BLACKMAIL

[ Victorian blackmail and 'personation'. ] Six items relating to a letter from Nellie Rowan to Sir Richard Harington. Including s 'Special Report' by Inspector Arthur Hare, note from Assistant Commissioner Sir Robert Anderson, copies by Harington.

Author: 
Inspector Arthur Hare; Sir Robert Anderson, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police; Sir Richard Harington of Ridlington, 11th Baronet
Publication details: 
[ The Metropolitan Police, Criminal Investigation Department, New Scotland Yard, London. ] All items dating from 1896.
£450.00

Six items, all but the last in good condition, with light signs of age and wear. A highly-entertaining snapshop of the seamier side of Victorian life, with the Metropolitan Police investigating after Sir Richard Harington of Ridlington, 11th Baronet, (1835-1911) alleges a blackmail plot, following his receipt of a letter from Mrs Nellie Rowan (Item Two), in which she addresses him as 'Dick', refers to her 'Rubbing Care' and ends in ' Kisses XXXXXX'.

[ John Young, mezzotint engraver and keeper of the British Institution. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Jno Young.') to Charles Westmacott, explaining why his 'picture of Cromwell' cannot be accepted for the present exhibition.

Author: 
John Young (1755-1825), mezzotint engraver and Keeper of the British Institution, London [ Charles Molloy Westmacott (c.1787-1868), journalist and blackmailer? ]
Publication details: 
British Institution, Pall Mall [ London ]. 12 May 1824.
£56.00

1p., 4to. In good condition, on aged paper. He is desired to thank Westmacott 'for the offer of your picture of Cromwell for exhibition, and at the same time to inform you, that the arrangements, for the present season, are already completed'. He ends with the tact for which he was renowned, expressing the hope that he will have 'the pleasure of seeing you at the private [last word underlined] view on tuesday next'. The recipient is presumably C. M.

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