[‘the Leap in the Dark’: Sir Frederick Pollock on the Second Reform Act.] Autograph Letter Signed (‘Fred Pollock’) to Sir Thomas Baring on General Jonathan Peel’s resignation over the Second Reform Act, which he calls‘this downward movement’.

See the entries for Pollock, Peel and Baring in the Oxford DNB. 3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with traces of mount adhering to blank reverse of second leaf. Folded twice. Addressed to ‘My dear Baring’. He begins by thanking him for his ‘introductions - & the kindness of your letter that enclosed them’. In reference to Sir Robert Peel’s son Jonathan Peel (1799-1879), who had resigned from the Tory cabinet in protest at the Second Reform Act, he writes that he agrees with Baring about ‘General Peel’, who will be a ‘public loss - I always thought (when I came to know him) his abilities quite equal to Sir Robert’s in point of sound good sense & knowledge of the world & those that live in it’ (all of the last fourteen words underlined except for ampersands). He continues: ‘I shall myself shortly complete my 85th. Year but I enjoy a large portion of health & take still a lively interest in what is going on’. He is ‘very curious to see the result of this downward movement - “the Leap in the Dark”’.