‎English‎

‎Augustus Hare [ Augustus John Cuthbert Hare ] (1834-1903), English author; Sir Richard Harington (1835-1911) of Ridlington, 11th‎

‎Augustus Hare author. Autograph Letter Signed to Sir Richard Harington with copies of two others apologising for publishing an anecdote regarding Harington's relation Dean Smith of Christ Church. With autograph drafts of two Harington letters.‎

‎Hare autograph letter: The Athenaeum Pall Mall S.W. London ; 9 February 1897. Hare copy letters: Holmhurst St. Leonard's on Sea; 10 and 11 December 1896. Harington's two draft letters: Whitbourne Court Worcester; 8 and 12 February 1897. Four items in good condition lightly aged and worn. An interesting correspondence casting light on the proprieties of Victorian biographical writing. Hare's 'The Story of my Life' was published in six volumes between 1896 and 1900 and was described by the original DNB as ‘a long tedious and indiscreet autobiography’. The Oxford DNB remarks that 'By the late twentieth century however Hare was undergoing something of a revival. A society of enthusiasts and collectors of his works was formed: a one-volume condensed edition of his autobiography was edited by A. Miller and J. Papp in 1995 and it and the original proved a useful source for those interested in country-house life in the later nineteenth century.' The 'defamatory' passage that is the subject of the complaint by Harington and the family of Dean Smith in the present correspondence is paraphrased by Harington in Item Four below. ONE: Manuscript 'Copies' presumably by Henry Smith or a member of his family see Item Three of two letters from Hare to Henry Smith. Both from Holmhurst St Leonards on Sea the first on cancelled letterhead of the Shire Hall Worcester; 10 and 11 December 1896. On the same bifolium. Totalling 4pp. 12mo. In the letter of 10 December he states that he is 'sorry to learn from you that anyone has been pained by anything in the “Story of my Life†The story you mention was told me as quoted from a letter to my mother by a lady who was intimate with your family. She was certainly unconscious of doing anything unkind in repeating a well known & popular anecdote which I have since often heard at dinner tables both in Oxfordshire & Yorkshire – so often that I imagined everyone considered it historic'. He continues with his defence pointing out that the anecdote is responsible for 'the well known nick name of Dean Smith – so familiar still at Ch Ch'.' As he is 'unwilling to cause the slightest pain the passage shall certainly be omitted henceforth'. In a postscript he writes: 'My publishers are in no sense responsible for my books as I pay for them entirely. I alone am to blame if there is blame.' Letter of 11 December begins: 'On looking again at yr. letter today it strikes me in quite a different light. It is possible that you thought that I or my readers or the readers of the story where it has appeared elsewhere or the many who say they heard Dr. Smith narrate it regarded the story as true! - that never occurred to me before! As far as I know it has been universally regarded as such a story as an elderly lover of anecdote would tell against himself evolving it from his own imagination with a very considerable sense of humour & no idea of any serious construction being placed upon it – and certainly with little idea of who would be the first to place such a construction. From what I have heard he was always himself amused by the soubriquet which arose from the story. Besides regretting anything that has given you pain I regret that I did not insert the words “wholly imaginary†- “told this wholly & sic imaginary story against himselfâ€'. TWO: Hare to Harington. 5pp. 12mo. He begins by thanking him for his 'very kind letter' and expresses sorrow 'for any pain your uncle has felt through the “Story of my Lifeâ€.' He explains that 'the earlier volumes' of the book were written seventeen years before and that it had been 'printed some years – though with no intention of publication till long after my death; an arrangement which last year circumstances induced me to alter'. Publication has allowed him to 'correct errors – the story of Alexander the Great for instance which I had already been made aware that I had most stupidly spoilt.' When he agreed to publication he had 'no idea of the possibility of a son & daughters of Dean Smith being alive: indeed the latter seemed to me quite old ladies when I saw them above thirty years ago'. He recalls that after he took his degree he lived 'much at Oxford with my cousin Canon Stanley' and that he 'often heard the story which was an especial favourite with him' and that when he 'went to Doncaster I was taken to see the ladies because of their supposed connection with the story'. He has 'expunged' the anecdote from 'the second edition not out yet'. He has been assured by 'several young men' to whom he has mentioned Harington's uncle's letter that 'they have heard it before – always of course as an old gentlemans story told in obliviousness of the construction which his hearers might place upon it'. He ends by claiming to be well acquainted with Harington's son: 'I think he would let me say that he was a friend of mine'. Both of the autograph drafts of Harington's letters to Hare are signed with initials. THREE: Draft of Harington to Hare. 8 February 1897. 4pp. 12mo. With deletions and emendations. Begins: Dear Sir My Uncle Henry Smith has shown me the correspondence which passed between himself & you last December with reference to the defamatory anecdote which you related in your autobiography touching my grandfather Dr Gaisford's predecessor as Dean of Ch. Ch.' He accepts Hare's 'assurance that the story was inserted without any intention of giving the pain & annoyance which it undoubtedly has to his descendants & that it will be omitted in future editions but I must protest against your speaking of it or the sobriquet which you have attached to him as familiar still at Ch Ch.' He points out that he is himself 'an old Student of Ch Ch. of within a month or two exactly the same University standing as yourself & Oxford has been the home of my boyhood since 1842.' Hare's story was 'perfectly well known' in Harington's time 'but told not of Dr Smith but of another man – an old gentleman nearly in his dotage himself quite as incapable of such an act as my grandfather but of whom it was told in <> of his imbecility.' He boasts of 'an unbroken succession of descendants of my grandfather at Ch Ch or living in Oxford for more than 70 years down to my son Edward whom you have met in County & know. My Father was a Ch Ch man my father in law an old Student of Ch Ch.' He presents further information repudiating the anecdote before pointing out how Hare has lost the point of 'the Alexander the Coppersmith story of Dean Gaisford'. FOUR: Draft of Harington to Hare. 12 February 1897. 4pp. 12mo. With extensive deletions and emendations. Continuing in the same vein with reference to his 'undergraduate days' and with biographical information relating to Smith's family. He recounts the anecdote as it was 'really told in the thirties' and 'associated with no name in particular': 'Two men went out in a boat – one fell overboard & was drowned. The survivor called upon the mother of the drowned man & said Madam I have something important to communicate. As your son & I were out in a boat he unfortunately fell overboard. He clung to the side of the boat & would have upset it had I not had the presence of mind to hit him on the hand with the stretcher. Failing this we should both have perished. As it is your son was drowned & I have escaped to bring you the news.' The letter concludes: 'Thank you much for the manner in which you received my letter. I had the pleasure of showing yours to Mr William Rose Smith the present head of the family who happened to be on a visit here when it arrived and he was much pleased with it'. From the Harington family papers. Hare autograph letter: The Athenaeum, Pall Mall, S.W. [ London ]; 9 February 1897. Hare copy letters: Holmhurst, St. Leonard's o unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 19546

