[ Edmund Henry Barker, classical scholar. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('E. H. Barker') to Frederick Thomas Maxon, regarding 'Dr. Parr's birthday', 'The Chancellor's illness' and 'a very awkward mortality among Booksellers'.

1p., 8vo. Bifolium. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper, brittle and chipped at edges. Addressed on reverse of second leaf to 'Fr. Thomas Maxon Esqr. | 6 Little Friday-Street'. 24 lines of text. The letter begins: 'This is Dr. Parr's birthday, & Dr. John Johnstone was to have a grand commemoration of it, to which he invited me. Mrs. Barker is on the whole better, but I cannot say that any great progress has been made towards a recovery, & probably much time will elapse first. As we have not informed numerous friends of her illness (lest we should be over-run with Letters) you will take no notice, if you see any of our friends.' He continues with a paragraph on the 'Chancellor's illness', with references to 'Mrs. Heald', 'Scarlett's arrangements', and 'Shadwell' (who has been 'starved out'). The last paragraph reads: 'There is a very awkward mortality among Booksellers just now. Hurst & Robinson are done up; Thorpe had preceded; & now Constable & Co. of Edinburgh are gone; besides Whittaker's suspension & Knight & Lacey's stoppage.'