POLITICIAN

[ Sir James Emerson Tennent, politician and colonial administrator. ] Autograph Note Signed ('J Emerson Tennent') to

Author: 
Emerson Tennent [ Sir James Emerson Tennent, 1st Baronet, born James Emerson ] (1804-1869), Irish-born British politician, colonial administrator and traveller, who acted as Governor of Ceylon
Publication details: 
Tempo House, Tempo, County Fermanagh, Ireland. 23 August [ no year ].
£45.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged, with traces of mount adhering at corners of reverse. The recipient is not identified. The note is written in a neat hand, and reads: 'Sir | Permit me to offer you my sincere thanks for the valuable communication you have so obligingly procured, relative to the restoration of Rooksey'.

John Simon [ John Allsebrook Simon, 1st Viscount Simon ], Liberal politician. ] Autograph Letter Signed and Typed Letter Signed (both 'John Simon') to Welsh Liberal politician Sir Courtenay Mansel.

Author: 
John Simon [ John Allsebrook Simon, 1st Viscount Simon ] (1873-1954), Liberal Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Lord Chancellor [ Sir Courtenay Mansel ]
Publication details: 
ALS: Castle Hotel, Brecon. 13 February 1921. TLS: on letterhead of 59 Cadogan Gardens, S.W.3. [ London ] 11 December 1923.
£50.00

At the time of the second letter Mansel was serving his only stint in Parliament, a brief period as Liberal MP for Penryn and Falmouth. ONE (ALS, 13 February 1921): 4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. He expresses great disappointment regarding the misunderstanding which meant that he and his wife missed coming to lunch with the Mansels.

[ Abraham Hayward, author and barrister. ] Autograph Note Signed ('A. Hayward') to 'Seymour', asking for an 'early copy' of a book to be sent to Lady Herbert.

Author: 
Abraham Hayward (1801-1884), English author and barrister
Publication details: 
8 St. James' Street [ London ]. 29 January [ no year ].
£35.00

1p., 16mo. In fair condition, lightly aged. With neat central vertical and horizontal folds. Reads: 'My dear Seymour | Will you direct an early copy to be sent to Lady Herbert. | Ever truly yours | A. Hayward'.

[ Anthony Wedgwood Benn, Labour politician: 'You shouldn't believe the rubbish you read in the press'. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Tony Benn') to 'Mrs Kingham', describing his 'life-style' and family.

Author: 
Tony Benn [ Anthony Wedgwood Benn, quondam Viscount Stansgate ] (1925-2014), Labour politician
Publication details: 
On House of Commons letterhead. 16 November 1979.
£35.00

1p., 8vo. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Obtrusive stamp at head giving the date of receipt as 28 November 1979, with this date queried in ink. Benn's signature underlined by the recipient in thin red ink. Reads: 'Dear Mrs Kingham: | Forgive the delay. | My life-style is that of a very hard-working M.P. with a wife who teaches & writes & 4 children educated at comprehensive schools. | You shouldn't believe the rubbish you read in the press.'

[ Lord Shaftesbury, Liberal politician and social reformer. ] Autograph Note Signed ('Shaftesbury') to 'Miss Beavan', regarding a circular.

Author: 
Lord Shaftesbury [ Anthony Ashley Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury ] (1801-1885), Liberal politician, philanthropist and social reformer
Publication details: 
Grosvenor Square [ London ]. 5 April 1852.
£35.00

1p., 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged, with traces of stub adhering to reverse. Addressed on reverse, with broken seal in red wax and postmarks, to 'Miss Beavan | Brynry Hydd [ i.e. Bryn yr Hydd] | Glasbury | Hay | South Wales'. An expansively-written note, above a similar signature, reading: 'May I request you to read the accompanying Circular, and to give it your favourable consideration?'

[ John Spencer Smith, diplomat, politician and writer. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('J. S. Smith. | president de la Société Linnéenne, vice prés. de celle des Antiqq. de Normandie, &c.'), in French, presenting two of his works to 'Mr. N[érée]. Boubée'.

Author: 
John Spencer Smith (1769-1845), FRS, British diplomat, politician and writer, President, Société Linnéenne de Normandie; Vice-President, Société des Antiquaires de Normandie; Nérée Boubée (1806-1862),
Publication details: 
'Caen rue des Chanoines 3'. 2 August 1835.
£45.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Addressed on reverse (with 'R.S.V.P.') to 'Monsieur N. Boubée | correspondant de la société linnéenne de Mormandie | Paris'. (Nérée Boubée, naturalist, Professor at the University of Paris.) He offers him two works: he is the 'compilateur' of the first, which is titled 'Souvenirs de Bayeux', and 'editeur-annotateur of the second, 'la biographie de Bochart', of which 'le texte est l'oeuvre d'un de mes fils'). It may be that in his reading of the two Boubée encounters 'quelques passages susceptibles d'être cités dans l'Écho du monde savant'.

[ Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke, 2nd Baronet. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Charles W. Dilke'), complimenting 'Bennett' on a speech, and alluding sarcastically to the Marquess of Lansdowne.

Author: 
Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke, 2nd Baronet (1843-1911), Radical and Liberal politician, whose career ended in disgrace [ Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice (1845-1927), 5th Marquess of Lansdowne ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 76 Sloane Street, S.W. [ London ]. 6 July 1906.
£65.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged paper. An amusingly sardonic missive, addressed to 'Dear Bennett'. He was not able to compliment him the previous night on his 'excellent speech', but is 'anxious to know what was the cryptic allusion to the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs who had experience of arming savages? I do not believe that Fitzmaurice ever did so, unless you intended the German use of the word “savages” for below-the-gangway Radicals?'

[ Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke, 2nd Baronet. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Charles W. Dilke') to A. E. Skeen

Author: 
Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke, 2nd Baronet (1843-1911), Radical and Liberal politician, whose career ended in disgrace
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Pyrford, by Maybury, near Woking. 4 December 1894.
£45.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, wiht crease along one edge. The letter concerns international affairs. Regarding the United Kingdom Dilke writes: 'I think it would be quite proper for us to attempt to effect a reconciliation at any moment when it seems possible that we could be of use, and I fancy that we have made some such offer more than once, possibly along with Russia.' As it happens 'the belligerents have preferred, - which was not unnatural under the circumstances, - to avail themselves of the good offices of the United States'.

[ Edward Harbord, Lord Suffield. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Suffield') to John Richardson of Heydon, containing a splendid assessment of the character of his friend the Lord Chancellor, Henry Peter Brougham, and reminiscences of Lord Eldon.

Author: 
Edward Harbord, 3rd Baron Suffield [ Lord Suffield ] (1781-1835), radical politician and abolitionist [ John Richardson of Heydon; Henry Peter Brougham; John Scott, Lord Eldon; Lord Chancellor ]
Publication details: 
Vernon House [ Park Place, St James's, London ]. 22 September 1831.
£250.00

3pp., 4to. Bifolium In good condition, lightly aged. Laid down on the blank reverse of the second leaf is a frank (also signed 'Suffield'), addressed to 'Jn. Richardson Esqr. | Heydon | Aylsham | Norfolk' An excellent letter, containing a splendid assessment of Brougham's qualities, and a vivid reminiscence regarding his predecessor as Lord Chancellor, Lord Eldon. The identity of the book that is the subject of the letter is unclear. Suffield begins by reporting that Brougham has promised Suffield that he will 'attentively consider' Richardson's book.

[ Geoffrey Drage, author and Conservative politician. ] Autograph Letter Signed to 'Miss May' [ children's author Beatrice Irene Magraw ], acknowledging her 'kind and graceful hospitality.

Author: 
Geoffrey Drage (1860-1955), author and Conservative politician [ Beatrice Irene Magraw [ B. I. Magraw, born Beatrice Irene May ] (c.1888-1970), children's author ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Royal Commission on Labour, 44 Parliament Street, London. 10 November 1892.
£35.00

2pp., 12mo. In good condition. He thanks her for 'the very pleasant glimpse of yourself and your family which I got last Saturday to Monday'. He hopes she will excuse the delay in acknowledging her 'kind and graceful hospitality'.

[ Wyatt Wyatt-Paine, lawyer and editor of legal textbooks. ] Two Autograph Letters Signed (both 'W. Wyatt Paine') to the Secretary, Royal Society of Arts

Author: 
Wyatt Wyatt-Paine (c.1855-1935), lawyer and author of numerous legal textbooks
Publication details: 
The first from 4 Harcourt Buildings, Temple, E.C. [ London ]; 12 August 1913. The second from 'Hill Pide', Ventnor, Isle of Wight; 22 August 1913.
£45.00

In Wyatt-Paine's obituary The Times (13 April 1935) described him as 'probably one of the most learned lawyers who ever held the office of stipendiary magistrate'. Both items in good condition, lightly aged, and both bearing the Society's date stamp. ONE: 12 August 1913. 2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. The letter concerns the Swiney Prize, regarding which Wyatt-Paine has 'perused a notice [...] which states that the prospective award in January 1914 will be made for a treatise on "General Jurisprudence"'.

