis Saul Benjamin ], Anglo-Jewish author. ] Autograph Note Signed ('Lewis Melville')

Author: 
'Lewis Melville', pen name of Lewis Saul Benjamin (1874-1932), English author, born into a Jewish family
Publication details: 
On letterhead of The Playgoers Club, Strand, W.C. [ London ]. 'Please reply | 28 Clifton Gardens | Madia Vale. W' 28 September 1900.
£25.00

1p., 12mo. On grey paper. In fair condition, lightly aged. Reads: 'Dear Sir, | Will you please give me an appointment on Thursday next when I am in town? | Faithfully yours, | Lewis Melville'.

[ 'Lewis Melville' [ pen name of Lewis Saul Benjamin ], author and actor. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Lewis Melville'), enquiring whether his book 'In the World of Mimes' has been accepted for publication.

Author: 
'Lewis Melville' [ pen name of Lewis Saul Benjamin (1874-1932) ], literary biographer, novelist and actor
Publication details: 
On letterhead of The Playgoer's Club, Strand, W.C. [ London ]. 28 July 1900.
£35.00

1p., 12mo. On grey paper. In fair condition, lightly aged. He writes to enquire whether the recipient 'can undertake the publication of the novel I submitted to you – In the World of Mimes – as I am leaving town at the end of the week', and he hopes to 'settle the matter one way or the other (preferably one way & not the other)' before he leaves. 'In the World of Mimes' was published in London by Greening & Co. in 1902.

[ George Whyte-Melville, Scottish novelist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('G Whyte Melville') to 'Lady Violet' [ Lady Violet Greville ], declining a dinner invitation.

Author: 
George Whyte-Melville [ Major George John Whyte Melville ] (1821-1878), Scottish novelist and writer on field sports [ Lady Violet Greville (1842-1932) ]
Publication details: 
On his armorial letterhead, 22 Onslow Gardens, South Kensington, S.W. [ London ]
£35.00

1p., 16mo. In fair condition, aged and with bands of glue at head and tail on reverse. He thanks her for her note, but he cannot join her party. 'I wish I could!' Postscript: 'I hope you are quite well again!'

[ Lord Francis Leveson-Gower, later Earl of Ellesmere. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('F Leveson Gower') to Viscount Melville, as Chief Secretary for Ireland, regarding the post of Vice Admiral for the Province of Munster.

Author: 
Lord Francis Leveson-Gower [ later Francis Egerton, 1st Earl of Ellesmere ] (1800-1857), Conservative politician and patron of the arts [ Robert Saunders–Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville (1771-1851) ]
Publication details: 
London. 30 March 1830.
£180.00

1p., 4to. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Docketed on reverse of second leaf: 'Lord Frs. Lewson [sic] Gower | 30. Mar: 1830 | Vice Admiral for the Province of Munster'. Headed 'Private'. He was unable to answer Melville's letter 'without previous communication with the Ld Lieutt'. In response to Melville's 'question whether there is any Peer in the Province of Munster to whom it would be proper to offer the vacant Vice Admiralty jurisdiction, I have now to communicate the Ld Lieuts opinion, in which Mr Peel concurs, that it would be admirable to offer it to Ld Donoughmore'.

[ Lafayette photographic studios, London. ] Eight proofs of portrait photographs [ of Selina, Lady Hamilton, daughter of Viscount Dundas ].

Author: 
James Stack Lauder (1853-1923), Lafayette photographic studios, London [ Selina, Lady Harington (1874-1945), wife of Sir Richard Dundas Harington (1861-1931), daughter of 6th Viscount Melville ]
Publication details: 
All eight stamped 'LAFAYETTE, LONDON'. October 1905.
£80.00

The eight range in size from 14 x 10 cm to 11.5 x 10 cm. Most are heavily faded, almost to the point of indistinguishableness, but presumably recoverable using modern computer techniques. Each is stamped on the front 'PROOF TO BE RETURNED TO LAFAYETTE, LONDON'. Each with pencil note on the back identifying the sitter as 'Mrs. Harrington', with reference number and date in October 1905. From the papers of Sir Richard Harington of Ridlington, the sitter being identified by reference from other material therein.

[ Nineteenth-century Scottish landowner. ] Manuscript Account Book [ of Thomas Melville ] with itemized expenses and individual accounts, records of livestock farming in the Hebrides, rents in Greenock and Campbeltown.

Author: 
[ Thomas Melville; Charles Munro of Campbeltown; Alexander Birrell of Inverary ] Nineteenth-century West of Scotland landowner's account book [ Hebrides; Greenock, Renfrewshire; Campbeltown, Argyll ]
Publication details: 
The West of Scotland (The Hebrides; Greenock in Renfrewshire; Campbeltown and Inverary in Argyll). Between 1837 and 1852.
£850.00

113pp. in a 12mo notebook. Quarter binding with black leather spine and soft covers in marbled paper, interleaved with pink blotting paper on which occasional notes have been made. Printed on front pastedown: 'Sold by John Thomson, St. Andrew Square, Edinburgh.' In fair condition, on aged paper, in worn binding. There is a section of 53pp. of itemized expenses at the front of the volume, and another of 47pp. of individual accounts at the back, with groups of six and three pages among the otherwise-blank leaves in the centre.

