GISBORNE

The three letters are in good condition, lightly aged and worn, with minor evidence of previous mounting in an album. ONE: 24 February 1806. 1p, 4to. Signed 'Thomas Gisborne.' The subject of the letter is Woodhouse's translation of the Apocalypse, prefixed by 'a dissertation on the divine origin of the book', published the previous year. Gisborne writes that on his 'return from Leicestershire' the previous Friday, he found Woodhouse's 'very obliging present'.

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, lightly-aged, with slight damage on removal from album. Addressed to 'Revd. Mr. Gilpin | Cheam'. (In 1777, on becoming vicar of Boldre in the New Forest, Gilpin handed over the headmastership of Cheam School to his second son William Gilpin the younger (1757-1848).) Written with a freshness reflecting 'the particular interest' Gilpin paid to 'the theory and practice of epistolary writing', noted by Alain Kerhervé in his edition of Gilpin's letters to his grandson ('William writes to William', 2014).

2pp., 12mo. With mourning border. In fair condition, but with thin strip lacking along one edge, resulting in slight loss of text. A stylish letter. He finds it 'almost ludicrous' that 'a person whose property, such as it is, lies chiefly in another County' should have anything to say 'about the Staffordshire election', but he 'had wished' that the recipient of the letter 'might fill the present vacancy when I had not ever seen your name connected with it'. He would be pleased to be given 'an opportunity of offering' him his 'vote & the singularly trifling interest'.