‎'Ann Bridge', pseudonym of Mary Ann Dolling Sanders O'Malley (1889-1974), also known as Cottie Sanders, English novelist and fri‎

‎'Anne Bridge' pseudonym of the novelist Mary Ann Dolling Sanders O'Malley. Typed Letter Signed 'Ann Bridge' to her admirer 'Miss Cond' Eileen M. Cond .‎

‎On letterhead of 27 Charlbury Road Oxford. 13 February 1970. 1p. 4to. She thanks her for her letter and agrees to inscriber her bookplate. 'I am so glad that you have got "The Malady in Madeira"; I do hope you will enjoy it especially as you know Madeira. I think it was rather fun and the plot really up-to-date.' She thanks her for advertising her books as well as buying them calling her 'the perfect fan!' The letter concludes: 'I don't in the least mind being classed with all the ladies you mention though I am ashamed to say I have never read a word of any of them.' Apparently 'Eileen Cond was a book collector who sent out her bookplate to her favorite authors many of whom signed and returned them to her.' On letterhead of 27 Charlbury Road, Oxford. 13 February 1970. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 20679

‎Walter Savage Landor 1775 1864 English poet and author of the 'Imaginary Conversations' Albert Denison Denison 1805 1860 1st B‎

‎Walter Savage Landor Autograph Note in the third person from the English poet Walter Savage Landor to Lord Londesborough declining an invitation because of the 'crowded state of London'.‎

‎Without place or date. London 1840s. 1p. 12mo. On bifolium. Good on aged paper. The note reads: 'Mr Landor has to acknowledge the honor of Lord Londesborough's invitation for May 21. The crowded state of London will not permit him to make his usual visit there in Spring and among his regrets is his inability to pay his respects to Lord Londesborough.' Without place or date. [London, 1840s?] unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 12703

‎John Hellins (d1827), English mathematician and astronomer: d. 18‎

‎John Hellins astronomer. Autograph Letter Signed 'J. Hellins' to unnamed rercipient regarding 'the silver medal for me from Mr. Glendinning in Hatton Gardens' and the sending of books.‎

‎'Potter's-Pury' Potterspury Northamptonshire 23 June 1803. 1p. 4to. On aged paper with some discoloration and chipping to extremities. He has been hindered by an 'unexpected interruption' from sending via 'Richd. Scrivener' 'Stewarts Quadrature of Curves' but Scrivener will bring it 'the next time he goes to London'. The middle paragraph concerns 'Langhorne's sermons' which he asks to be sent 'by Coach'. He ends by asking the recipient - if he has received 'the silver medal for me from Mr. Glendinning in Hatton Garden' to 'wrap it up & put it into one of the Books'. 'Potter's-Pury' [ Potterspury, Northamptonshire ], 23 June 1803. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 17984

‎Agnes Nicholls (1876-1959), English operatic soprano; Ben Davies (1858-1943), Welsh operatic tenor with the Carl Rosa Opera Comp‎

‎Agnes Nicholls English soprano and Ben Davies Welsh tenor. Autograph Signatures on leaf from album.‎