[ General John Hope, 4th Earl of Hopetoun, Scottish politician and soldier. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Hopetoun') to Viscount Melville, respecting the fitting up of a part of the Old Palace at Linlithgow for the county meetings.

Author: 
General John Hope, 4th Earl of Hopetoun [ Lord Niddry ] (1765-1823), Scottish politician and British Army officer [ Robert Saunders Dundas, Viscount Melville ]
Publication details: 
Hopetoun House. 23 May 1819.
£150.00

3pp., 4to. In good condition, lightly-aged, on two leaves each neatly cut out of a windowpane mount. Headed 'Private'. Docketted by the recipient: 'Resp[ectin]g. the fitting up a part of the Old Palace at Linlithgow for the County Meeting'. He describes the applications he has made to the Lords of the Treasury and the Prince Regent, and a correspondence between the Keeper of the Palace and the Secretary of State. 'Your Lordship is aware that the Building is a complete Ruin; & of no use whatever, it its present state to any one [...]'.

[ David Murray, 2nd Earl of Mansfield. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Mansfield') to the Duke of Portland, sometime Prime MInister, regarding the resignation of 'Dr Campbell' and the arrangements for his pension.

Author: 
David Murray, 2nd Earl of Mansfield (1727-1796) [ The Viscount Stormont between 1748 and 1793 ], politician and diplomat [ William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland; Dr Thomas Campbell ]
Publication details: 
'Kenwood Tuesday afternoon | July 28 [ 1793 ]'.
£120.00

2pp., 4to. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Addressed on reverse of second leaf to 'D. of Portland'. The date '93' has been added in a contemporary hand beside 'July 28'. Knowing Portland, he feels that 'Dr Campbells Interests cannot be safer' than in his hands. He is transmitting a letter of resignation, to be used whenever Portland thinks proper.

[Printed pamphlet.] English Line Writing: A New, Simple, and Exact System of Phonetics.

Author: 
Alexander Melville Bell, Fellow of the Educational Institute of Scotland, The Royal Scottish Society of Arts, The American Association for the Advancement of Science, &c., &c.
Publication details: 
Edgar S. Werner, New York. [circa 1886]
£400.00

[2] + 52pp., 8vo. In grey printed wraps carrying advertisements. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. With label and stamp of the Science & Art Department of the Educational Library, London. In tasteful modern quarter-bound boards of light and dark grey paper, with white printed label on front.

[Printed pamphlet, 'With compliments, from | THE AUTHOR'.] World-English: The Universal Language. By Alexander Melville Bell, Author of "Visible Speech," &c., &c.

Author: 
Alexander Melville Bell, Author of "Visible Speech," &c., &c. [(1819-1905), father of Alexander Graham Bell]
Publication details: 
New York: N. D. C. Hodges, 47, Lafayette Place. London: Trübner & Co. 57 and 59, Ludgate Hill. 1888.
£300.00

[1] + 29 + [5]pp., 8vo. Advertisements at front and rear. With front cover of brown printed wraps present, bearing the title in a 'globe' design. Printed in a box in the top right-hand corner of the cover is: 'With compliments from | THE AUTHOR, | 1525, Thirty-fifth Street, | Washington, D. C. | Examination and comment requested.' In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with slight loss at edges of front cover. In tasteful modern quarter-bound boards of light and dark grey paper, with white printed label on front. Uncommon: four copies on COPAC.

Autograph Letter Signed from 'Chas. Hamilton', informing Henry Dundas that 'Doctor Morris of Parliament Street' has cured three men 'labouring under the same disorder which now afflicts our gracious Sovereign [King George III].

Author: 
Charles Hamilton (1753-1828), 8th Earl of Haddington [Michael Morris (d.1791) MD; Henry Dundas (1742-1811), 1st Viscount Melville; the madness of King George III; John Sheldon (1752-1808), anatomist]
Publication details: 
Without place or date, but written during the King's first attack, 1788-1789.
£220.00

2pp., 4to. Bifolium. Text complete, on aged paper with a number of closed tears repaired with archival tape. The second leaf of the bifolium, lacking a strip at the top, is docketed 'Dr. Morris of Parliament Street's Success in curing Persons afflicted with Complaints similar to that which His Majesty labours under'. Considering the political content at the end of the letter, the author is probably Charles Hamilton, at the time of writing known by his courtesy title of Lord Binning.

[Small card, part-printed part manuscript] An Account shewing what has been Redeemed of the National Debt, the Land Tax, and Imperial Loan to the Ist Novr 1807

Author: 
[Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville; National Debt]
An Account shewing what has been Redeemed of the National Debt,
Publication details: 
[Nov. 1807]
£225.00
An Account shewing what has been Redeemed of the National Debt,

Card, c.11 x 7cm, [RECTO] date "Ist Novr 1807" in manuscript as are the figures in acolumn after categorisation as follows: "Redeemed by Annual Million &c [£] 66.968.173 | Do.[corrected in ms. to] on acct of Loans 61.622.815 | Do. by Land Tax 22.942.813 | Do. by £1. pr. Ct. pr. Ann . on Imp. Loan 814.723 | Total £ 152.340.529 | The sum to be expended in the ensuing Quarter is £2.529.224.155. [VERSO] [Manuscript] The Rt Honble Lord Melville". It appears that Melville and, presumably, others, received monthly notice of the size of the National Debt and other figures.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Melville') from Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville to Lady Popham, widow of Admiral Sir Home Riggs Popham, described by her as a 'cold hearted answer'.

