OF

[Wilfrid Ball, artist and etcher.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Wilfrid Ball') to 'Mrs. Barnard', giving news of his work, including '"slogging" away at water-colours', and submitting 'an oil to the Academy' which 'they are sure to kick [...] out'.

Author: 
Wilfrid Ball [Wilfrid Williams Ball] (1853-1917), landscape and marine painter and etcher, President of the Society of British Artists
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 4 Albemarle Street, W. [London] 3 April 1894.
£120.00

2pp, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. He thanks her for remembering him and sending 'that splendid photograph of yourself – I really think it is the best I have seen'. He continues: 'I have been “slogging” away at water-colours for a shew in Manchester and so have kept pretty busy.' He is sending 'a Nile water colour to the New Gallery', and has sent 'an oil to the Academy – they are sure to kick it out so I shan't mind'. He hopes that she and her sister 'are all right' and 'enjoying this lovely weather'.

[William Smith O'Brien [Liam Mac Gabhann Ó Briain], Irish nationalist.] Autograph Signature ('W S Obrien') cut from document.

Author: 
William Smith O'Brien [Liam Mac Gabhann Ó Briain] (1803-1864), Irish nationalist MP, leader of the Young Ireland movement, deported to Van Diemen's Land after 1848 Young Irelander Rebellion
Publication details: 
Without place or date.
£120.00

On 4 x 5.5 cm piece of paper. In good condition, laid down on square of paper cut from leaf removed from album. An uncommon signature and an unusual one, consisting of a single line in a series of up and down strokes, diminishing in height, tapering off to the right before returning for the underlining.

[Richard Chenevix Trench, Irish poet and Archbishop of Dublin.] Autograph Note Signed ('Richd. C. Dublin') to Miss Julia Glover, in response to a request for an autograph.

Author: 
Richard Chenevix Trench [Richard Trench until 1873] (1807-1886), irish poet and Anglican cleric, Archbishop of Dublin, Primate of All Ireland
Publication details: 
The Palace, Dublin. 28 September 1874.
£28.00

1p, 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged. Reads: 'Palace Dublin | Sept 28/74 | Madam | I send you the autograph which you desire. | Yr. obedt. Servt | Richd. C. Dublin | Miss Julia Glover'.

[Lord Castlereagh, Tory Foreign Secretary at the Congress of Vienna, hated by Byron and Shelley.] Autograph Letter in the third person, as 'Lord Londonderry', asking him to present a book to the king from 'Monsieur de Martens'.

Author: 
Lord Castlereagh [Robert Stewart, 2nd Marquess of Londonderry; styled Viscount Castlereagh, 1769-1821] (1769-1822), Tory Foreign Secretary at Congress of Vienna, hated by Byron, Shelley and radicals
Publication details: 
'St James' Square | 1 May /22 [1822]'.
£56.00

2pp., 12mo. On bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Reads: 'Lord Londonderry presents his compliments to Mr Watson and begs to forward to him a letter and book which he has been requested by Monsieur de Martens to present to His Majesty'. Londonderry was considered a repressive figure by the radicals. In a poem Byron called on travellers to piss on his grave, and in 'The Masque of Anarchy' Shelley wrote: 'I met murder on the way, | He had a mask like Castlereagh.' Within months of the present communication Londonderry would commit suicide.

[Frances Anne Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, grandmother of Winston Churchill.] Autograph Letter in the third person to 'Mr. Adam', regarding the Duke's attendance at a parliamentary 'Committee on the Vane Estate Bill'.

Author: 
Frances Anne Spencer-Churchill [Lady Frances Anne Emily Vane] (1822-1899), Duchess of Marlborough, wife of the seventh Duke, John Spencer-Churchill (1822-1883), and grandmother of Winston Churchill
Publication details: 
On embossed letterhead of Blenheim Palace, Oxon. 26 July 1861.
£65.00

4pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. She asks Adams to inform her 'what day has been fixed for the Committee in the Vane Estate Bill' (in which she clearly has a family interest), continuing: 'When the Duke of Marlborough saw Mr Adam with Lord Redesdale last night he understood that Tuesday next was the day on which he was to be present in order to give his consent to the Bill; he has since heard from Mr. Wagstaff to say that Friday or the following Monday will be the earliest day on which the Bill can be committed.