‎Place and date not stated. Written one above the other on one side of a pink 12mo leaf of paper removed from an album. In fair condition aged and worn with small square of tape staining at head and some light offsetting of ink over Nicholls' signature. Reads: 'Yours sincerely Ben Davies.' and 'In remembrance of Agnes Nicholls'. Place and date not stated. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 19944

‎Charlotte Sainton [ Charlotte Sainton-Dolby, born Charlotte Helen Dolby ] (1821-1885), English contralto, singing teacher and co‎

‎Charlotte-Sainton-Dolby English contralto. Autograph Letter Signed 'C H Sainton' to 'Mr. Sherrard' regarding the re-allocation of tickets.‎

‎On letterhead of 71 Gloucester Place Hyde Park W. London 1 May no year but on paper with watermarked date 1864. . 2pp. 12mo. In fair condition lightly aged and worn. She considers the wind 'much too cold to allow me to venture where there is any current of air' so she has 'most unwillingly' had to 'give up the pleasure of using the ticket gave sic me'. She has given them 'to our French Nephew & Neice so that they are not lost and they will enjoy the treat immensely.' On letterhead of 71 Gloucester Place, Hyde Park, W. [ London ]\ 1 May [ no year, but on paper with watermarked date 1864. ] unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 19898

‎Sir Lawrence Alma Tadema 1836 1912 English artist born in Friesland Holland:‎

‎Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema artist. Autograph Note Signed 'L Alma Tadema'‎

‎On letterhead of 34 Grove End Road St John's Wood London NW. 3 December 1910. On letterhead cut down to 7.5 x 9.5 cm laid down on small piece of grey paper. In good condition lightly-aged. Reads: 'An autograph for Miss Phoebe Tull's collection L Alma Tadema'. Caption on mount: 'Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema. R.A. His pictures for the most part classical subjects.' On letterhead of 34 Grove End Road, St John's Wood, London NW. 3 December 1910. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 17935

‎Lottie Venne 1852 1928 English actress and comedienne wife of Walter H. Fisher Walter Henry Fisher singer with the D'Oyly Car‎

‎Lottie Venne Edwardian actress and comedienne. Autograph Letter Signed to unnamed male recipient describing her painful separation from her husband Walter H. Fisher of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company.‎

‎On letterhead of 5 Norfolk Road St John's Wood NW London. 18 July 1910. 2pp. 8vo. In very good condition on lightly-aged paper. She begins by asking whether the recipient is 'the same gentleman who wrote to me from Bournemouth' and to whom she replied that she was 'unable to give the information required for many years before my husband's death we were seperated sic'. She explains that when Fisher was not 'travelling about in the Country he lived with his Father I believe who has now been dead some years. The whole thing was very tragic and painful & I shall feel obliged to you not writing to me again on the subject'. She concludes by stating that she does not remember having met him but that she thanks him for his 'kind remarks about myself'. On letterhead of 5 Norfolk Road, St John's Wood, NW [London]. 18 July 1910. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 16002

‎George Adams [ George Gammon Adams ] (1821-1898), English sculptor:‎

‎George Adams English sculptor. Autograph draft of invitation by 'Mr. George S. Adams Sculptor' to a private view with separate piece of paper carrying autograph transcription of poetical quotation.‎

‎Both items undated. Draft invitation giving address 126 Sloane Street London . Draft invitation on both sides of landscape 12mo 11 x 18 cm piece of paper. In fair condition lighly aged. A rough draft apparently for the design of a printed card. The main effort on one page reads: 'Mr. Geo. G. Adams Sculptor Solicits the honor of a call from wavy line to inspect his two wavy lines Private view on the wavy line 126 Sloane Street.' There is the start of another attempt on the reverse. The poetical quotation is on one side of a 5 x 18 cm strip of paper laid down on a paper backing. In fair condition aged and worn. The transcription from Erasmus Darwin reads: ' "More than His chisel soft unfurled Whose heaven-wrought statue charms the World!' A small strip of paper at the foot identifies the author with the typewritten text: 'GEORGE ADAMS SCULPTOR'. Both items undated. Draft invitation giving address 126 Sloane Street [ London ]. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 17615

‎Henry Hallam (1777-1859), English Whig historian [Dr Thomas Arnold (1795-1842), headmaster of Rugby School, and Regius Professor‎

‎Henry Hallam historian responds indignantly to Dr Thomas Arnold's claim that he has made 'false quotations'. Autograph Letter Signed 'Henry Hallam' to Dr Thomas Arnold defending himself against an allegation made in a lecture at Oxford.‎