Author: 
Robert Dundas (1771-1851), 2nd Viscount Melville, First Lord of the Admiralty, 1812-1827 [Admiral Sir Home Riggs Popham (1762-1820)]
Autograph Letter Signed ('Melville') from Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville
Publication details: 
Melville Castle; 23 September 1820.
£175.00
Autograph Letter Signed ('Melville') from Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville

4to, 2 pp. On bifolium. Twenty-two lines. Text clear and complete. In good condition, on aged paper. Lady Popham has written her opinion of the letter on the reverse of second leaf: 'Lord Melvilles cold hearted answer -'. To modern eyes the letter would appear to be a model of tact. Melville begins by expressing 'deep regret' at 'the late most afflicting addition to the loss you had already sustained' (the Admiral had died three weeks before).

Autograph Note Signed to de Coverly.

Author: 
Michael Sadleir, Author, Publisher, Book Collector
Michael Sadleir, Author, Publisher, Book Collector
Publication details: 
[Headed] 10 Clareville Grove, [London] SW7, 7 Oct. 1932.
£56.00
Michael Sadleir, Author, Publisher, Book Collector

One page, 8vo, good condition. Somewhat mysterious but concerning a book or books by Herman Melville. Pardon me for not answering your kind note before. Although I cannot agree that you have received anything approaching an equivalent for your copy of Omoo, I am naturally very gratified that you are good enough to think differently . . .

Autograph Letter Signed to Sir Francis [the source of the letter suggests Sacheverell Sitwell], concerning the supply of Trollope letters.

Author: 
Michael Sadleir, Author, Publisher, Book Collector.
Michael Sadleir, Author, Publisher, Book Collector.
Publication details: 
[Headed] Lower Througham, Stroud, Glos., 21 June 1936.
£135.00
Michael Sadleir, Author, Publisher, Book Collector.

Two pages, 8vo, good condition. A bookseller called Glaishier at Greenwich sent me a small Trollope letter to see to other day. It was in bad condition, but I think the signature was undamaged and if your friend only collects signatures it might be worth his asking to se this. | If, however, he wants a complete letter (as probably he does for an important collection) I think he might get one from Bernard Halliday [underlined], 1King Richards Road, Leicester or from Maggs Brothers [underlined with address]. Both these will be expensive.

Signed Manuscript 'Precept of Clare Constat by the Commissioner for The Duke of Portland in favor of Joseph Kennedy'.

Author: 
William John Cavendish Bentinck Scott, 5th Duke of Portland; Joseph Kennedy, carpet weaver of Lasswade, Kilmarnoch; James Moncrieff Melville; James Lindesay; William Bett
Publication details: 
Edinburgh; 7 April 1857.
£45.00

Three pages. On vellum bifolium made from skin roughly fourteen inches by twenty wide. Three official stamps. Signed twice by 'Jas M Melville', Writer to the Signet, and his partner James Lindesay ('Jas. Lindesay'), and witnessed by their clerk William Bett ('W. Bett').

Autograph Letter Signed ('Lewis Melville') to Messrs George Routledge & Sons, Ltd.

Author: 
Lewis Melville' [Lewis S. Benjamin (1874-1932)], English author and actor
Publication details: 
5 August 1903; 1 Doughty Street, Mecklenburgh Square, W.C., on cancelled letterhead of the Weekly Dispatch.
£28.00

12mo, 1 p. 7 lines of closely-written text. Clear and complete. On aged and slightly-grubby paper. He has received their letter regarding his 'Life of Thackeray', and appreciates 'the reason for your delay in deciding whether or no to issue a cheap edition. Undoubtedly the inclusion of my book in a series would benefit us both, & I hope Mr Lee may be able to make me an offer.'

Autograph Letter Signed to William Smith.

Author: 
Robert Saunders Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville
Publication details: 
2 July 1820; Wimbledon.
£135.00

Statesman (1771-1851); First Lord of the Admiralty, 1812-27, after whom Melville Sound was named. Three pages, quarto. Very good if a tad grubby.

Autograph Note Signed to unnamed male correspondent.

Author: 
Henry Dundas, Viscount Melville
Publication details: 
Downing Street | Saturday. 12. O Clo | 2. 3. 1799'.
£65.00

Scottish advocate and statesman (1742-1811). One page, quarto. Bifoliate on good laid paper watermarked 1798. Grubby and somewhat ruckled, and with small printed notice neatly pasted in bottom right-hand corner. 'My Dear Sir | I have your letter, and should be glad to see you before you see Lord Liverpool or any other Person. Will you dine with me tomorrow. | Yours sincerely | Henry Dundas'.

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