IRISH

[Emerson Tennent, politician and Governor of Ceylon. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('J. Emerson Tennent') to Alexander Dickey of Belfast, complaining of parliamentary procedure on petitions (Irish in particular), and discussing Church of Scotland reform.

Author: 
Emerson Tennent [Sir James Emerson Tennent, 1st Baronet, born James Emerson] (1804-1869), Irish-born British politician and traveller, Governor of Ceylon [Alexander Dickey of Belfast]
Publication details: 
16 March 1840. 19 Pall Mall, London.
£65.00

4pp, 4to. Bifolium. Panel, a little under one-sixth of total area, missing from bottom outside corner of second leaf, with attendant loss to text, otherwise in good condition, lightly aged and worn. Folded three times. A good long letter in a neat and stylish hand, with a firm underlined signature. He begins by writing that he has that morning 'received the Petition from Belfast which I was pleased to expect from having seen in the Report of your meeting that you had done Mr Dunbar and myself the honor to entrust its presentation to us'.

[Edward Hull, geologist, Director of the Geological Survey of Ireland.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Edward Hull') to Sir H. T. Wood, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts, suggesting the reading of a paper by relative on the German use of fat in explosives.

Author: 
Edward Hull (1829-1917), Irish geologist, Director of the Geological Survey of Ireland and Professor of Geology in the Royal College of Science, Dublin [Royal Society of Arts, London]
Publication details: 
Undated, but with date stamp of the Royal Society of Arts, London, 24 March 1916. On letterhead of 14 Stanley Gardens, W. [London]
£50.00

3pp., 12mo. On bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once. With date stamp of the RSA, and endorsement in blue pencil. He is writing to inform Wood that 'a relative of mine has written a paper on a subject of importance regarding the connection of fat [containing glycerin] with manufacture of explosives in Germany - and showing how that Country is approaching a crisis - when her supply of fat will be approaching exhaustion'.

[Father Tom Maguire, Dean of Kilmore, Irish Roman Catholic priest, celebrated orator.] Autograph Letter Signed ('T. Maguire') to Richard Montgomery of Coolehill, regarding his gift of a five-year-old pup, 'coursing in Goulan', and 'a great Auction'.

Author: 
Father Tom Maguire [Thomas Maguire] (1792-1847), Dean of Kilmore, Irish Roman Catholic priest, orator, polemicist, controversialist and nationalist [Richard Montgomery of Coolehill]
Publication details: 
19 April 1844. No place, but with one of the postmarks from Ballinamore [Co. Leitrim, Ireland].
£140.00

Maguire was, his entry in the Oxford DNB states, 'one of the most popular orators of his age, and from 1829 until 1843 he addressed huge crowds and packed congregations in churches and at venues throughout England and Ireland'.

[James Bryce [Viscount Bryce; Lord Bryce], jurist and politician, written while British Ambassador to the United States.] Autograph Letter Signed ('James Bryce'), to 'Hope', arranging the return of spectacles he left at the Canadian Club.

Author: 
James Bryce, 1st Viscount Bryce [Lord Bryce] (1838-1922), Ulster-born Liberal poltician, academic, British Ambassador to the United States
Publication details: 
9 October 1908. On letterhead of Burn Side, Prides Crossing, Massachusetts.
£45.00

3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once. The letter begins: 'My dear Hope, I have told Canadian Club you are coming. If I left my spectacles in the Chancery, in their case as I think I did this forenoon, will you please put them into an envelope for me?' He will go over the following morning, 'at Manchester if not'.

[Frances Power Cobbe, Irish social reformer, anti-vivisectionist and campaigner for women's suffrage.] Autograph Signature ('Frances P Cobbe') to part of letter.

Author: 
Frances Cobbe [Frances Power Cobbe] (1822-1904), Irish author, social reformer, anti-vivisectionist, and campaigner for women's suffrage
Publication details: 
Date and place not stated.
£23.00

On 4 x 11 cm slip of paper. Reads: '[...] them. | With many thanks for yr kindness believe me | very truly yrs | Frances P Cobbe'. On reverse: '[...] information. | Have you ever seen a very curious French book [...]'.