[The Fall of Fort Bowyer to the British, following the Battle of New Orleans, 1815.] Contemporary Manuscript Copy of Autograph Despatch from Major John Lambert to Earl Bathurst, describing the action.

Author: 
Sir John Lambert (1772-1847), British Army general in the Napoleonic Wars [Henry Bathurst (1762-1834), 3rd Earl Bathurst; Battle of New Orleans and Fall of Fort Bowyer, 1815]
Publication details: 
'Head Quarters Isle Dauphine | February 14th. 1815.' [On paper with Golding & Snelgrove watermark dated 1811.]
£750.00

3pp, foolscap 8vo. On laid paper with watermark: 'GOLDING | & | SNELGROVE | 1811'. Aged and worn, with closed tears along folds, but with text complete and clear. The document includes two passages written in red ink which has faded but is still legible. The background to the present letter is given in Lambert's entry in the Oxford DNB: 'On 4 June 1813 Lambert was promoted major-general, and was appointed to a brigade of the 6th division. […] Having been sent to America, he joined the army under Sir Edward Pakenham below New Orleans on 6 January 1815, with the 7th and 43rd foot regiments.

[Poland; Jan Zygmunt Skrzynecki, Commander-in-Chief of the November Uprising.] Conclusion of Autograph Letter Signed ('Skygnecki.'), in French, to 'Le General Lt. de Tahlen', regarding the needs 'de la nation Polonoise' for religion and liberty.

Author: 
Jan Zygmunt Skrzynecki (1787-1860), Polish general, Commander-in-Chief of the November Uprising against Russia, 1830-1831
Publication details: 
'Varsovie 12 Mars 1831.' [Warsaw, Poland; 12 March 1831.]
£600.00

Lower half of a 4to leaf. In good condition, lightly aged, with stub from mount adhering. Written in old-fashioned, and not entirely grammatical, French, the text reads: '[…] de la nation Polonoise a la quelle S. M. donneroit le garanties necessaires, sous le respect de la stabilité des droits qu'elle réclame et qui sont fondés sur deux besoins absolus: la religion e le [sic] liberté. | A greez M. le M. l'assurance de plus [?] consideration avec la quelle je suis &c Varsovie 12 Mars 1831. | Skygnecki | Monsieur le Comte | Le Genenral Lt.

[Charlotte Helen Sainton-Dolby, English contralto.] Autograph Note Signed ('Charlotte H Sainton Dolby'), complying with a request [for an autograph].

Author: 
Charlotte Helen Sainton-Dolby (1821-1885), English contralto, singing teacher and composer
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 71 Gloucester Place, Hyde Park, W. [London] No date.
£25.00

1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, with small trace of glue from mount at foot. Folded twice. Reads: 'Dear Madam | I have much pleasure in complying with your request & beg to remain | Yours faithfully | Charlotte H Sainton Dolby'. See her entry in the Oxford DNB.

[John Caird, Principal of the University of Glasgow.] Autograph Letter Signed ('J. Caird.') to 'Miss Marshall', regarding his wife's illness, and the recipient sharing 'in the management of her stall'.

Author: 
John Caird (1820-1898), Church of Scotland theologian, noted preacher, and Principal of the University of Glasgow, 1873-1898
Publication details: 
On letterhead of The University, Glasgow. 14 March [no year].
£56.00

2pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. He sends her belated thanks for her 'kind compliance with Mrs. Caird's request'. His wife has been very ill since he received her letter, but he believes that 'the critical stage of the disease is fairly over; & besides her illness, the death of an old servant, has left me little time to attend to other engagements'. Mrs Caird is 'much gratified' that Marshall is 'to share in management of her stall'.

[Jan Zygmunt Skrzynecki, Commander-in-Chief of the November Uprising.] Conclusion of Autograph Letter Signed ('Skygnecki.'), in French, to 'Le General Lt. de Tahlen', regarding the needs 'de la nation Polonoise' for religion and liberty.

