[Lord Milner [Alfred, Viscount Milner], Liberal politician.] Autograph Letter Signed to 'Mr Ross' [the future Sir W. D. Ross], regarding the future of the philanthropic 'settlement' Toynbee Hall in Whitechapel.
See the entries for Milner and Ross in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once for postage. Addressed to 'Dear Mr Ross' and with good bold signature 'Milner'. The subject of the letter is the philanthropic ‘settlement’ Toynbee Hall in Whitechapel, founded in 1884 by Canon Barnett and Henrietta (DBE), his wife. Milner begins the letter by giving his opinion that ‘the Toynbee meeting must be put off’, as ‘Everything is in the melting pot.’ No decision has been made regarding the new warden (following the departure of Edmund Harvey the previous year), and the future site of the settlement is uncertain. ‘Nothing will be lost by waiting till we can confront the world with 1) a Man 2) a Policy.’ As things stand, he does not know ‘how I could appeal effectively to an Oxford audience to “come over & help us”’.