[J. B. Priestley, popular English novelist.] Typed Letter Signed ('Jack') to 'B. J.', i.e. Maire Lynd, regarding her parents Robert and Sylvia Lynd, and her son.

Author: 
J. B. Priestley [John Boynton Priestley] (1894-1984), novelist, playwright and broadcaster [Maire Lynd ('B. J.'), daughter of Irish essayist Robert Lynd and his wife the poet Sylvia Lynd]
Publication details: 
16 June 1976. On his letterhead, Kissing Tree House, Alveston, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire.
£45.00

1p, 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged and creased. Folded once. The salutation 'Dear B. J.' and valediction 'Yours | Jack' are in Priestley's autograph; the rest is typed. Maire Lynd's letter was 'a delight surprise', Priestley being unaware that her son was 'in the film business'.

[ T.F. Colby; Ordnance Survey; Ireland ] Autograph Letters Signed "Ths. Colby" to unnamed correspondent about Ordnance Survey of Ireland.

Author: 
T.F. Colby [ Thomas Frederick Colby FRS FRSE 1784 –1852), major-general and director of the Ordnance Survey
Publication details: 
"Ordnance Map Office| Tower 19 Feby 1828".
£450.00

Two pages, 12mo, fold marks, one edge stained and roughened (perhaps blank second leaf of bifolium removed, and item tipped into album), text clear as follows: "The points which are partally fixed in Ireland extend to the southward as far as Bray Head on the East Coast. And they can be given to the Admiralty Surveyor if required in the course the present year. The North East Coast is already surveyed, and may be copied by the Admiralty surveyors at any time.

[Felicia Hemans, poet.] Autograph Poem, with corrections, titled 'The Cross of the South.'

Author: 
Felicia Hemans [Felicia Dorothea Hemans] (1793-1835), Anglo-Irish Romantic poet, born in Liverpool [William Jerdan, editor of the Literary Gazette]
Publication details: 
No date of place. On paper with watermarked date 1820. [Poem published in the Literary Gazette, London, 23 June 1821.]
£600.00

3pp, 4to. Bifolium. On wove paper with Whatman watermark dated 1820. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with slight loss of paper at one corner of second leaf, resulting in loss of one word of text. Folded twice. From the papers of William Jerdan, editor of the Literary Gazette, who published the poem with one other ('In the Ivy'), in the edition of 23 June 1821, giving the identity of the author given in a footnote: 'We have to thank the elegant pen of MRS. HEMANS, for these two exquisite poems. Ed.' Heman's manuscript is endorsed by Jerdan: 'Poetry origl | 231 | W J | Mrs. Hemans'.

[Thomas Moore, 'the national poet of Ireland'.] Autograph Letter Signed ('T. Moore') regarding the return by his wife of a book he has made use of.

Author: 
Thomas Moore ['Anacreon Moore'] (1779-1852), regarded in the nineteenth-century as the national poet of Ireland, friend and literary executor of Lord Byron
Publication details: 
13 September 18[...]. [Bath?]
£56.00

On one side of a piece of paper cropped to 11 x 8 cm, resulting in loss of text at edges. Otherwise in fair condition, lightly aged. Reads: 'Septr 13th 18[...] | [...] dear Sir - | As Mrs. Moore is [...] | [...]ith a parcel for Beafort Build[...] | [...] the opportunity of returning a book whi[...] | [...] to a set, you may be inconvenienced [...] | [...], and I have got all I wanted out of it [...] | You will have the goodness to send the [...] | [...] basket to Mrs. Dyke. | Yours ever | T.

[James, Viscount Bryce, jurist and British Ambassador to the United States.] Typed Draft Signed ('Bryce') of joint letter 'To the Chairman of | The Government Distress Committee', criticising methods for relieving 'the distress caused by the war'.

