[Andreas Andersen Feldborg, Danish author.] Three Autograph Letters Signed, in English, to Rev. Edward Duke, regarding his English and continental travels,friends (Sir Richard Colt Hoare and Walter Scott), works. With two printed subscription lists.

Feldborg is mentioned several times in Southey's correspondence, and at one point contemplated translating Southey's life of Nelson into Danish. See Duke's entry in the Oxford DNB. The three letters are in fair condition, a little brittle and lightly aged and worn, with a closed tears along fold lines. The third letter has loss to second leaf from breaking of seal. Excellent energetic letters, giving a good indication of Feldborg's character and the circle he moved in while resident in England. Also containing a seven-line quotation from what appears to be an unknown letter by Sir Walter Scott. All three letters are written in Feldborg's neat hand, and signed 'A Andreas Feldborg'. The first two letters carry Feldborg's small seal in red wax, and are both addressed by him, with postmarks, to Rev. Edward Duke at his residence Lake House, Amesbury, near Salisbury, Wiltshire. ONE: 18 January 1826. A long letter, written on two and a half pages of a 4to bifolium, the other one and a half pages carrying a printed list headed 'Additional Subscribers to Rambles in Scotland. | Number of Copies already subscribed for 1086.' (Signatories grouped under thirteen areas of Britain, and ten on the continent.) Begins: 'My kind Sir, | Your goodnature will I trust pardon my long silence. It has been occasioned by a great variety of causes, some of a painful kind, the traces of which are now however happily effaced. You will I am sure do me the justice to believe that it was my intention as it was my duty to have reported progress in the course of my rambles in Wiltshire, where your name threw open many a door to me and unlocked many an English heart old as well as young. The kindness of Lord Arundell, Sir Richard Colt Hoare and the Reverend Lisle Bowles was above all praise.' He has before him Duke's 'kind letter of the 11th. of June [1825]', 'with four inclosures which I had not in my power to present, viz to B. C. Thomas Esq Malmesbury John Ward Esq Marlborough, Revd. Dr. Meyrick, Barnsbury, Charles Lawrence Esq Cirencester. You cannot imagine the joy with which I received that letter at the beautiful village of Horningsham or rather at what I call it, the pretty, romantic and fantastic parsonage of your poetic friend Mr. Skurray, who seems like myself to have sat down a confirmed bachelor, though by the bye Sir Peter Teazle married, I think, after our time.' He has visited 'Longleat, Frome and Farleycastle' with Skurray, and at Trownrodge 'saw Mr. Crabbe' – i.e. the poet George Crabbe (1754-1832) – 'who overwhelmed me with kindness and presented me with his Tales of the Hall'. He was not able to act on his intention 'to have proceeded by Malmesbury, Avebury and Marlborough and indeed to have paid another visit to Stonehenge'. 'The last Sunday in England I spent on the quiet banks of the Isis in Oxford, and on the next I found myself in France – in Paris – andn in that sink of Nations – Palais Royale – What a contrast! I went to my Hotel early in the evening and read Cautions to Continental travellers by the Revd Mr. Cunningham, Vicar of Harrow on the Hill a book which English people cannot too often read'. He does not have 'what is called in homely but most significant language, a stake in the hedge, yet as I have for so many years like good old Bishop Berkeley, enjoyed the hedge which we had not the trouble to take care of, you will believe, my dear Mr. Duke, that I have of late thought with anxiety on those of my friends, who have stakes in the glorious hedge of Old England'. He hopes that Duke has 'sustained no inconvenience from the late Crisis […] You will I am sure like to hear how the Great Unknown expressed himself during the general depression in 1821. In a letter which he wrote to an individual, who gave it to me, when I expressed a desire to possess a specimen of Sir Walter Scott's handwriting, he says: [seven line quotation from a letter by Scott, apparently unpublished, beginning 'I begin to be more frightened about the country than formerly.']'