ASHBOURNE

See Ashbourne’s entry in the Oxford DNB. 3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once for postage. In accepting an invitation to an engagement at the end of the month he gives Ashbourne instructions for travelling to an earlier meeting ‘from Lyme Regis to Manchester, and afterwards catch the night mail at Chester’. He will send railway details ‘and full programme in a day or two’. He continues: ‘Our invariable practice here is a vote of confidence in Her Majesty’s Government, which will be put to the meeting, and then you will be asked to respond.’

In 1858 her son Frederick married Princess Victoria, the eldest child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert; her grandson was Kaiser Wilhem III. For Lady Ashbourne, see her husband’s entry in the Oxford DNB. 3pp, 12mo. Bifolium with mourning border. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once for postage. Before receiving Lady Ashbourne’s invitation, ‘The Duke & Duchess of Abercorns, [sic] my Cousins, had begged us attend a Masonic Concert the 18th.

Both items good, on lightly-aged paper. Letter One (15 May, to Lady Ashbourne): 16mo, 2 pp. Nine lines. Accepting an invitation to a garden-party. 'I have two Cricket Matches [...] I have promised to go for an hour to the Unionists Cricket Match, but could come on to you after that, if that day suited you.' Letter Two (11 August, to Lord Ashbourne): 12mo, 2 pp. Fourteen lines. He thanks him for the 'Letters & enclosed Draft'. 'I had to send my Letter off before it arrived, as the takes place to-day, but fortunately it was drawn on almost identical lines as yours, so it is all right.