Author: 
James Bryce, 1st Viscount Bryce (1838-1922), Ulster-born Liberal poltician, academic, British Ambassador to the United States
Publication details: 
No place or date. [London? During the early years of the First World War.]
£180.00

3pp, 8vo. On three leaves with hole in one corner where they were attached with stud. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. The letter is clearly a draft of a public letter to be signed by a number of eminent individuals, and was presumably composed by Bryce himself. No date or place, simply headed: 'To the Chairman of | The Government Distress Committee.' It begins: 'Sir, | We whose names are appended hereto view with concern the methods that seem about to be adopted for the relief of the distress caused by the war.

[Earl Talbot, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.] Manuscript (Secretarial) Document Signed ('Talbot'), transmitting condolences to the royal family on the death of the heir to the throne Princess Charlotte from Wexford, Armagh, Limerick.

Author: 
Earl Talbot, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland [Charles Chetwynd Chetwynd-Talbot, 2nd Earl Talbot, 2nd Viscount of Ingestre, 2nd Baron Dynevor (1777-1849)] [Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales (1796-1817)]
Publication details: 
'Dublin Castle 9th December 1817'.
£280.00

2pp, folio. In fair condition, aged, worn and with chipping to extremities. Several folds. Begins: 'My Lord, | I hae the honor of transmitting the following Addresses of Condolence to Her Majesty the Queen, His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, and His Serene Highness the Prince Leopold of Sax Cobourgh'. A list of six addresses follows, variously sent to different members of the royal family from noblemen, gentlemen, clergy, freeholders, burgesses, inhabitants. sheriffs, aldermen, of the county of Wexford, and cities of Armagh and Limerick.

[Samuel Lover, Irish painter, author, entertainer.] Autograph Letter in third person to Sir Thomas Gery Cullum and wife, explaining why pressures of 'public engagement' mean he must stay at his hotel rather than enjoy 'the hospitality of Hardwicke'.

Author: 
Samuel Lover (1797-1868), Irish miniature painter, author, songwriter and singer, friend of Charles Dickens [Sir Thomas Gery Cullum (1777-1855) of Hardwick House, his wife Lady Ann Cullum (1807-1875)]
Publication details: 
26 February 1845; Bell Hotel, Bury St Edmunds.
£100.00

According to his entry in the Oxford DNB, 'In 1844 Lover abandoned miniature painting as a result of failing eyesight but continued to paint and exhibit landscapes. He invented a new form of entertainment which he called Irish Evenings, a monologue of songs, recitations, and stories, all of his own composition. These he performed at the Princess's Concert Rooms, London.' Between 1846 and 1848 he toured North America with great success. 3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with minor traces of mount adhering to blank reverse of second leaf. Folded twice.

[Lady Rosina Bulwer Lytton, Anglo-Irish writer.] Two Autograph Letters Signed (both 'Rosina Lytton Bulwer') to 'Lady Cullum' of Hardwick House, one inviting her to stay with 'stupid me' and her 'Sposo', the other thanking her for her 'kind attention'

Author: 
Lady Rosina Bulwer Lytton [née Rosina Doyle Wheeler] (1802-1882), Anglo-Irish writer, wife of novelist Edward Bulwer-Lytton [Lord Lytton] (1803-1873) [Lady Ann Cullum (1807-1875) of Hardwick House]
Publication details: 
The first letter from Berrymead Priory, Acton, on 28 February 1836; the second on 'Saturday Morning', but without date or place.
£220.00

Lady Bulwer Lytton is now best-known for her mistreatment at the hands of her husband (see their entries in the Oxford DNB). Both letters are in good condition, lightly aged and worn, the first carrying traces of mount and with slight damage at one corner. ONE: 28 February 1836. 4pp, 16mo. She is delighted to hear of Lady Cullum's return to England.

Clara Novello [Clara Anastasia Novello; Countess Clara Anastasia Gigliucci], celebrated soprano.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Clara Novello'), giving details of her plans for a concert in Belfast.