[ Walter Long, 1st Viscount Long, as President of the Board of Agriculture. ] Two Autograph Letters Signed (both 'Walter H. Long') to Sir Richard Harington, on proposed measures to 'exterminate Rabies & Hydrophonbia'. With draft reply by Harington.

Author: 
Walter Long [ Walter Hume Long ], 1st Viscount Long [ Lord Long ] (1854-1924), Conservative politician [ Sir Richard Harington (1835-1911) of Ridlington, 11th Baronet ]
Publication details: 
Both Long's letters on letterhead of the Board of Agriculture, 4 Whitehall Place, S.W. [ London ]. 2 September 1897 and undated [ received 11 September 1897 ]. Harington's draft letter from 'W[hitborne]. C[ourt]. W[orcester].' 8 September 1897.
£150.00

The three items in good condition, lightly aged and worn. ONE: Long to Harington, 2 September 1897. 2pp., 12mo. He thanks him for his 'courteous letter' and is sending 'another memo. dealing with points raised by you'. He continues: 'We, of course, do not imagine that our orders and procedure are beyond criticism or are faultless - but we are supported by the Committee, & by the large majority of experts.

[ Frederick Marquis, 1st Earl of Woolton. ] Typed Letter Signed ('Woolton') to K. W. Luckhurst, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts, declining to take the chair at a meeting.

Author: 
Frederick James Marquis (1883-1964), 1st Earl of Woolton, Conservative politician [ K. W. Luckhurst, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts, London ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 68 Brook Street, London, W.1. 8 December 1948.
£45.00

1p., 8vo. In good condition, with hole from paperclip at top left, and small rust spot to left-hand margin. Woolton's signature has been underlined by Luckhurst in red pencil. He thanks him for the invitation to take the chair 'at the meeting of the Society on Wednesday, 19th January, when Mr. Gray is reading a paper on "The Industrial Designer and Consumer Goods", but must decline, as he is 'already engaged for the whole of that day'.

[ James Sinclair, 14th Earl of Caithness. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Caithness') to <James Kennard?> of Bedford, regarding his 'Plan of a plough'.

Author: 
James Sinclair, 14th Earl of Caithness [ styled Lord Berriedale, 1823-1855 ] (1821-1881), Scottish Liberal politician, scientist and inventor.
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Weston House, Shipston-on-Stour. 1 January 1864.
£80.00

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. He letter begins: 'The last time I had the pleasure of being at your Works, was with The Duke of Sutherland, & Mr. Maconnell then of the L. & N. W. Rail. I am now anxious to see you on a matter of business, & if you are at home, I propose to go to Bedford on Thursday next, the 7th. Jany.' He gives details of how he proposes to travel, before explaining his object as to 'show you the Plan of a plough. I have tried it in a rough way, & it seems to save much <?>, & to do good work.

[ Lord Dudley Coutts Stuart, Liberal politican and husband of Princess Christine Bonaparte. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Dudley Coutts Stuart'), undertaking to visit the pianist Charles Salaman.

Author: 
Lord Dudley Coutts Stuart (1803-1854), Liberal politician, husband of Lucien Bonaparte's daughter Princess Christine Bonaparte, supporter of Polish independence [ Charles Salaman (1814-1901), pianist]
Publication details: 
34 St James's Place [ London ]. 17 July 1848.
£35.00

1p., 12mo. On aged and lightly-worn paper. It will give him great pleasure to wait upon Salaman and his sister, and he will certainly do so 'unless absolutely prevented' by the House of Commons, which he hopes will not be the case. The word 'Lord' has been added in a contemporary hand before Stuart's signature.

[ Harriet Willoughby, daughter of Whig politician Charles James Fox. ] Autograph Signature ('H Willougby') on part of letter.

Author: 
Harriet Willoughby (1786-1856), illegitimate daughter of Whig politician Charles James Fox
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£100.00

On 8 x 18 cm piece of paper cut from the end of a letter. In fair condition, lightly aged. Reads: 'And now my dear Mary Anne adieu With kind Regards to Mr T & love to yourself I remain ever | Your's sincerely & affectionately | H Willoughby | I shall leave directions With Mr Hyman to forward the Papers during my absence'.

[ Sir James Allen, New Zealand politician. ] Autograph Signature ('J Allen.').

Author: 
Sir James Allen (1855-1942), prominent New Zealand politician and diplomat, serving in various posts including Minister of Finance, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defence
Publication details: 
Without place or date.
£20.00

On 3 x 8 cm. slip of paper, cut from letter. In fair condition, lightly aged, laid down on piece of green card. Good firm signature, cut from a letter, beneath the typewritten words 'Yours faithfully,' The card is erroneously annotated in a contemporary hand 'Sir J. Allen | Prime Minister of New Zealand'.