Author: 
Jan Zygmunt Skrzynecki (1787-1860), Polish general, Commander-in-Chief of the November Uprising against Russia, 1830-1831
Publication details: 
'Varsovie 12 Mars 1831.' [Warsaw, Poland; 12 March 1831.]
£750.00

Lower half of a 4to leaf. In good condition, lightly aged, with stub from mount adhering. Written in old-fashioned, and not entirely grammatical, French, the text reads: '[…] de la nation Polonoise a la quelle S. M. donneroit le garanties necessaires, sous le respect de la stabilité des droits qu'elle réclame et qui sont fondés sur deux besoins absolus: la religion e le [sic] liberté. | A greez M. le M. l'assurance de plus [?] consideration avec la quelle je suis &c Varsovie 12 Mars 1831. | Skygnecki | Monsieur le Comte | Le Genenral Lt.

[Sydney Smith, 'The Smith of Smiths', wit and author.] Four Autograph Letters Signed to 'Mrs Cunliffe' [Elizabeth Emma Cunliffe Offley, daughter of Lord Crewe], good natured and vivacious.

Author: 
Sydney Smith (1771-1845), 'The Smith of Smiths', wit, author and cleric [Elizabeth Emma Cunliffe Offley (1780-1850), daughter of Lord Crewe and wife of MP Foster Cunliffe Offley]
Publication details: 
Three letters from London addresses: 3 Weymouth Street [Portland Place], no date [c. 1835]; 33 Charles Street, Berkeley Square, 31 April 1839; 56 Green Street, Grosvenor Square, 18 February 1842. Last letter with no place or date [London, c. 1824].
£450.00

The four items in good condition, lightly aged, with stubs from mounts still adhering. The first three are bifoliums, carrying seals in red wax (that to the third letter broken). The second letter is addressed to her at Grosvenor Square; the third and fourth to her at Upper Brook Street. ONE: No place or date. [London, on paper with watermark of 'J GREEN & SON | 1824'.] 1p, 12mo.

[William Ewart Gladstone, as Prime Minister, to the Duchess of Edinburgh (Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia).] Autograph Letter Signed ('W E Gladstone'), sending her 'specimens of labour performed in a field which is now not much frequented'

Author: 
William Ewart Gladstone, Liberal Prime Minister [Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia (1874-1900), daughter of Tsar Alexander II of Russia and Duchess of Edinburgh as wife of Prince Alfred]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Hawarden Castle, Chester. 13 December 1883.
£120.00

2pp, 12mko. In fair condition, aged and worn, with slight discoloration along central horizontal fold. Addressed to 'Her Imperial & Royal Highness | The Duchess of Edinburgh'. Reads: 'Madam | At Windsor Your Imperial & Royal Highness was good enough to say I might send these specimens of labour performed in a field which is now not much frequented | Under cover of the permission thus accorded, I take the liberty allowed, and add my request that it may not entail the trouble of any acknowledgment | I have the honour to be | Your I. R. Highness's | most faithful humble servant | W E Gladstone'.

[Leslie Hotson and Norman Holmes Pearson on a George Washington letter.] Autograph Letter Signed from Hotson, and Typed Letter Signed from Pearson, both to Robert Beloe, discussing the proposed sale of his George Washington letter.

Author: 
Leslie Hotson [John Leslie Hotson] (1897-1992), authority on Elizabethan literature; Norman Holmes Pearson (1909-75), Yale academic [Robert Beloe (1905-84), educationalist; George Washington]
Publication details: 
Hotson's letter from Northford, Connecticut (but sent from a museum in Pieter Cornelisz Hooftstraat, Amsterdam), 29 January 1955. Pearson's letter from 233 Hall of Graduate Studies, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, 1 February 1955.
£120.00

Two Air Mail letters, both in fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Both letters are addressed to Beloe (author of the 1960 Beloe Report - education at The Hill House, Queen's Road, Richmond, Surrey. The subject of the two letters is a letter from George Washington to Lieutenant Governor Dinwiddie, Belvoir, 7 March 1754, beginning ''Honble. Sir | If the Vessel you Honour hir'd of Colo. Eyre has not left York'. The letter is now at Mount Vernon. ONE: Hotson's letter, signed 'Leslie Hotson'. 29 January 1955. 1p., 12mo.