Author: 
Clara Novello [Clara Anastasia Novello; Countess Clara Anastasia Gigliucci] (1818-1908), celebrated soprano, daughter of music publisher Vincent Novello [Henry Bussell, Philharmonic Society, Dublin]
Publication details: 
'26 April 1854. Porchester Lodge, 8A Porchester Terrace, Hyde Park [London].
£220.00

4pp, 16mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once. With embossed armorial letterhead. Good firm signature: 'Clara Novello.' An interesting letter, casting light on the practical arrangement of musical concerts in Victorian Britain and Ireland. The recipient is not named, and the letter begins: 'Dear Sir, | I have not heard from Mr. Bussell of your Concert, but on receipt of your favor of the 15th. consider myself engaged to Belfast for the 1st.

[Lady Bulwer Lytton [Rosina Bulwer Lytton], Anglo-Irish novelist, wife of Lord Lytton.] Autograph Letter in third person to 'The Editor of “The Lady's Newspaper”' [Ebenezer Landells?], sending him a letter to read over, and referring to a 'Champion'.

Author: 
Lady Bulwer Lytton [Rosina Bulwer Lytton, née Rosina Doyle Wheeler] (1802-1882), Anglo-Irish novelist, wife of Sir Edward Bulwer-Lytton [Lord Lytton]
Publication details: 
'Thurloe Cottage Old Brompton Feb 6th. [1842?]'.
£180.00

4pp, 16mo. Bifolium. Forty-two lines of text. Letterhead of family crest in gold and red. In good condition, lightly aged, with traces of white paper mount adhering to last page. Three fold lines. The editor's 'obliging Note' affords her 'sincere pleasure to have the opportunity of expressing her gratitude to him in person', and she asks him not to call some day the following week (she is 'going out of Town' the week after), but not in the morning, as she has 'much business, of a disagreeable and imperative nature to transact now'.

[Katharine Tynan, Irish poet and novelist.] Autograph Signature ('Katharine Tynan Hinkson') on valediction to letter to 'Robert Browne Esq.'

Author: 
Katharine Tynan [latterly Katharine Tynan Hinkson] (1859-1931) – 2 April 1931), Irish poet and novelist
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£25.00

On one side of 4.5 x 10.5 cm piece of paper, cut from end of letter for autograph hunter. In good condition, lightly aged. Reads: 'Believe me, dear Mr Browne | Yours very sincerely | Katharine Tynan Hinkson | Robert Browne Esq.'

[Countess of Blessington (Marguerite Gardiner), Irish author and literary hostess.] Autograph Note in the third person to editor Samuel Carter Hall, wishing 'to consult him, about having an Enquiry executed'.

Author: 
Marguerite Gardiner [née Power], Countess of Blessington (1789-1849), Irish author and literary hostess, beauty and lover of Count d'Orsay [Samuel Carter Hall [S. C. Hall] (1800-1889), editor]
Publication details: 
'Saturday Evening' [no place or date, but on paper with watermarked date 1831].
£100.00

1p, 12mo. Bifolium. Addressed on reverse of the second leaf, with broken seal in red wax, 'To / | S. C. Hall Esqre | 59 Sloane Street'. In fair condition, on aged paper. Folded by Blessington into a diamond-shaped packet. Reads: 'Saturday Evening. | Lady Blessingtons Compts. To Mr Hall, and requests that he will call on her, as soon as may suit his convenience, as she wishes to consult him, about having an Enquiry executed.'

[Humphrey Lloyd, Irish physicist, Provost of Trinity College, Dublin.] Autograph Letter Signed ('H Lloyd') to Alfred Fox, regarding his 'paper on Magnetical Observations' and Fox's brother's 'instrument', i.e. Robert Were Fox's magnetic dip compass.

