[‘I think we must do something’: Augustine Birrell, author and Liberal Party politician.] Four Autograph Letters Signed and one Autograph Note Signed to A. G. L. Rogers, Secretary of Liberal Publication Department, regarding public relations plans.

While his entry in the Oxford DNB notes that Birrell was a loyal supporter of Gladstone in the early part of his parliamentary career, it does not allude to his intimate involvement during that period in what would now be called the public relations of his party, as evidenced by this correspondence, which comes from the papers of Arthur George Liddon Rogers (1864-1944), son of the editor of the economist Thorold Rogers, and written while Rogers was Secretary of the Liberal Publication Department, a position to which he was appointed in November 1891. The five items are in good condition, lightly aged and folded for postage. The four letters total 13pp, 12mo, and are on four bifoliums. One is unsigned although apparently complete (it has ‘At Sherringham’ written at the end); the other three letters and the note are signed ‘A Birrell’. Birrell begins the unsigned letter (written on ‘Sunday’ from The Pightle, on cancelled The Clyffe letterhead): ‘I think we must do something. I will revise the H[ome]. R[ule]. pamphlet if you send me the necessary documents’. He asks: ‘Is anything [?] done as to the short historical account of the proceedings in Committee with apt quotations? This ought to be ready for the oratorical campaign, if there is to be one in the Autumn Recess. / What about the Lords? We ought to analyse the Dossier List & be sarcastic at the expense of the whipped up gang of nobodies.’ He ends ‘Have you a quorum? If so whip ’em up & discuss the subject. What about Betterment & the action of the Lords - Benn might write a leaflet for us.’ A letter of ‘Oct 6’, can be dated to 1893, as it discusses plans for publication of what appeared in that year as ‘The Liberal magazine: A Periodical for the use of Liberal Speakers and Canvassers’ (ceasing publication in 1950). That letter begins: ‘The holy days are undoubtedly slipping through my fingers & before many days are over I shall be recalled to Town - but I can’t exactly say when. The first moments of my return shall be dedicated to you. / In the meantime I will pay the utmost attention to any points you may submit to me. / The Liberal Magazine is a harmless title & I daresay the best. The Radical will turn up his [supposedly?] ill-shaped probscis at the name. When will you get your first number out? You mention complaints. To what points are they directed. Insufficiency of matter? or inefficiency of style & treatment or both. We ought to boil down Macmillan’s Book ‘50 years of the House of Lords’ into a short pamphlet. I recommended this being done months ago. Let me know the present situation of affairs at the Office.’ In another letter he discusses his plans with regard to a meeting, observing ‘I really don’t see that we are much behind-hand, but if speed is wanted, it does not do to be too particular. Macmillan’s Book was I daresay not perfect, but it was good enough for our purposes which are momentary.’ If Rogers has ‘any tracts ready’ he should bring them with him to the meeting. A third letter, written in red ink begins: ‘I don’t like your Tractate at all. / I think more is better - but I am not so enamoured of it as I usually am of my own writings. Set it up & we will consider them both tomorrow.’ The note of 14 January 1894 simply reads: ‘Dear Rogers / I return Cheque. / Yours / A Birrell’.