[The Atlantic Union.] Three documents relating to this club founded by Sir Walter Besant, Conan Doyle and others: Typed Letter Signed from Hon. Sec. T. D. Hawkin to Mrs J. L. Nissen; 'amplified' offprint of article from The African World; circular.

The Oxford DNB entry on Sir Walter Besant states that, 'Concerned to cultivate better understanding with North America, Besant worked in the last two years of his life for the Atlantic Union.' In fact it was Besant who founded the club in 1900, with Conan Doyle and others, with the object, according to The Times, 22 February 1900, 'of drawing together the various English-speaking peoples and strengthening the bonds of union by the formation of ties of personal friendship among individual members'. Its status is indicated by the fact that in 1910 an annual meeting was held in a committee room in the House of Lords, with the British Colonial Secretary Lord Crewe as President (Times, 8 April 1910). After the First World War it merged with the English-Speaking Union, which still continues. Item One: Typed Letter Signed ('Thos D Hawkin') to Mrs J. L. Nissen. 1p., 4to. In fair condition, aged and with slight traces of glue from mount on reverse. Hawkin writes 'on behalf of the Executive Committee' to thank Mrs Nissen for 'the very kind way in which you received our Members and visitors on Saturday afternoon'. He commends her had work in 'decorating the room with flowers [...] all who were present greatly admired your indefatigable capacity as hostess'. With autograph postscript. Item Two: Offprint headed 'The Atlantic Union. | (Amplified from The African World, April 4, 1908.)' 1p., 4to. In two columns of small type. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. The first paragraph reads: 'Monkswell House, on the Chelsea Embankment, was the scene of a very pleasant gathering on Tuesday last, when Mr. R. C. Hawkin was the recipient of a handsome piano, presented by the members of the Atlantic Union. Mr. Hawkin was associated with the late Sir Walter Besant in founding this Union, with the object of entertaining American and colonial visitors in London.' The article reports the various speeches (Lord Monkswell, R. C. Hawkin, Sir Frederick Young, Lord Kinnaird), and gives lists of those present and of subscribers to the gift. Item Three: Printed circular. 1p., 8vo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, and aid down on leaf removed from an album. Headed 'The Atlantic Union.' Under headings 'Objects', 'Methods', 'Subscriptions, Etc.', 'The Council', 'Forthcoming Meetings' and 'Offices'. It begins: 'This is a Club or social organisation for the purpose of enabling Colonials and Americans visiting England to acquire a more intimate knowledge of English people and their customs than it is possible to gain by a residence at an hotel and casual visits to the ordinary places of interest. It is in no sense a political association, but it seeks to promote a better and kindlier spirit among the different branches of our race, by making the visits of our kinsmen to our shores partake more of a home-coming than the mere visit of a tourist to a foreign land.' No copies of the printed items traced, either on COPAC or on OCLC WorldCat.