Author: 
Humphrey Lloyd (1800-1881), Irish physicist, Provost of Trinity College, Dublin [Robert Were Fox the Younger (1789-1877), geologist, inventor of the magnetic dip compass]
Publication details: 
Trinity College Dublin. 24 March 1835.
£220.00

The recipient was a brother of the geologist and inventor Robert Were Fox the Younger (1789-1877), whose magnetic dip compass, constructed in the previous year, is the 'instrument' referred to at the end of the letter. (Fox's compass was used by Sir James Clark Ross on his Antarctic expedition, and was later used to discover the position of the South magnetic pole.) 1p, 4to. In fair condition, aged and creased, with traces of paper mount adhering to one edge, and repair to a closed tear with archival tape. Several folds.

[ Charlotte Frances Shaw, wife of Bernard ] A series of three postcards sent separately to Gilbert Murray, classicist, with a text in instalments (I, II, III) eventually signed "C.F. Shaw"

Author: 
Charlotte Frances Shaw, nee Payne-Townsend, wife of Bernard Shaw, suffragist, Irish political activist
Publication details: 
Mont-Dore, [pm 1[9]13]
£280.00

Three postcards, good condition with postal marks. Text: "I must thank you with all my heart of the splendid review in The New Statesman including the delightful little allusion to my Selected Passages [ Selected passages from the works of Bernard Shaw ; Chosen by Charlotte F. Shaw. ... Published: London : Constable, 1912]. It was more than satisfactory that you should specially have picked out the dissection of [Ibsen's] 'When we dead awaken - as that is my [underlined] particular hobb7y! It is a good play - but you have to get it in focus. It was 8 years before I could get GBS to do that!

[Louisa Stuart Costello, Anglo-Irish miniature painter.] Autograph Letter Signed ('L. S Costello') to 'Miss de Witte', discussing 'Yankee' and Scandinavian poetry, and enclosing a 'trifle' to help a family the recipient is helping.

Author: 
Louisa Stuart Costello (1799-1870), Anglo-Irish miniature painter, travel writer and author, friend of Sir Francis Burdett
Publication details: 
'Friday Evg'. No place or date.
£65.00

4pp, 16mo. Bifolium on light-green paper. In good condition, lightly aged. The letter begins: 'My Dear Miss de Witte | Of course I found the Yankee Poems directly after You were Gone – too carefully put by. Do not put mine away too carefully – as I want You to really read them. (Poetry of France) The sad lines of Marguerite d'Ecosse (in the notes at the end) are original & perhaps will stroke You – as the mournful Subject did me.

[Castlereagh; F.W.R. Stewart, 4th Marquess of Londonderry, as Viscount Castlereagh, rake and Tory politician.] Autograph Note Signed ('Castlereagh') regarding his presentation of petitions 'for the Abolition of Church Patronage in Scotland'.

Author: 
Frederick William Robert Stewart, 4th Marquess of Londonderry (1805-1872), styled Viscount Castlereagh 1822-1854, Anglo-Irish nobleman, rake and Tory politician
Publication details: 
'H. of Cs. [i.e. House of Commons] | Thursday.' No date, but on paper with 1840 watermark.
£56.00

For information on Castlereagh, who in his rakish youth was known as ‘Cas’ or ‘Young Rapid’, see his entry in the History of Parliament. In 1833 he is said to have sired a child by the celebrated actress Madame Vestris, leading Lady Holland to comment that he was 'enchanted at his feat’. Queen Victoria considered him unfit for any serious responsibility. He inherited the family trait of mental instability (Lord John Russell commenting that‘he talks, but does not seem mad’) and spent his last years incarcerated. 1p, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged.

[James Johnson, Physician Extraordinary to King William IV.] Autograph Testimonial Signed ('James Johnson, M. D | Physician Extry to the King.') for Horatio Goodday.