[Edward Gordon, Lord Penrhyn, Scottish politician and industrialist in Wales.] Autograph Signature ('Penrhyn'), as Lord Lieutenant of Carnarvon, to Manuscript Commission appointing D. G. Griffiths a lieutenant in the Royal Carnarvon Rifle Militia.

Author: 
Edward Gordon, Lord Penrhyn [Edward Gordon Douglas-Pennant, 1st Baron Penrhyn] (1800-1886), Scottish politician and Welsh industrialist [Captain David Glynne Griffith, Royal Carnarvon Rifle Militia]
Publication details: 
14 June 1869.
£120.00

1p., foolscap 8vo. In good condition, lightly aged. On bifolium, folded twice into the customary packet, which is endorsed on the reverse of the second leaf: 'Dated 14th. June 1869. | The Right Honorable Lord Penrhyn | to | David Glynne Griffith Gentn | Commission as Lieutenant in the Royal Carnarvon Militia'. Added in another hand at foot: 'Gazetted 18th. June 1869.' . The twenty-three line commission of 'David Glynne Grifffith Gentleman (late Lieutenant 3rd. Regiment' is in a secretarial hand, signed at the foot by Penrhyn as 'Her Majesty's Lieutenant of the County of Carnarvon'.

[Joseph Jekyll, lawyer, politician and wit.] Autograph jeu d'esprit, signed 'J Jekyll.', addressed to 'Mr Erskine' [i.e. Thomas Erskine, future Lord Chancellor], short poem regarding 'Mrs. Crewe' and Jekyll sitting 'on Lunacy'.

Author: 
Joseph Jekyll (1754-1837), Scottish lawyer, politician and wit [Lord Erskine [Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine] (1750-1823), Lord Chancellor]
Publication details: 
No place. Dated 30 June 1800.
£220.00

1p, 8vo. On bifolium addressed on verso of second leaf to 'Mr. Erskine'. In good condition, lightly aged. Autograph jeu d'esprit, signed at foot 'J. Jekyll. | June 30th. 1800'. A short poem reading: 'Tell Mrs. Crewe | I envy You. | But sit on Lu- | nacy. || Yet Mrs. Crewe | will think I'm stu | pid in my lu | -cid Intervals.' Jekyll's entry in the Oxford DNB concludes, perhaps unkindly: 'If he is remembered by later generations, it is chiefly as a wit. It has to be said, however, that his wit, which consisted in large measure of excruciating puns, has not lasted well.'

['The notorious Lady Craven', i.e. Lady Elizabeth Craven, Margravine of Anspach.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Elizabeth'), explaining (to her publisher Henry Colburn?) a passage from her 'Memoirs' regarding the 'Pye […] Calld Paté de Peregeux'.

Author: 
Elizabeth Craven, Lady Craven, Margravine of Anspach [Margravine of Brandenburg-Ansbach-Bayreuth; born Lady Elizabeth Berkeley] (1750-1828), courtesan [Henry Colburn, London publisher]
Publication details: 
No place. 'Saturday | 5 Mar 14 [i.e. 1814]
£280.00

1p, 8vo. On laid paper with watermarked date 1811. In good condition, lightly aged, with stub from mount adhering. In a contemporary hand at head: '0 15', and at foot '5 Mar 14' and 'Margravin Anspach'.

[Lord Stanley (later Earl of Derby) and West Indian trade.] Manuscript, signed by Stanley, of a 'Circular Dispatch to Governors of West Indian Colonies' on the 'Act to amend the laws for the regulation of the Trade of the British Possessions abroad'.