[ Sir Algernon Borthwick, Conservative politician and newspaper proprietor. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Algernon Borthwick') to 'Miss Frere'

Author: 
Sir Algernon Borthwick [ Algernon Borthwick, 1st Baron Glenesk ] (1830-1908), Conservative Party politician and owner of the Morning Post newspaper
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 139 Piccadilly, W. [ London ]. 5 January [ no year ].
£35.00

2pp., 12mo. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper, with slight smudging to second page. Annotated by the recipient 'read & burn'. He explains that he is 'just off to Eastbourne', and asks her to send on her letter 'to The Editor [of the Morning Post]', adding that it is 'a risk to send to me'. He concludes by explaining that he and his wife have 'given our present long ago & I am subscribing to a Kensington one. We cannot subscribe to all.'

[ Herbert Henry Asquith, Liberal Prime Minister. ] Autograph Note Signed ('H. H. Asquith') to W. J. Fisher, agreeing to join a committee appealing for help for the family of Harold Frederic.

Author: 
Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith [ H. H. Asquith ] (1852-1928), English Liberal Prime Minister
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 20 Cavendish Square, W. [ London ] 15 November 1898.
£55.00

1p., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Reads: 'My dear Sir, | I shall be very happy to be one of the committee who are to appeal for help for the family of the late Harold Frederic.' The letter relates to a Victorian scandal. In 1884 Frederic (1856-1898) had come to England with his wife and five children as the London correspondent of the New York TImes. He set up a second household with Kate Lyon, with whom he had a further three children. Lyons was a Christian Scientist, and when Frederic suffered a stroke in 1898, she tried to cure him by faith healing.

[ Printed pamphlet. ] The Liberal Party and Mr. Chamberlain.

Author: 
W. T. Marriott, Q.C., M.P. [ Joseph Chamberlain (1836-1914), English Liberal Party politician ]
Publication details: 
Seventeenth Thousand. With Preface. London: Chapman and Hall, Limited. 11, Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, W.C. [ Printed by J. S. Virtue and Co., Limited, City Road, London. ] [ Preface dated 11 January 1884. ]
£56.00

32pp., 8vo. Disbound without wrappers. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. The 'Preface to the Seventeenth Thousand' covers pp.3 and 4, and is dated 'January 11th, 1884.' The preface begins: 'Since the publication of this pamphlet, not three weeks ago, Mr. George has reappeared upon the scene, and has held up the class to which Mr. Chamberlain himself belongs to the envy and execration of the artisans of the metropolis.

[ John Fonblanque, author and whig politician. ] Autograph Memorandum, signed 'John: Fonblanque', regarding 'distinguishing Barons by Tenure from Barons by Writ'.

Author: 
John Fonblanque [ John Anthony de Grenier Fonblanque ] (1759-1837), English author, whig politician and barrister
Publication details: 
Temple [ London ]. 7 March 1830.
£90.00

2pp., 12mo. 55 lines of closely-written text, with a few minor emendations. In fair condition, on lightly aged and worn paper, with 'John Fonblanque' in another hand at foot of first page. The document begins: 'I have been considering whether the Distinction that we notices this morning in the Description of the Heir sometimes as Lord & sometimes not may not fornish another Criticism for distinguishing Barons by Tenure from Barons by Writ'. He proceeds to argue the point learnedly.

[ Jules Baroche, French Statesman. ] Autograph Note Signed ('P J Baroche') to 'Monsieur De la Salle | avoué' ('Mon cher maitre').

Author: 
Jules Baroche [ Pierre Jules Baroche ] (1802-1870), French statesman, minister under Napoleon III
Publication details: 
24 January 1845.
£65.00

1p., 16mo. On bifolium. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. Addressed on reverse of second leaf to 'Monsieur De la Salle | avoué'. Regarding a payment for his part 'dans l'aff. janvier'.

[ Joakim Frederik Schouw, Danish botanist and politician. ] Autograph Signature, with biographical note in French and crude portrait.

Author: 
Joakim Frederik Schouw (1789-1852), Danish lawyer, botanist and politician
Publication details: 
Without place or date [ early nineteenth-century ].
£56.00

On an irregular slip of paper, laid down on a landscape 12mo leaf. In very good condition, with light signs of age and wear. Beneath Schouw's signature, in an early nineteenth-century hand: 'Joachim Frédéric Schouw, célèbre botaniste, président de la chambre des députés, né 1789.' To the right of the signature and inscription is a simple line portrait of Schouw's head and shoulders, in the same hand as the French inscription.

[ George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland. ] Autograph Note in the third person to R. Lambert, suggesting a meeting.

