Bagan

Goldwin Smith historian. Autograph Letter Signed to an unnamed individual discussing the disappearance from most parts of England of 'the independent yeomanry'.

rif. 15719 — On letterhead of Mortimer House Reading. 22 February 1867. 4pp. 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition lightly aged and worn with light stain from mount at head of reverse of second leaf. He begins by thanking the unnamed recipient for his 'kind attention to my request' and giving his coming address at Guildford as 'J. Pagan's Esqre Oak Lodge'. The letter continues: 'There is no doubt as to the general fact that the independent yeomanry of former days have disappeared before the great proprietors in every part of England except the extreme North where they still linger under the name of "States men".' He laments 'the absence of any exact statistics to present the fact tangibly in any particular county'. The matter can be ascertained 'by local knowledge alone'. He concludes by stating that he could satisfy the recipient's friend 'as to the probable accuracy of the number 4000 which rests on the excellent authority of Rushworth'. On letterhead of Mortimer House, Reading. 22 February 1867. unknown