PURCHASE

[Ren? Louiche Desfontaines, Professor of Botany at the Jardin des Plantes.] Autograph Letter Signed (?Desfontaines?) [to the negotiator of the Louisiana Purchase, the Marquis of Barb?-Marbois], thanking him for his ?Histoire de la Louisiane?.

Author: 
Ren? Louiche Desfontaines (1750-1833), French botanist, Professor of Botany at the Jardin des Plantes [Fran?ois, Marquis de Barb?-Marbois (1745-1837), French negotiator of Louisiana Purchase]
Publication details: 
Erroneously dated ?paris 21 decembre 1888? [1829?].
£180.00

The letter is addressed to ?Monsieur Le marquis?, and the recipient is undoubtedly Barb?-Marbois. The letter presumably dates from 1829, the year of publication of Barb?-Marbois?s ?Histoire de la Louisiane?. The other work referred to, ?Le Complot d?Arnold et de Sir Henry Clinton contre les Etats-Unis?, was published in 1816.

[Stafford Northcote; Disraeli; Suez Canal] Autograph Note Initialled SHN [Stafford H. Northcote] to his Private Secretary, John Arrow Kempe about a high level meeting to discuss the 'Suez Canal purchase'.

Author: 
Stafford H. Northcote, Chancellor of the Exchequer 1874-1880.
Publication details: 
Embossed stamp House of Commons, 9 March [1874 added in pencil by Kempe]
£95.00

One page, 12mo, bifolium, second leaf laid down on slightly larger paper, good condition. Text: We are to have a meeting at Mr. Disraeli's house at 2.30 tomorrow, at which Lord Derby, Cave and Stokes are to be. | Would you write a civil note to Sir Erskine Perry to tell him that some pressing business will keep me from seeing him. Northcote has added a note to the top of the page, Let Mr. Corry [Montagu Corry, Secretary] have a note of the engagement so that Mr.Disraeli may not forget it.

[MS. Accounts; military papers] A Collection of c.50 MS. letters and other material relating mainly to the financial life of Captain John Williamson of the 25th Regiment

Author: 
Captain John Williamson, 25th Regiment, later of Dollar Mains, Alloa & Lawhill, Clackmannanshire.
Publication details: 
1783-1794.
£600.00

The collection contains the following:1. To John Williamson, 25th Regt: 5 Autograph Letters Signed "Alex[ander] Adair" Army Agent with 'extensive business' (of Pall Mall, London, and Flixton Hall; obit. Gent.Mag.

[Fitzroy Somerset, Lord Raglan.] Secretarial Letter, signed 'Fitzroy Somerset', informing 'Ensign Bickerstaff' [Robert Bickerstaff] that he may purchase a lieutenancy in the 64th Foot Regiment.

Author: 
Field Marshal Fitzroy Somerset [FitzRoy James Henry Somerset], 1st Baron Raglan [Lord Raglan] (1788-1855), British commander in Crimean War [Lt-Col. Robert Bickerstaff (d.1894), 6th Dragoon Guards]
Publication details: 
Horse Guards [London]. 18 November 1846.
£120.00

1p., 4to. Good, on lightly aged and creased paper. Raglan signs and addresses Bickerstaff at the foot of the letter, otherwise it is in a secretarial hand. It reads: 'Horse Guards | 18 November 1846 | Sir, | I am directed by The Commander in Chief [the Duke of Wellington] to acquaint you, that, on your lodging the Sum of £250 - in the hands of Messrs. Cox & Co of Craigs Court His Grace will submit your name to Her Majesty for the purchase of a Lieutenancy in the 64th Foot - | I have the honor to be, | Sir, | Your humble Servant, | Fitzroy Somerset | Ensign Bickerstaff | 64th Foot'.

Autograph Letter Signed by Victorian artist Alfred Purchase, to 'H W R A [the Royal Academician Henry Weekes?]', containing a description of Tredegar in Wales and its young girls, and a pencil 'sketch of our valley looking towards Newport'.

Author: 
Alfred Purchase [Henry Weekes (1807-1877), Royal Academy; Tredegar and Newport, Gwent, Wales]
Autograph Letter Signed by Victorian artist Alfred Purchase
Publication details: 
'Tredegar Sunday' [1850s?].
£95.00
Autograph Letter Signed by Victorian artist Alfred Purchase

12mo, 4 pp. Bifolium. 57 lines. Text clear and complete. Fair, on aged and lightly-creased paper. Weekes is by far the most likely of the four Royal Academicians whose initials correspond to those of the recipient of this letter, the others being Henry Tamworth Wells (1828-1903); Henry Woods (1846-1921); Hubert Worthington (1886-1963). Well-written and entertaining letter, addressed to 'Dearest old Boy'. Begins with a discussions of the merits of 'Scilly as a sketching ground'.

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