Author: 
James Johnson [James Johnstone] (1777-1845), Irish physician, surgeon and author, Physician Extraordinary to King William IV [George Fincham, London surgeon; Horatio Goodday]
Publication details: 
Suffolk Place, Pall Mall [London]. 18 December 1835.
£280.00

1p, 4to. In fair condition, aged and creased, on thin Whatman wove paper, with wear to edges. Reads: 'I was acquainted, for some years, with Mr. Horatio Goodday, while he was residing as a pupil, with my friend Mr. Fincham, of Spring-Gardens, [i.e. the surgeon George Fincham] and had many opportunities of observing his excellent moral qualities and professional acquirements. Mr. Fincham has always expressed himself as highly pleased with the excellent conduct of his pupil.'

[William Bedell Stanford, Regius Professor of Greek at Trinity College Dublin.] Typed Poem titled 'Undertone' (first line: 'When the landfolk of Galway converse with a stranger,'), with Autograph Signature 'W B. Stanford | Trinity College | Dublin'.

Author: 
W. B. Stanford [William Bedell Stanford] (1910-1984), Irish classical scholar and Senator, Regius Professor of Greek at Trinity College Dublin, 1940-1980; Chancellor of the University, 1982-1984
Publication details: 
No date or place.
£180.00

1p, 4to. In good condition, with slight creasing to extremities, on a leaf of 'Onion Skin' paper. A sixteen line poem in three stanzas, beneath which is written, boldly and in pencil: 'W B. Stanford | Trinity College | Dublin'. The poem is one of Stanford's best and best-known, and features in Donagh MacDonagh's 'Poems from Ireland' (1944) and Brendan Kennelly's 'Penguin Book of Irish Verse' (1970). The present version exhibits no variations from the text printed by Kennelly.

[Monk Gibbon, 'The Grand Old Man of Irish Letters'.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Monk Gibbon'), to 'Prof Brunbaugh', regarding 'a copy of a short poem' he has made for her, and the reason for his 'rudeness' in replying to his letter late.

Author: 
Monk Gibbon [William Monk Gibbon] (1896-1987), Irish poet and prolific author, dubbed 'The Grand Old Man of Irish Letters', second-cousin of William Butler Yeats
Publication details: 
24 Sandycove Road, Sandycove, Co. Dublin. 10 November 1970.
£50.00

1p, 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-creased grey paper. Addressed to 'Dear Prof Brunbaugh'. He explains that Brunbaugh's letter of 19 September 'went into a large collective envelope marked “For attention”', adding 'You can guess what that means. It is lucky ever to have come out.' He has 'made a copy of a short poem' for Brunbaugh, and hopes that he will go and see him when he next comes to Ireland.

[Walter Starkie, Irish author, Hispanic and Romany scholar.] Three Autograph Letters Signed to Christopher Fry regarding Spanish translation, W. B. Yeats and Abbey Theatre; with five letters from Geoffrey Cumberlege of OUP, two from G. W. S. Hopkins.

Author: 
Walter Starkie (1894-1976), Irish author, Hispanic and Romany scholar; Geoffrey Cumberlege (1891–1979); Gerard Walter Sturgis Hopkins (1892-1961) [Christopher Fry (1907-2005); Oxford University Press]
Publication details: 
All items dating from 1955. Two of Starkie's three letters from Madrid, the other on letterhead of the Athenaeum, London. Seven letters on letterheads of the Oxford University Press, London.
£500.00

Fourteen items, including three letters from Starkie and seven letters from the Oxford University Press – five of them from Geoffrey Cumberlege and two from G. W. S. Hopkins – and copies of two letters from Cumberlege to Fry's agent Emanuel Wax, and a copy of a letter from the OUP to Starkie. All dating from 1955. The collection is in fair condition, lightly aged and worn. The three Starkie letters are all in autograph, and total 7pp. The first two are written from Madrid, and the last from the Athenaeum in Pall Mall.

[Sir Edward Blakeney, Field Marshal.] Autograph Letter Signed ('E. Blakeney') to [Folington?], regarding Sir John Wilson and an application from 'Mr Ferrier' of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea.