Author: 
Earl of Derby, British Prime Minister [Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby] (1799-1869), as Lord Stanley [Sir Frederick Peel (1823-1906), Liberal MP; British West Indian colonies]
Publication details: 
The present draft dated from Downing Street, 30 July 1842. The circular as published, from teh same place, 17 August 1842.
£320.00

An apparently-unique Manuscript – signed by Lord Stanley as Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, and dated from 'Downing Street, | 30: July 1842' – of what W. P. Morrell describes in his 'British Colonial Policy in the Age of Peel and Russell' (1966) as a 'Circular Dispatch to Governors of West Indian Colonies', regarding the 'Act to amend the laws for the regulation of the Trade of the British Possessions abroad' (5 & 6 Vic. c. 49). The document discusses the act with regard to 'the West Indian Colonists' and 'the British Possessions in South America and the West Indies'.

[Richard Garnett, biographer and poet.] Autograph Letter Signed ('R. Garnett') to 'Mrs. Epps', regarding the forthcoming visit of her party to the British Museum.

Author: 
Richard Garnett (1835-1906), biographer and poet, Assistant Keeper of Printed Books in the British Museum
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the British Museum [London]. 'Saturday' [no date].
£56.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, aged and spotted. Reads: 'Dear Mrs. Epps, | I shall be very glad to see you and your party this afternoon; or, if I am not able to be with you, an assistant shall meet you in the hall at 3.'

[Hugh Gaitskell, Leader of the Labour Party.] Typed Letter Signed to 'Rowe', sending Christmas greetings.

Author: 
Hugh Gaitskell [Hugh Todd Naylor Gaitskell] (1906-1963), Leader of the Labour Party
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Treasury Chambers, Great George Street, S.W.1. [London] 10 January 1951.
£56.00

1p., 4to. The salutation 'My dear Rowe,' and the valediction 'Yours sincerely | Hugh Gaitskell' are in Gaitskell's autograph, written in red ink; the rest of the letter is typed. Aged and worn, with discoloration and a small insect crushed onto a blank part. Reads: 'Many thanks for your kind Christmas note and good wishes.

[Constantin François, Comte de Volney.] Autograph Letter Signed ('C Volney'), in English, to the publisher Sir Richard Phillips, discussing plans for a new London edition of his 'Ruins of Empires', previously translated by Thomas Jefferson.

Author: 
Comte de Volney [Constantin François de Chassebœuf, Comte de Volney] (1757-1820), radical French politician [Sir Richard Phillips (1767-1840), author and publisher; Thomas Jefferson; Joel Barlow]
Publication details: 
Paris. 3 August 1818.
£1,200.00

Volney's 'Ruines' (1791) was extremely influential, particularly in the United States. In 1796 Volney met Thomas Jefferson at Monticello to discuss Jefferson's plan to translate the book into English. Jefferson had completed the greater part of his translation by the time he mounted his 1800 bid for the presidency, at which point he handed over the project to Joel Barlow, who translated the last four chapters and, at Jefferson's request, put his name to the whole translation, which was published in 1801.

[Constantin François, Comte de Volney.] Autograph Note in the third person, 'au Ministre du tresor public', presenting a copy of his 'Tableau du Climat et du Sol des Etats-Unis'.

Author: 
Comte de Volney [Constantin François de Chassebœuf, Comte de Volney] (1757-1820), radical French politician and friend of Thomas Jefferson
Publication details: 
Without place or date. [Replied to on 25 October 1803.]
£750.00

1p., 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. On bifolium with stub from mount adhering to blank second leaf. Neatly written and reading: 'Le Senateur Volney a l'honneur d'offrir au Ministre du tresor public, comme a l'un des juges les plus competens et les plus Eclairés l'examplaire ci-joint de Son Nouveau livre Tableau du climat et du Sol des Etats-unis D'Amerique | et leprie d'agreer des tres humbles civilités.' At the head of the page the recipient has written: 'Rep. 2o Br[umair]e. 12. [i.e.

[Henry Hallam, historian, responds indignantly to Dr Thomas Arnold's claim that he has made 'false quotations'.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Henry Hallam') [to Dr Thomas Arnold], defending himself against an allegation made in a lecture at Oxford.