Author: 
George Eden (1784-1849), 1st Earl of Auckland, English Whig politician
Publication details: 
Admiralty [ London ]. 20 August 1835.
£50.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Docketed: '20 August 1835 | Lord Auckland to R L'. Reads 'Lord Auckland would be much obliged to Mr Lambert if he would call here tomorrow soon after two o'clock -'.

[Michael Angelo Taylor, Whig Member of Parliament.] Autograph Letter Signed ('M A. Taylor') to an unnamed recipient, expressing pleasure at the fact that a prosecution under his own act has been dropped.

Author: 
Michael Angelo Taylor (1757-1834), English Whig Member of Parliament
Publication details: 
Richmond. 3 January 1834.
£45.00

1p., 12mo. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. The letter reads: 'Sir | It gives me sincere Pleasure to learn that The Information against you was quashed. The Offence charged, does not come either within The Letter or The Spirit of my Act. I am only vexed that you have had so much Trouble.' Taylor's connection with the Metropolitan Paving Act of 1817, led to it being referred to as 'Michael Angelo Taylor's Act', but it is unclear which act he is referring to in this letter.

[Major Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon, 13th Governor-General of Canada.] Typed Letter Signed ('Willingdon'), with autograph conclusion, to 'Watson', thanking him for his congratulations on his appointment.

Author: 
Major Freeman Freeman-Thomas (1866-1941), 1st Marquess of Willingdon, Liberal politician, 13th Governor-General of Canada
Publication details: 
On his monogrammed letterhead of Government House, Ottawa [Canada]. 9 January 1931.
£80.00

1p., 4to. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed by hand to 'My dear Watson'. He thanks him for his 'charming letter', adding that the 'generous encouragement of all our friends is a great help to my wife and myself in undertaking this great duty and service to the Empire'. Concluding in autograph, he writes: 'I see you are still on yr. march, so come & pay us a visit in India | Yrs. sincerely | Willingdon'.

[John Wilks, Liberal politician.] Autograph Letter Signed to James Silk Buckingham, regarding his own reasons for retiring from Parliament, and Buckingham's coming 'extensive undertaking' (a tour of North America).

Author: 
John Wilks (1776-1854), English Whig and Liberal politician, father of the swindler 'Bubble Wilks' [James Silk Buckingham (1786-1855), Cornish author, orientalist, and Member of Parliament]
Publication details: 
Worthing. 2 September 1837.
£60.00

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. The letter begins: 'Want of health induced me to retire from Parliament in opposition to the wishes of my kind constituents and hurrying me from Town as soon as my votes had been given for the Liberal candidates at the Kent Surrey Essex and Middlesex Elections - unavoidably deprived me of the interesting though mournful pleasure of attending your final lecture at Finsbury Chapel.

[Henry Brook Parnell, 1st Baron Congleton.] Autograph Note in the third person, as 'Sir Henry Parnell', to 'Mr Mandel'.

Author: 
Henry Brooke Parnell (1776-1842), 1st Baron Congleton [Sir Henry Parnell], Irish writer and Whig politician
Publication details: 
Place not stated. 22 February 1828.
£56.00

1p., 4to. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Reads: 'Sir Henry Parnell presents his Compliments to Mr Mandel, & begs to acknowledge the receipt of his letter. But he has not leisure at present to examine the contents of it. | Feb: 22: 1828'.

[Sir James Mackintosh, Scottish author and Whig politician.] Fragment of Autograph Letter, with signature ('J Mackintosh')

Author: 
Sir James Mackintosh (1765-1832) of Kyllachy, Scottish author and Whig politician
Publication details: 
Place and date not stated.
£35.00

On both sides of a 9 x 11 cm piece of paper. Very good, with a piece of mount adhering to one corner. Recto reads: 'Neither Fanny nor I can resist the great kindness of your note. If what you write be so consolatory it is natural to expect still more gratification from seeing you. I cannot go till Monday after Lectures. But unless I should be prevented by a relapse which I hope is not probable [...]'. Verso reads: '[...] Afftly | J Mackintosh'.

[Charles Cecil Cope Jenkinson, 3rd Earl of Liverpool.] Autograph Note in the third person to 'Mr Broser'

Author: 
Charles Cecil Cope Jenkinson, 3rd Earl of Liverpool [Lord Liverpool] (1784-1851), Tory politician
Publication details: 
Fife House [London]. 13 October 1847.
£30.00

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly aged and worn paper. The note reads: 'Ld Liverpool encloses a draft value 57 .. 12. 2 to Mr Broster he begs Mr Browster will acknowledge the receipt of this by a letter addressed as above'.

Syndicate content