Author: 
Sir Edward Blakeney (1778-1868), Field Marshal in the British Army, Commander-in-Chief in Ireland [Royal Hospital, Chelsea; Sir James Wilson]
Publication details: 
Chelsea [Royal Hospital, Chelsea]. 16 January 1863.
£160.00

2pp, 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged, with strip of paper from mount adhering at foot of reverse. The recipient's name is not decipherable, but he appears to have been a royal equerry. Blakeney hopes that he 'got safe home last night', and thanks him 'for giving me the pleasure of your Company'. He is enclosing a letter from Sir John Wilson (1780-1856) 'who is forwarding an application from Mr Ferrier the Quarter Master of this Establishment in favour of an application to obtain admission into the Cambridge [?]'.

'AE' ['Æ'], pseudonym of George William Russell, Irish nationalist poet, mystic and theosophist.] Autograph Letter Signed ('AE') to 'Wilson' [i.e. Ulster poet R. N. D. Wilson], regarding his whereabouts following a trip to the United States.

Author: 
'AE' ['Æ'], pseudonym of George William Russell (1867-1935), Irish nationalist poet, mystic and theosophist [R. N. D. Wilson [Robert Noble Denison Wilson] (1899-1953), Ulster Irish poet]
Publication details: 
17 Rathgar Avenue, Dublin; 'Thursday' [no date].
£220.00

1p, 8vo. In fair condition, lightly aged. Folded twice. The letter reads: 'Dear Wilson. | I have just returned from U.S.A. & am going next Monday or Tuesday to Donegal for a much needed holiday. I expect to be away a month. If your friend is in Dublin when I come back I will be glad to see him But in a month I will be out of the world. | Yours ever | AE'

[Robert Bridges, Poet Laureate.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Robert Bridges') to the Ulster poet R. N. D. Wilson, discussing the origins of the name of his home 'Chilswell', in the 'Childsworth Farm' of Matthew Arnold's poem 'Thyrsis'.

Author: 
Robert Bridges [Robert Seymour Bridges] (1844-1930), Poet Laureate [R. N. D. Wilson [Robert Noble Denison Wilson] (1899-1953), Ulster poet]
Publication details: 
Chilswell, Oxford; 29 March 1928.
£100.00

3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and a little grubby. Folded once. Twenty-seven lines of text. Written in a far more ragged style than Bridges's usual calligraphic hand, perhaps suggesting undermined health. Wilson is 'at liberty to quote the verses of mine that you ask for – I take it as a complement [sic]' He thanks him for 'the kind gift of your book, wh I have not had time to read'. Noting that Wilson is 'interested in sacred wells', he states that 'our “Chilswell” is probably not a well.

[Richard Quain, Irish anatomist and surgeon, President of the Royal College of Surgeons.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Richard Quain'), regarding his actions in the case of a sick child.

Author: 
Richard Quain (1800-1887), Irish anatomist and surgeon, President of the Royal College of Surgeons, Professor of Anatomy at the University of London
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 12 Cavendish Street, W. [London]; 3 July [no year].
£180.00

1p, 16mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to reverse of blank second leaf. Folded once. The recipient is not named. Reads: 'Dear Sir | It would have given me pleasure to have forwarded actively your wishes if I had power to do so – All I have been able to do is to give advice to the Childs father as to the course to pursue – and that I have done.'

[ Helen O'Hara, Irish artist ] Autograph Letter Signed "Helen O'Hara" to an unnamed gentleman (organiser of an Art Exhibition)

Author: 
Helen O'Hara [ Helen Sophia O'Hara (1846 - 1920), Irish watercolour artist
Publication details: 
Portstewart, Co, Derry, 22 Oct. [no year]
£120.00

Two pages, 12mo, lightish foxing, fold marks, text clear and complete. "Thank you for your note which has been forwarded to me from Lismore- I hope to have the pleasure of seeing your Exhibition when I go to Belfast next month. It is the best watercolour Exhibition I know in Ireland, & I am greatly pleased that you have thought my pictures worthy of a place on the [line?]"

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