[Samuel Smiles, railway administrator and author of 'Self-Help'.] Autograph notebook, containing information relating to his work as Secretary of the South Eastern Railway, including memorandums, tables and transcripts of letters.

According to Smiles's entry in the Oxford DNB, he was 'prominent in the negotiations for the amalgamation of the Leeds and Thirsk Railway [by which he was employed] with the North Eastern, which was effected in 1854 and abolished his own office. Thereupon he left Leeds for London on being appointed secretary to the South Eastern Railway (11 November). He held the post for twelve years, in the course of which he successfully arranged for the extension of the line from Charing Cross to Cannon Street (1858–9). He left the South Eastern Railway on 30 August 1866 and became president of the National Provident Institution.' The present item contains entries dating from between 1854 (the year of his appointment as Secretary to the SER) to 1884, indicating that his interest in the company and subject of railways extended beyond his resignation in 1866. It consists of 98pp. of autograph text, with a further 3pp. with printed matter laid down, in a 12mo notebook. In good condition, in rebacked brown calf binding, with new red label gilt on spine and marbled endpapers. Small white circular label with shelfmark from the 'Michael G. Max Collection'. Paginated by Smiles to 250, with the text on pp.1-7, 9-10, 15-18, 21-25, 29-31, 33, 37, 39, 43, 46-50, 54-56, 58-66, 69-88, 91-92, 96-98, 101-102, 110, 113-124, 135-136, 139, 141-151, 154-155; and printed matter laid down on pp.67 (card carrying a six-column table by 'Flint & Co. Coal Fitters, &c. | Newcastle Statute Coal Measure, converted into Weight, and Relative Prices given.'), 105 (cutting headed by note by Smiles: 'Charing Cross Capital | Extract from S. E. Halfyearly report to 31 July 1864') and 205 (list of Kent, Sussex and Surrey newspapers, with their prices and publishers' details). The other 149pp. are blank. Preceded by a thumb index, with 15pp. of subject entries by Smiles. Paperclipped to the first leaf of the index is part of a leaf from a diary, carrying the signature 'Samuel Smiles' beside a laid-down small (2cm high) oval head-and-shoulders photographic portrait of an aged Smiles. Pp.1-8 carry 'The Company's Acts', of which there are 35. Over two pages (64 and 65) is a table giving 'Date of opening of the Lines', from Tunbridge (26 May 1842) to 'Addiscombe Branch April 1864'. This list of 'Openings' is continued on pp.135 to 136, ending with 'West Combe Park Stn. May 1879 | Aldershot Town Stn. running over S.W.R. [May 1879]'. Another table, on p.96, is headed 'Dividends on £7,433,700 South Eastern Railway Consolidated Stock'. Pp.114-117 concern 'Dues paid by Vessels carrying Cargoes To Boulogne [To Calais]' and 'Dues paid on Passenger Vessels To Boulogne [To Calais]'. P.66 carries 'Locomotive Facts'. Pp.69-73 carry 'Tables for estimating Dividends &c', including a full-page table of 'Fixed charges and Estimate of General Expenditure'. Pp.74-75, headed 'Memorandum of Loan powers', appear to have been glued together by Smiles. Pp.80-83 carry a transcript of a letter from Smiles ('Secretary's Letter to Law Clerk | 22nd. June 1861') on 'Election rotation of Directors'; followed by a transcript of the reply (pp.83-88) of John Charles Rees, 2 July 1861. Other sections include: 'Meetings of Company' (with final seven-page addendum dated to 1878); 'Voting at Meetings of Coy'; 'Election of Directors'; 'Qualification of Directors' (including subsection on 'Rotation of Retirement Directors'), 'The Chairman & deputy Chairman'; 'Auditors'; 'Bye-Laws' and 'Dividends'. P.46, headed 'Appointment of Auditors', carries a transcript of a letter from D. A. Freeman to James MacGregor MP, dated from Old Jewry, 7 September 1852. Pp.154-155 carries a transcript of a letter to John Shaw, Secretary, from George Whately, on the topic of 'Coal Dues', dated 14 March 1884. P.139: 'Consumption of Coal per hour by Company's Steamers [Albert Victor; Louise Dagmar; 'Victoria' class; 'Clementine' class]', preceded by transcript of letter from H. Boxer of the S.E.R. Steam Packet Department, Folkestone Harbour to John Shaw, 9 May 1882. Pp.47-48, transcribes the 'Counsel's Opinion' on the 'Election of Auditors', by W. Bagley of the Inner Temple, February 1856. Pp.141-146 carry tables of 'Dividends on Ordinary Stock paid by the Co. Rate % and Amount'. On pp.48-50 is Bagley's opinion on 'Qualification of Auditors', 3 February 1858. There is also a list of 'Equivalent Weights - English & French', 'Law of Proxies' (with 'Mr O'Malley's opinion' and his 'Further opinion'). The subjects in the index include: Election of Auditors (with 'Counsel's Opinion'); Bye Laws for election of Directs; Coal consumed by Companys Steamers; Dues paid by Vessels carrying Cargoes to Boulogne & Calais; Draught of water of Vessels Folkestone & Whitstable; depth of Harbours; London Bridge Station - Passenters to & from; Mortgage Debt; tables on Metric system of Weights & measures; 'O'Malley Mr. Opinions as to Proxies'; 'Opening of Lines on S: E: R: [and 'London C[hatha]m. & Dover Ry' and 'Charing X Ry'; Form of Proxy, settled by Mr Rees; Price of shares 1846& 1858; Refreshment Rooms; Seal of Co-custody; Tunbridge Junctions.