Collection of ten testimonials (nine printed and one in his hand) supporting Gatty's application to Lord Kimberley for 'a Colonial legal appointment'.

As one of the authors makes clear, the collection was assembled by Gatty himself, for forwarding to Lord Kimberley and others in support of his application. It is on aged paper, with all texts clear and complete, except for two small central holes (affecting two words) in one of the printed testimonials (Wake). The ten items are attached to one another by a brass pin in the top left-hand corner. The transcription (marked 'Copy' at the head) by Gatty is 12mo, 2 pp, reproduces a glowing testimonial on Gatty's behalf by George Ridding, D.D., Headmaster of Winchester College, to the Earl of Kimberley: 'He was a boy of original ability amounting to genius of a high order and as an officer he showed very unusual force of character and readiness to take responsibility and was fearless in maintaining what was good.' The nine printed testimonials, each addressed to Gatty in early December, are all on one side of a loose leaf of 12mo paper. Some carry brief details regarding the author's position in Gatty's hand. The writers are as follows: Tindal Atkinson ('Sergeant at Law | Judge of County Courts'); John E. Barker ('Recorder of Leeds'); Thomas Ellison ('Judge of County Courts'); Sir J. B. Maule ('Public Prosecutor'); Lord Norton ('Late W.S.S. for Colonies & President B of Trade'); William Overend, Q.C.; Earl of Wharncliffe ('Chairman of Quarter Sessions West Riding Yorkshire'); Bernard Wake (President of the Sheffield District Incorporated Law Society); Alfred Wills, Q.C. ('Recorder of Sheffield & leader of the Bar on North Eastern circuit' and 'Now Sir Alfred W. Justice of Supreme Court'). Some of the testimonials are fulsome in their praise, and several contain biographical information (for example that of Wills, who practiced with Gatty, and that of Barker, in whose chambers Gatty worked when he was called to the Bar). An unusual legal item from the residue of Sir Stephen H. Gatty's papers.