[ Home Office Departmental Committee on the Baronetage, 1907. ] Nine items (eight printed and one TLS), including reports, notes, and a pamphlet, from papers of Committee-member Sir Richard Harington.

The nine items are in good condition, lightly aged and worn. They derive from the papers of Sir Richard Harington of Ridlington, and reflect his dual position as a leading member of the Standing Council of the Baronetage, and a member of the Home Office Committee, which was set up to consider and report whether any, and if so what, steps should be taken to safeguard the status of the holders of Baronetcies, and to prevent the assumption of the title Baronet by persons who have no right thereto'. ONE: Pamphlet by 'Scrutator Amicus Haud Ignarus' titled 'The Ancient Baronetage and a Modern Home Office Committee'. 1907. 6pp., 8vo. Stapled in pink printed wraps. Drophead title on first page: 'The Sixth Hereditary Degree, Created as such by James I., under the Title of The Honourable Degree and Dignitie of Baronets.' Counsels caution regarding the Committee. The only copy traced at the National Library of Wales. TWO: Fourteen-page 8vo pamphlet (proof?), paginated 1-14. First page with drophead title: 'Baronetage Committee. | Appendix I. | Petition of the Society of the Baronetage to the Crown, 1901.' Unbound and unstitched. THREE: 'Report. | To the Right Honourable Herbert John Gladstone, M.P., His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department.' Signed in type at end by 'Pembroke and Montgomery. | Herbert Maxwell. | Richard Harington. | Richard Temple. | Henry Cunynghame. | Walter C. Renshaw. | T. E. Bettany, Secretary. | 12th December, 1906.' 7pp., 8vo. Divided into 24 sections, the third stating 'the main subject of our inquiry': 'the question of the means to be taken to prevent the assumption of the title of baronet by persons who have no right thereto'. FOUR: Document containging four-page 'Standing Council of the Baronetage. | Fourth Annual Report of the Executive Committee, to be presented to the Annual General Assembly of the 13th June, 1907.' Stamped 20 May 1907. 6pp., 4to. Begins: 'Sirs, | 1. - It is now more than nine years since the ancient hereditary Baronetage, on learning of a fresh attack about to be made on its covenanted Privileges, held a meeting in London, and formed a defensive Honourable Society, whoswe powers and duties, after it had petitioned the Crown, were transferred to ourselves.' States that 'this Committee of Inquiry had two important subjects entrusted to it for consideration and report, viz., the status of Baronets, and the question of wrongful assumptions; besides that of dealing with George III's Warrants.' FIVE: 'Standing Council of the Baronetage. | Shorthand Notes of Proceedings at the Fourth Annual General Assembly, held Thursday, 13th June, 1907.' 11pp., 4to. Stapled. Stamped 23 July 1907. Harington makes a long contribution (more than a page of small print), followed by four shorter ones. 'having regard to the position he had the honour of occupying on the Committee of Inquiry, and added: - With regard to those proceedings, it will, of course, be understood that what passed in the Committee Room is confidential, and I am not at liberty to say here more than that I have the authority of our Chairman, Lord Pembroke, to refer to, or what appears upon the Report, and what may be necessarily inferred therefrom'. SIX: 'Minute of Appointment' of the six individuals 'to consider and report whether any, and if so what, steps should be taken to safeguard the status of the holders of Baronetcies, and to prevent the assumption of the title Baronet by persons who have no right thereto'. With title: 'Home Offie. | Report of the Departmental Committee appointed by the Secretary of State for the Home Department to inquire into certain matters connected with the Baronetage.' H.M.S.O., 1907. 3pp., 8vo. SEVEN: Typed Letter Signed to Sir Richard Harington, Whitbourne Court, Worcester, from Francis W. Pixley, Registrar of the Standing Council of the Baronetage. On letterhead of the Council's Office, 58 Coleman Street, London EC. 18 June 1907. 'The report of the Home Office Departmental Committee in connection with the Baronetage, was submitted to a General Convention of the Baronetage held on the 13th inst., and I am instructed to send you a copy of the Resolutions passed thereat, and which I inclose.' Enclosing EIGHT: Duplicated typescript, 1p., 8vo., giving three 'Resolutions' of the 'Convention' on 'numbers I. And II. of the Appendix to the Report of the Home Office Committee of Inquiry'. Stamped with date 19 June 1907. NINE: Typed document: copy (1p., 8vo) of 'the report of the Committee appointed by your predecessor in office the Right Honourable Aretas Akers-Douglas to inquire and report on certain matters connected with the Baronetage', with covering copy (1p., 8vo) of letter of 12 December 1906 from T. E. Bettany of the Home Office to the Home Secretary Herbert John Gladstone.