‎24 Wilton Crescent London. 28 February 1842. 4pp. 4to. Bifolium with mourning border. In fair condition lightly aged with short closed tears at edges of some folds. An excellent letter indignantly countering what must be the most serious accusation one historian can level against another that of making 'false quotations'. The recipient is not named but from the context is undoubtedly the Headmaster of Rugby School Thomas Arnold who since the previous year had held the Regius Professorship of History at Oxford and would die four months later on 12 June 1842. The letter begins: 'Dear Sir You will not I am certain consider it as a liberty if I address you a few lines on the subject of an allusion last word underlined to a passage in my History of the Middle Ages which I understand you to have made in a recent lecture at Oxford. The great respect which I bear to you will be a sufficient excuse; for in an ordinary case I should have waited for publication of the lecture & made my observations then or not as I might have thought it expedient'. He does not have 'an exact knowledge of what you said concerning me' but assures Arnold of the 'very great annoyance' he felt when 'Dr Buckland i.e. the geologist and cleric William Buckland 1784-1856 some weeks since told me in his jocular language “Dr Arnold has been blowing you up for false quotations'. He did not have 'the slightest notion what was the specific charge' but considered it 'a most serious imputation upon any writer' and subsequently 'obtained some information' from 'Dr. B.' 'vague indeed but enough to make me conjecture that your charge related to the well-known passage in Eligius. This has been confirmed since by a letter which a friend of mine received from Oxford; but the words said to have been used by you are very loosely given from memory. It appears however that you spoke in very handsome terms of my general character as a faithful historian'. Arnold has almost certainly overlooked the fact that 'in the fourth edition of my work & in all that followed I have retracted the error into which I had been led so far as it was an error in the fullest manner; not silently correcting or omitting the passage but leaving it as it stood with a note acknowledging it to be highly exaggerated in consequence of the wrong interpretation which through Mosheim's quotation many besides myself had put upon the original writer's meaning. On reading this note again after several years it appears to me that I have gone to the utmost in saying that the passage quoted by Mosheim ought never to be applied again; for in reality it is one of importance & serves to confirm what Mosheim himself has said though Maclaine & those who followed him went much farther than it would warrant.' He discusses a Latin sentence declaring: 'I need not add that this was no false quotation nor even a garbled one on the part of Mosheim who gave an entire - still less on my part who only quoted him & Robertson.' He ends by declaring his expectation that 'when your lectures go to the press you will do me the justice of taking notice' that he has corrected 'the error into which I had been led'. In conclusion he observes for the purpose of bring his work 'to the public eye it has been absolutely necessary to give modern authorities'. 24 Wilton Crescent [London]. 28 February 1842. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 21109

‎J. W. Hales [ John Wesley Hales ] (1836-1914), Professor of English Literature at King's College London [ Victor Gustave Plarr (‎

‎J. W. Hales Professor of English literature at King's College London. Two Autograph Cards Signed both 'John W. Hales' to 'Plarr' Victor Gustave Plarr on his leaving King's College for other employment and an application to Lincoln's Inn.‎

‎One: 1 Oppidans Road N.W. London 6 August no year . Two: 'O R'. 11 October no year . Both cards around 9 x 12 cm. The first written on one side and the second on both sides. In fair condition lightly aged. ONE: Begins: 'My dear Plarr We were delighted – for your sake – to see the announcement in the Times of your election to the <> district which we hope is well worth your acceptance'. He sure that 'we shall all be very sorry to lose you at King's. However I trust we shall sometimes see you.' Postscript: 'We are off to the Borders & the Roman Wall next week. Have you yet made holiday' TWO: He would have been pleased to support Plarr 'in this case I am myself a Member of Lincoln's Inn but a fortnight ago I promised to do anything I could for a barrister friend or rather acquaintance who is a candidate'. Had he known Plarr was going to apply he would have 'felt quite justified in declining that barristers request – But I had no idea & so pledged myself to him'. In a postscript he writes that he wishes to consult Plarr on a matter the following week and that something sent by 'Messrs. Bell' is 'nicely turned out'. One: 1 Oppidans Road, N.W. [ London ] 6 August [ no year ]. Two: 'O R'. 11 October [ no year ]. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 20703

‎Edward Hodges Baily (1788-1867), English sculptor:‎

‎Edward Hodges Baily sculptor. Autograph Letter Signed 'E H Baily' giving his 'charges for Busts in Marble'.‎

‎11 York Place Portman Square. 23 July 1855. 1p. 12mo. In fair condition on lightly-aged paper. Addressed to an unnamed recipient. He gives his prices for 'a head in Marble' a 'Torso bust' and a 'pale draped bust'. Docketed on reverse with biographical details in a nineteenth-century hand. 11 York Place, Portman Square. 23 July 1855. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 17599

‎Sir Francis Chantrey [ Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey ] (1781-1841), English sculptor:‎

‎Sir Francis Chantrey English sculptor. Autograph Letter Signed 'F Chantrey' giving instructions for the erection of a statue to an unnamed recipient.‎

‎Belgrave Place London . 23 April 1836. 1p. 4to. In good condition on lightly-aged paper laid down on a leaf removed from an album. The letter begins by directing the recipient to 'place the head stone upon the figure if you intend to place it before the rest of the figure is erected'. If the recipient's 'previous arrangements did not contemplate putting the whole figure together' he asks him not to do as he has directed. Chantrey is 'desirous that the figure should be in the best possible condition to be looked at' before the next Wednesday morning. Belgrave Place [ London ]. 23 April 1836. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 17838