Author: 
Henry Hallam (1777-1859), English Whig historian [Dr Thomas Arnold (1795-1842), headmaster of Rugby School, and Regius Professor of History at Oxford]
Publication details: 
24 Wilton Crescent [London]. 28 February 1842.
£180.00

4pp., 4to. Bifolium with mourning border. In fair condition, lightly aged, with short closed tears at edges of some folds. An excellent letter, indignantly countering what must be the most serious accusation one historian can level against another, that of making 'false quotations'. The recipient is not named, but from the context is undoubtedly the Headmaster of Rugby School, Thomas Arnold, who since the previous year had held the Regius Professorship of History at Oxford, and would die four months later, on 12 June 1842.

[Kamehameha IV, King of Hawaii.] Autograph Letter in the third person, to the British Representative on Hawaii, W. W. F. Synge, declining 'Mr. Allan's invitation' and thanking him for the loan of a magazine.

Author: 
Kamehameha IV [born Alexander ?Iolani Liholiho] (1834-1863), fourth King of Hawaii, 1855-1863 [William Webb Follett Synge (1826-1891), diplomat and author]
Hawaian
Publication details: 
'Hamaikamalama [sic] | Sunday Morning.' No date, but between 1861 and 1863.
£350.00
Hawaian

1p., 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. Reads: 'Hamaikamalama [sic] | Sunday Morning. | The King wishes to acknowledge Mr. Synge's Kindness in sending him the “Saturday Review”, which will be returned after perusal. - | The King & Queen regret they cannot accept Mr. Allan's invitation to be of the morning's riding party. - | To H. B. M. Representative'. For information on the recipient William Webb Follett Synge, see his entry in the Oxford DNB.

[Edward Gordon, Lord Penrhyn, Scottish politician and industrialist in Wales.] Autograph Signature ('Penrhyn | Lord Lieutenant') to Commission appointing D. G. Griffiths to a captaincy in the Royal Carnarvon Rifle Militia.

Author: 
Edward Gordon, Lord Penrhyn [Edward Gordon Douglas-Pennant, 1st Baron Penrhyn] (1800-1886), Scottish politician and Welsh industrialist [Captain David Glynne Griffith, Royal Carnarvon Rifle Militia]
Publication details: 
9 August 1870.
£120.00

1p., foolscap 8vo. In good condition, lightly aged. On bifolium, docketed on reverse of second leaf: 'Dated the 9th. August 1870. | The Right Honorable Edward Gordon Lord Penrhyn | to | Lieutenant D: G: Griffith | Commission promoting him to be Captain of and in the Royal Carnarvon Rifle Militia.' Added in another hand at foot: 'Gazetted 16th. Augt 1870.' . The twenty-four line commission (appointing Griffith 'vice Kneeshaw resigned) is in a secretarial hand, signed at the foot by Penrhyn.

[George Dyer, poet and English Jacobin, writes to the Earl of Buchan following a visit to his seat, Dryburgh Abbey, Berwickshire.] Substantial Autograph Letter Signed ('G Dyer'), discussing the preparation of his volume of poems and other topics.

Author: 
George Dyer (1755-1841), poet and radical, leading English Jacobin, in circle of Wordsworth, Coleridge, Godwin, Lamb; David Steuart Erskine, 11th Earl of Buchan (1742-1829), Scottish antiquarian
Publication details: 
Cambridge. Undated, but written shortly before the publication of his poems in 1801.
£2,000.00

3pp., 4to. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with thin stub from mount neatly adhering. A long, closely written letter of 116 lines, including eight-line postscript at head of first page. Addressed by Dyer on reverse of second leaf: 'To Lord Buchan | Dryburgh Abbey | Berwickshire | Scotland.' Buchan has annotated the reverse of the second leaf: 'George Dyer | Characteristic | while I reasoned with George Dyer in my Library at Dryburgh Abbey on the Economy of Nature and the Providence of God, I said Heaven itself will one day bear witness to my Words.

[Robert Ranulph Marett, Oxford ethnologist and archaeologist, on 'Women anthropologists' and Oxford.] Autograph Letter Signed ('R. R. Marett') to 'Mr. Westlake' [Ernest Westlake], regarding his daughter's desire to study anthropology at Oxford.

