[J. L. Motley, American historian of the ‘Dutch Republic’.] Autograph Letter Signed to the editor of the Times of London, J. T. Delane, discussing his failing health and hope for a review of his latest (and perhaps last) work.

A poignant letter. See Delane’s entry in the Oxford DNB. 3pp, 16mo. Bifolium. In good condition, with neat thin strip from Victorian windowpane mount adhering to edges of second leaf. Folded for postage. 32 lines, closely written. Presumably with reference to his ‘Life and Death of John of Barneveld’, Motley begins: ‘My dear Delane / Just before leaving England ten days ago in search of health (a fugitive very hard to catch) I begged Murray to send you a copy of a work which was to come out almost immediately. / It was placed in the printer’s hands three or four days before my sudden & violent illness last summer, the exaggerated accounts of which you were so very kind in helping me to contradict.’ He hopes that Delane will ‘think it worthy of attention’, and that he will ‘find place for a review in the Times of the last work with which I am likely to trouble the public - at least for a long time to come’. He observes that Delane has always been ‘most kind to my former efforts’, concluding: ‘My strength - which has been much used up by the journey hither will not allow me to add more than my sincere wishes for a happy new Year & assurance that I am / Most faithfully Yrs / J. L. Motley’.