‎Frederic Yates [born Frederic Keeping] (1854-1919), English artist active in America before returning to England and settling in‎

‎Frederic Yates English artist active in America. Autograph Letter Signed 'Fredc Yates' to Mrs Oldham describing in moving terms the funeral of Anne Oldham.‎

‎17 May 1895 on letterhead of 3a Portman Mansions W. London. Yates studied in Paris before setting up a successful practice in San Francisco also teaching there at the Art Student League. His portraits include the educator John Haden Badley and the only president of Hawaii Sanford Ballard Dole. He returned to England in 1900 but was invited back to America to attend the inauguration of Woodrow Wilson and to paint his portrait. Wilson presented Yates with the flag that his hand rested on whilst he took his oath of office. The Oldham family moved in artistic circles and Constance Oldham was John Ruskin's god-daughter and corresponded with him. Other papers suggest that the recipient was resident at Walpole Chislehurst Kent. 4pp 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition lightly aged. Folded once. A pencil note at the head of the first page gives the subject as the 'funeral of Anne Oldham'. A moving description of a Victorian funeral beginning: 'My dear Mrs Oldham A short letter it shall be but allow me this privilege of writing you. - You could not be at the service but you will know how everyone was thinking of you and I thought you may like to hear from one outside of your family how nicely and quietly everything passed off'. He proceeds to describe the 'quietly conducted' service on 'a beautiful peaceful afternoon'. After naming the pieces played by the organist he writes: 'Everyone sang. It was good to see your old manservant William there – and some of your other faithful ones – they came up and wished me “good day†but I could not remember exactly who they were.' He lists some of the mourners: 'Mr. Townsend and his little daughter – The Preby and his boy. - Mrs Thomas and one or two grand old heads these will remain in my memory.' He wishes he could make her 'feel the love and harmony of all present – The choir boys sang very well rustic and primitive enough their surplices blown by the wind in the open air as they put your dear one to her last resting place.' He ends touchingly: 'God give you peace dear friend I have some knowledge of your loss and I loved her too'. 17 May 1895, on letterhead of 3a Portman Mansions, W. [London] unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 22342

‎Alaric A. Watts Alaric Alexander Watts 1797 1864 English poet and journalist John Larking of Clare Hall Kent:‎

‎Alaric Alexander Watts poet and journalist. Holograph poem 'Alaric A. Watts' titled 'To Octavia The Eighth daughter of John Larking Esq late of Clare Hall Kent on the completion of her sixth year.'‎

‎Place not stated. Dated October 1817. 4pp. 4to. On a bifolium. In fair condition on lightly aged and worn paper with stub from mount still adhering. The poem consists of 84 lines arranged in seven twelve-line stanzas. It begins: 'Full many a gloomy month had past On flagging wing regardless by - Unremarked by aught - save grief since last I gazed upon thy bright blue eye And bade my Lyre pour forth for thee Its strains of wildest minstrelsy!' The fourth line in the fourth stanza 'For blessings on thy future years' has been deleted and replaced with 'To save thee from affliction's tears'. In 1823 the poem was reprinted in John Platt's 'Female Mentor' from the 'Monthly Magazine'. The date of the first printing has not been established. It was reprinted in 1824 in Watts's 'Poetical Sketches'. Place not stated. Dated October 1817. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 15527

‎Frederic Yates [born Frederic Keeping] (1854-1919), English artist who found fame in America before settling in the Lake Distric‎

‎Frederic Yates English artist active in America. Autograph Letter Signed 'Fred Yates' to Mrs Oldham describing his examination of the wreck of HMS Foudroyant for a painting she has commissioned. With sketches of the ship in ink and pencil.‎