Author: 
R. R. Marett [Robert Ranulph Marett] (1866-1943), Oxford ethnologist and archaeologist, exponent of the British Evolutionary School of cultural anthropology [Ernest Westlake (1855-1922)]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of La Haule Manor, Jersey. 11 August 1915.
£200.00

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with rust-spotting at foot and to one margin. An interesting document relating to the early days of women's admission to British universities. The recipient is the geologist Ernest Westlake (1855-1922), and the subject is his daughter Margaret Agnes Westlake, who would become a diploma student at St Hugh's. Westlake's papers are held at the Museum of Natural History, Oxford. Marett thinks it is 'a bother about your daughter not being able to enter Somerville, but Somerville is not Oxford'.

['Harry Lester and his Hayseeds', variety performers.] McGlennon's Hill Billy Song Book [lyrics of 63 songs, with photograph of Lester's band on cover and feature on him inside].

Author: 
Harry Lester and his Hayseeds [Harold Worth Lester (1895-1993), American variety performer resident in England [Felix McGlennon, music publisher; hillbilly music]
Publication details: 
Felix McGlennon Ltd, Printers and Publishers, 9 City Garden Row, City Road, London, N.1.
£220.00

For information on Lester see his obituary in the Independent, 4 July 1993, which states that with his band he 'cheered up England during the blacked-out Forties'. 12pp., 4to. Stapled. In good condition, with light signs of age and wear. Cover text printed in red, with black and white 14.5 x 19 cm photograph of 'Harry Lester and his Hayseeds'. P.3 carries an article on 'Harry Lester', with photograph.

[Letter from William Hayley ('Blake's Hayley') to Miss Harriet Poole of Chichester, franked by the Earl of Egremont.] Unsigned Autograph letter from Hayley to 'Miss Poole' regarding 'the Sheffield Travellers'. Franked 'Egremont'.

Author: 
William Hayley (1745-1820), English author, friend of William Cowper and William Blake; George Wyndham (1751-1837), 3rd Earl of Egremont [Miss Harriet Poole of Chichester]
Publication details: 
London. 3 February 1795.
£60.00

1p., 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged. Franked on the other side, with broken seal in red wax and postmark: 'London Feby: the 3 1795 | Miss Poole | Chichester | Egremont'. Unsigned, and in Hayley's untidy hand. Reads: 'Tuesday | 5 oclock | I have not been able to call on the Sheffield Travellers today but having caught a Frank from my noble Friend of Petworth I will dispatch my Servant without losing another post | adio'. Hayley later introduced his friend Miss Harriet Poole (‘the Lady of Lavant’) to William Blake, who would join him on visits to her villa in Lavant.

[George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer, politician and bibliophile.] Document in a secretarial hand, signed 'Spencer', to a peer, regarding 'the pay and allowances to the Lamerton and Milton Abbott Corps'.

Author: 
George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer (1758-1834), politician and bibliophile, first President of the Roxburghe Club, owner of the Althorp Library (now at the John Rylands Library in Manchester)
Publication details: 
Whitehall. 15 April 1806.
£65.00

1p., 8vo. Slight damp damage along left-hand margin, otherwise in fair condition. Reads: 'My Lord, | I have been honoured with your Lordship's Letter of this day's date; and I will lose no time in giving fresh authority to the Secretary at War to issue the pay and allowances to the Lamerton and Milton Abbott Corps, according to the amended return now transmitted to me by your Lordship.' Docketed on reverse.

[Sir Joseph Prestwich writes to his successor in the Chair of Geology at Oxford, Alexander Henry Green.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Joseph Prestwich') to 'Professor Green', regarding the plates of his book 'Geology'.

Author: 
Sir Joseph Prestwich (1812-1896), geologist [Alexander Henry Green (1832-1896), Prestwich's successor as Oxford Professor of Geology]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Darent-Hulme, Shoreham, Sevenoaks. 1 May 1889.
£220.00

The previous year Green had succeeded Prestwich in the Chair of Geology at Oxford. In the same year the second volume of Prestwich's 'Geology' was published for the University by the Clarendon Press, the first volume having appeared in 1886. 3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged. The subject of the letter is 'the plates of “Geology”', with Prestwich writing that his 'only object is to make the book useful in as many ways as possible.

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