[The horologist who designed the Big Ben clock: Sir Edmund Beckett Denison (latterly Lord Grimthorpe).] Three Autograph Letters Signed to Edward Hayes Plumptre, regarding the business of Westminster girls’ school Queen’s College.

The third of these letters in particular gives a good indication of his Yorkshire bluntness (his entry in the Oxford DNB describes him as ‘a man of arrogance and bile, [...] capable of generosity, strong friendships, and kindness towards people in need of help’). The three items are in good condition, lightly aged; the third with slight wear along one edge. All three are signed ‘E B Denison’ and the second and third are addressed to ‘My dear Plumptre’. ONE (14 January 1856): 3pp, 4to. This letter concerns Queen’s College, the girls’ school founded in 1848 by Denison’s relation Frederick Denison Maurice, of which Plumptre would be Head, 1875-1879. Subscribed ‘Chairman of the meeting of the Council this day’, and addressed ‘To the Chairman of the Committee of Education’. Begins: ‘Mr Nicolay is anxious that the Committee of Education should be informed of the opinion of the Council respecting the taking of Boarders in the new house (No 68 Harley St.)’. He reports the resolutions of the council, who ‘think that the matter is now so far advanced that we may ask the Committee to come to a decision on the subject of taking boarders [...] We beg also to suggest that it is desirable that the meeting or meetings on this subject should be attended by as many of the Professors as possible, as it is a matter seriously affecting their pecuniary interests’. TWO (‘Valentines day’, 1870): 2pp, 16mo. ‘By this time you have possibly got my letter of yesterday, which I took to the College expecting to see you & not observing that it was dated on Monday.’ After a brief discussion of College business he gives this in a postscript: ‘Crassweller came this morning wanted us to guarantee him in an action which a livery stable man is bringing against him for what he calls a nuisance in carrying off the rubbish through the Mews, which Spooner referred to in his letter to you. Of course I did no such thing. It may, or may not, turn out that we shall have to do nothing, but Crassweller will settle very differently for himself & [yours?].’ THREE (3 April 1870): 2pp, 12mo. ‘Spooner’s account’ of Crassweller is ‘not very satisfactory’, but he has signed the cheque to him. ‘I have told Bailey that his continued employment is a disgrace to the Portland Estate, after all that Bailey knows of him - & the Duke [i.e. the Duke of Portland, extensive London landowner] too - By allmeans [sic] try the Duke again if you think it will do any good. I have a strong persuasion that (in spite of Spooner) we ought to have tried to get the building condemned by the M. Board & made it a landlord’s job’. He continues: ‘I have never heard of a 60 year marriage continuans before my father & mother’s. I shall not be in London on Wednesday for more than sleeping at any rate, especially as our kitchen boiler is bust.’ Postscript refers to ‘Bickley liberality towards Q. C.’ and Lady Stanley.