‎Letter: 'Sunday noon' no date. On letterhead of the Royal Hotel Devonport. Pencil sketches without date or place. Yates studied in Paris before setting up a successful practice in San Francisco also teaching there at the Art Student League. His portraits include the educator John Haden Badley and the only president of Hawaii Sanford Ballard Dole. He returned to England in 1900 but was invited back to America to attend the inauguration of Woodrow Wilson and to paint his portrait. Wilson presented Yates with the flag that his hand rested on whilst he took his oath of office. The Oldham family moved in artistic circles and Constance Oldham was John Ruskin's god-daughter and corresponded with him. Two items: a letter and two pages of pencil sketches. LETTER: 4pp 12mo. Bifolium. Other papers suggest that the recipient was resident at Walpole Chislehurst Kent. The subject of the letter is a painting Yates is planning of HMS Foudroyant present whereabouts unknown evidently commissioned by the recipient. Yates is an excellent letter writer and he begins by giving Mrs Oldham the details of his journey to Devonport 'after a most pleasant journey coming down by the Great Western'. He 'arrived at Plymouth but came on to Devonport knowing the old warships are nearer this neighbourhood than Plymouth'. He continues: 'The “Foudroyant†lies out in the stream and can only just be distinguished from her neighbours from the shore. - I engaged a boatman and sailed round her and have quite decided what kind of a picture to paint.' Beneath this Yates has drawn a small simple ink sketch of the wreck of the ship. He continues: 'The snow was falling and the wind terribly keen - the boat man with a thin jersey on looking quite used to the weather I in overcoat hugging my knees together my teeth chattering – a regular landlubber.' There follows another ink sketch of the scene he has just described with the two men in their boat in the rain and the ship in the background. He continues: 'I have engaged this craft for tomorrow at 8.30 – weather permitting and in the evening will report progress to you – this county is full of beauty around Exeter the place looked the very home for a painter'. He adds regretfully: 'I wish some portraits were wanted down here then I would run down for two months in the summer. He asks for 'a Postal Order for £3' as he 'did not bring enough and the railway costs more than I expected and the cost of a boat I had not calculated. I am improvident.' PENCIL SKETCHES: On both sides of a 12mo piece of paper. In good condition with four fold lines one of which has a short closed tear at edge. On one side of the paper are two simple sketches the top one showing the wreck of HMS Foudroyant at sea captioned 'As she is' with side note indicating what are 'not masts only stumps'; beneath this another sketch of a ship 'As other ships of the same date now are'. On the other side of the paper is a larger sketch showing Foudroyant in her prime captioned by Yates 'What I suppose must have been'. The letter must have been written after 1884 when the Foudroyant which had been Nelson's flagship for a couple of years ceased to be a training vessel. In 1897 she was towed to Blackpool and in the same year she was wrecked in a violent storm damaging the North Pier in the process. Wood from the ship lines the boardroom of Blackpool Football Club and medals were struck from copper salvaged from the wreck. Letter: 'Sunday noon' [no date]. On letterhead of the Royal Hotel, Devonport. Pencil sketches without date or place. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 22343

‎Fanny Davies (1861-1934), English pianist, dedicatee of Edward Elgar's 'Concert Allegro' [ J. A. Fuller Maitland [ John Alexande‎

‎Fanny Davies concert pianist. Autograph Letter Signed to unnamed party sending a lithograph on the recommendation of the critic J. A. Fuller Maitland who is singing in her 'little choir'.‎

‎On letterhead of 52 Wellington Road St. John's Wood N.W. London . 13 February 1910. 1p. 4to. In good condition on lightly aged paper. Begins: 'Dear Sir Mr. J. A. Fuller Maitland who is singing in my little choir is also most kindly helping me by suggesting the right people to sing! & has told me to use his name & send you one of the enclosed lithographed letters which will speak for itself.' She concludes in the hope that he will 'help by singing'. On letterhead of 52 Wellington Road, St. John's Wood N.W. [ London ]. 13 February 1910. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 20137

‎John Murray the second (1778-1843), English publisher [ Henry Hallam (1777-1859), historian; Thomas Phillips (1770-1845), portra‎

‎John Murray the second London publisher. Autograph Letter Signed 'John Murray' to the historian Henry Hallam‎

‎Albemarle Street London . 3 August circa 1841 . 2pp. 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition lightly aged. He begins by informing him that the accounts 'for sale of your works for the past year are being made out'. and that he hopes to send them in a few days: 'they have been delayed only until I could receive from the various newspapers the accounts of advertising'. He continues regarding a portrait of Hallam by Thomas Phillips: 'I have this day seen Phillips Copy of your Portrait - very nearly finished - & as it seems to me executed with care & accuracy'. Murray considers that the copy 'has rather more colour than the original - but time will bring down the tone - Phillips will write to you for instructions how to dispose of his copy'. He concludes with regard to Lady Bell who had just seen Hallam. Albemarle Street [ London ]. 3 August [ circa 1841 ]. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 19802

‎John Cartier (c1923-1997), English baritone, singer of Gilbert and Sullivan with the D'Oyly Carte: c. 19‎

‎John Cartier English baritone. Three Autograph Letters Signed to 'David' describing the 'hard-going' of his touring existence and enclosing photographs for his 'enormous collection'.‎

‎All from 10 Rutherford House Brady Street London E1. 15 January 1974 and 5 March and 21 May 1975. First two letters 1p. 4to; third letter 2pp. 4to. All three signed 'John Cartier'. In fair condition lightly aged and worn. In the last letter he states that he has received the 'envelopes' and has 'distributed them round to various singers and musicians who will eventually I am sure be sending you a photograph with best wishes'. He apologises for being unable to invite him to visit: 'You see this is a very tiny flat and in fact I am very seldom here for any length of time as my work means continual journeying from place to place for concerts and shows. For instance I am just off to the Channel Islands for some “Yeomen of the Guard†productions an soon go back to America for concerts. This sort of thing is really quite hard-going and leaves very little time for doing many things one would like doing. The thing I look forward to most is to stay in one place for any length of time.' He ends with condolences over the recipient's heart attack. In the first letter written on Cartier's return from America he states that he is enclosing photographs 'to swell your already enormous collection'. In the second he explains that he is sends two more photographs 'taken some time ago'. All from 10 Rutherford House, Brady Street, London E1. 15 January 1974, and 5 March and 21 May 1975. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 21100