. He ends with affectionate greetings to his 'friends at Lake, some of whom however must in the nature of things have forget the wandering Dane. - Be this however, as it may, I shall not forget Edward, Harriet Hinxman, Henry Hinxman (who was so curious to see the dane) Robert Rashleigh, Carolina and Mary the twins, George Frederick and Charlotte Maria. They as well as their parents will at least ever have my best wishes'. In conclusion he asks Duke to 'drop me a line addressed to the care of Mr. Varrentrapp, bookseller, Frankfort on the Maine, via Calais, that I may know how you all are'. TWO: 30 December 1826. 4pp, 4to. Bifolium. Another long letter, signed 'A Andersen Feldborg', with postscript signed 'the danish Rambler'. Written in the same affectionate vein as the previous letter, expressing pleasure at receiving Duke's news, and sympathy at the death of his mother. 'I have myself to deplore the ravages of death, in the case of Mr. Talma, whose acquaintance (and a most interesting one it proved) I had the happiness of making at Paris, soon after I left England. […] the second instance came unexpectedly upon me, when I was some days ago shocked with the news of the death of my distinguished countryman, Mr. Malte-brun, the Geographer.' He also comments on Duke's rambles ('I have gone over every inch of that ground and water myself, and that more than once.') and his own indisposition. He is sending 'a packet containing 33 Views of Gottingen and adjacent parts'. He is very sorry he 'was not able fully to explore your country. But I hope to do it at some future time'. He is happy to be remembered by English friends mentioned in the last letter, and regrets that he 'had not the pleasure of seeing Mr. Grosett. How I have missed such meadows as those near Laycock Abbey. The continent has no such pastures, no such footpaths, no such hedges, no such oxen, no such sheep, in short, nothing like the animation of an English landscape.' After a reference to 'Mr. Methuen' he expresses his affection for England: 'I have no wish nearer or dearer to my heart than to pass the evening of a romantic, bustling, and in part unhappy life, in the country of my opinions. […] I am however believe me, my dear Sir, continually in England. My time here is chiefly occupied with her language and literature, and what I can spare from those pursuits I devote to my work on Denmark and to the collection of materials for Rambles in France, Flanders, Holland and Germany.' He discusses his travels in Germany and plans for future rambles. He discusses Hoare's planned work on Stonehenge, with reference to 'our worthy friend the Reverend Mr. Eden'. 'Unfortunately I did not get to Normandy. Mr. Washington Irving (that most amiable writer and man) with whom I also became acquainted at Paris told me that I would have liked Normandy; it looks so much like England.' He is sending engravings for Duke's family, and asks him to tell his 'servant Robert, that I was very glad to hear of him. I hope he will continue with you and be to you what Davies is to Sir Richard Hoare. How I was delighted when old Sir Richard told us of his travels in Sicily, and old Davies; as he handed the plates about, now and then put in a word to illustrate the subject. What a pleasant world this might be, if the great and the little met halfway.' He would like to be 'in Old England, not exactly for your Christmas cheer, although I love roast beef and plum pudding, but to witness your exultation at your approaching glories. […] Let me therefore wish that you may soon from your pulpit thank God for the defeat of the Jesuits and that Edward, Henry Robert and George Frederick may burn them in effigy.' In the postscript he gives his address as 'Bettmann's Garden, Gottingen, Germany', and asks him to 'send a set of the Subscription papers for the Rambles in Scotland to Messrs. Brodie & Dowding at Salisbury'. THREE: 12 March 1827. 1p, folio. On bifolium. The facing central two pages carry a printed subscription list for his 'Denmark Delineated. | Volume the Second. | This volume, which completes the work, will be speedily published. […]' The letter begins: 'My dear Sir, | The bearer Professor Kirkland of Hamilton College North America [John Thornton Kirkland (1770-1840), President of Harvard from 1810 to 1828?] is going to visit Stonehenge; and as he must pass by Lake House I thought it might not be uninteresting to you to hear something of the Danish Rambler from one who has seen something of him for the last twelve months.' He has sent 'German Views' and hopes that Edward will be allowed to 'accompany my American friend to Stone Henge'.