‎John Pye (1782-1874), English landscape painter [ Walter Field (1837-1901), artist ]:‎

‎John Pye landscape painter. Manuscript Letter to fellow-artist Walter Field written by an amanuensis and signed 'John Pye' giving his opinion of a copy of Turner's 'England and Wales' being offered for sale at Christie's.‎

‎17 Gloucester Crescent NW London . 3 March 1871. 3pp. 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition on aged paper laid down on part of a leaf from an album. He writes that he has 'carefully looked over the Copy of "Turner's England and Wales" that will be offered for Sale at Christies rooms on Tuesday next' and that while he finds it 'in all respects good of its kind and applicable to the Library of a gentleman' it is 'not so well applicable to the Studio of an Artist whose aim is to acquire from it all the knowledge that a more refined class of impressions of places might impart to him'. He has been told by a clerk at Christie's that the probable sum the work will sell for is twelve to fifteen pounds and that a proof copy 'would realise a very different sum'. 17 Gloucester Crescent, NW [ London ]. 3 March 1871. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 17861

‎Herbert Palmer [Herbert Edward Palmer] (1880-1961), English poet and critic [Rev. Harry Escott (1905-1987), MA, Congregational M‎

‎Nine Autograph Letters Signed from the poet Herbert Palmer to Rev. Harry Escott of Rhynie Aberdeenshire editing a book of Escott's poetry discussing Christian verse and attacking T. S. Eliot the Faber poets and modernism.‎

‎All from 22 Batchwood View St Albans Hertfordshire. One from 1938 two from 1942 one from 1943 and the rest undated. Totalling 36pp. 4to. In fair condition bound by Escott with brown paper into paper wraps with the front wrap signed by Escott and bearing the typed label 'LETTERS from HERBERT PALMER on "Minstrels of Christ" and my second book of verse "Soar for Victory" amended in February 1948 to "Back to the Fountain."' An interesting correspondence casting light on the workings of the mid-twentieth century publishing industry from the point of view of a successful traditional poet strongly opposed to modernism. Four of the earlier letters concern Escott's anthology 'Minstrels of Christ' published by the Epworth Press in 1941 with Palmer discussing the copyright of his poems mostly divided between Dent and Benn and offering 'two poems over which I have entire control'. He gives his opinion that a 'carefully compiled anthology sells anything from 2000 to 20000 copies and as I know of no Post-Victorian anthology of Religious Verse you might sell considerably more than 20000.' He adds: 'Poets like myself who have no other means of livelihood save literature are naturally chary about giving poems much as they desire to do and their publishers are generally rather tiresome.' He has gives a long list of poets he has marked down 'as "religious" in a greater or lesser degree' while compiling a 'history of Post Victorian Poetry for Dent'. On 21 March 1942 he accuses Escott of having 'so curiously let me down' over the use of his poems in the anthology which Palmer was handed by Mary Winter Were while 'reading from my little book "The Gallows-Cross" to the Poetry Society': 'I did not want them re-printed in anybook exactly as they stood . I had written some new poems which were rather more suitable'. He claims to have been 'slighted and snubbed and boycotted' because of his writing of 'religious and Christian verse . and not only because I have opposed Eliot in satire and parody - whom I do not believe in as a Christian poet and whom I regard as a dessicatory and disintegrating influence especially in the Technique of Poetry . I have no income beyond the £100 Civil List Pension I get for "distinction as a poet" whatever that may mean and my reviewing and meagre literary journalism brings me in very little as owing to my increased age I do things very slowly nowadays. As a leading poet said to me a few months ago "It is strange that so lean and bitter a trade as poetry should attract hypocrites but it does" - and that has been my chief cross as poet and critic for over 20 years. My wife of course has been the chief sufferer and at present seems to be doing most of the work - school teaching for which her age is now unfitting her.' A letter to which Escott replied on 7 April 1942 discusses religious matters in general beginning: 'What are you Are you a Methodist Minister or Church of England Parson My father was a Wesleyan Methodist Minister and my brother who lives at Leeds is a Wesleyan Methodist Minister.' On being asked to look over Escott's book of verse Palmer responds as follows: 'I have during the last 3 months been battered to death by poet's sic MSS books etc and I have not had time to do more than glance through your book. And I now have to review books for a livelihood. If you like to pay me a fee of two guineas I will go through your book in detail and report on it three guineas however it it takes me too long It is impossible conisdering my circumstances to do otherwise.' Three of the letters discuss Escott's book in detail over seventeen pages. He writes a preface for the volume and advises Escott on which magazines to send poems to 'Now I must charge you a Guinea fee but I think you ought to get it back - out of one of the periodicals I have mentioned.'. In the seventh letter in the folder Palmer tells Escott that he is 'a newcomer always with a first book of verse even when you have been publishing for years in periodicals'. In editing Escott's work Palmer summarises his own approach: 'I think that inspiration detached form art is the poet's greatest enemy. I know this personally to my cost You ought to get all the poems right with a little application. Poetry is largely a physical thing - it is only 50 per cent content. A little inspiration and a lot of art goes further than a lot of inspiration and a little art. Keats I know would tell you this and certainly Tennyson and the aesthetic singers of the Yellow nineties would agree with me. Very few poems are got right in the week in which they were written and scarcely any of the famous ones.' Elsewhere Palmer renews his attack on modernism: 'A great deal of modern poetry is no more poetry than a jelly-fish is a fish or the first green corn is a harvest. And this is not merely because the verse has been insufficiently revised but equally often because in the first moments of creation the poet if you can always call him that has experienced no sense of exaltation or spiritual or aesthetic excitement'. In the last letter dated 9 November 1943 he writes that he is 'carrying the War into the Enemy's Country. Not only am I publishing a selection of my verse in Faber's Seasame Series but I am trying to get them to publish my new volume of Verse part of which is a downright straight forward attack on Faber's own poets. But Geoffrey Faber the head of the firm is a very fine traditional poet and does not appear to really approve of much that he has published and I believe wants a re-statement of the other side of the matter. Most of these publishers have been forced into publishing modernist Verse. It had to be either that or threadbare conventional verse or nothing at all. All the same I feel like David in the land of the Philistines and Edward Thompson goes even further and writes to me "You are David in the land of the Philistines" - a strange reincarnation.' He does concede that he has 'discovered a very fine religious poet among the young men. Who could you imagine it is Well it is actually David Gascoyne the one-time upholder of Surrealism. Things are now changing in spite of Geoffrey Faber's gloomy prophecy.' All from 22 Batchwood View, St Albans, Hertfordshire. One from 1938, two from 1942, one from 1943, and the rest undated. paperback‎

Bookseller reference : 11954

‎'Baron Maseres' [ Francis Maseres ] (1741-1824), English lawyer, Attorney-General of the Province of Quebec:‎

‎Francis Maseres lawyer. Autograph Letter in the third person from 'Mr: Baron Maseres' to the printer Robert Wilks regarding the disposal of copies of his 'Scriptores Logarithmici'.‎

‎London. 5 March 1807. 1p. landscape 12mo. In fair condition lightly aged with central spike hole. Addressed on reverse 'For Mr: Wilks printer in Chancery Lane'. Having received a letter from 'Dr: Mackay' he gives instructions regarding copies of the fifth volume of the book 'which he proposes to be sent to Newcastle and Inverness and other places in Scotland'. If Wilks has not received copies from the bindery he should 'take the said six copies back from Mr: Maseres's chambers'. He also asks for a copy to be sent to Dr Aikin. [ London. ] 5 March 1807. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 17979

‎J. R. Planche [ James Robinson Planche ] (1796-1880), English dramatist [ his wife Elizabeth Planche (1796-1846) born Elizabeth‎

‎J. R. Planché English dramatist. Autograph Letter Signed 'J: R: Planche' to William Jerdan editor of the Literary Gazette thanking him for a notice of his wife's death.‎

‎'Garrick Club Tuesday' 1846 . 1p. 12mo. In fair condition aged and lightly-creased. The letter begins: 'Four thousand thanks for the very kind manner in which you have given the notice of my dearest wife in your last number.' The notice will be extremely gratifying 'to her family and any of the many who loved her'. Mrs Planché was also a playwright and is thought to have collaborated with her husband on a number of works. 'Garrick Club | Tuesday' [ 1846 ]. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 17924

‎English, Arthur‎

‎"The Beautiful Peninsula": A Picture Tour of the Cape Peninsula‎

‎Cape Town: Arthur English Coloured Prints 1968. Book. Illus. by Arthur English photos. Near Fine. Soft cover. 4th Printing. Quarto. Parallel text in English Boer French and German. Unpaginated. Owner's name bookplate on inside front cover. Arthur English Coloured Prints Paperback‎

Bookseller reference : 1156160

‎Edward Bouverie Pusey (1800-1882), English churchman and Regius Professor of Hebrew at Christ Church, Oxford, one of the leaders‎

‎Autograph Letter Signed 'E B Pusey' from Edward Bouverie Pusey Professor of Hebrew at Christ Church Oxford and a leader of the Oxford Movement to 'My dear Knott' a letter of introduction for 'Mr Brumby' whose mind is 'preying upon itself'.‎

‎Date and place not stated. 1p. 16mo. Good on aged paper. He writes that the bearer 'Mr Brumby' has come to him with an introduction from Crawley of St. Savour's Rev. J. C. L. Crawley of St Saviour's Leeds. 'It wd be of great use to him I think not to be thrown so much upon himself. I am afraid of his mind preying upon itself. Cd. you make him acquainted with 2 or 3 good men. He is of <B> N. C.' Date and place not stated. unknown‎

Bookseller reference : 11338