[Lord Derby disassociates himself from John Stuart Mill.] Autograph Letter in the third person [to Matthew Arnold], expressing a willingness to join in ‘any mark of respect’, as long as it does not imply ‘an agreement in Mr Mill’s political opinions'

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. Mill had died on 8 May, and in his 2018 biography, Timothy Larsen gives an account of the controversy over the efforts to have buried in Westminister Abbey. (In any event by his own desire Helen Taylor had her husband buried at Avignon.) 2pp, 12mo. With thin mourning border. In fair condition, lightly aged. Folded three times. Begins: ‘Lord Derby regrets that he shall not be able to see Mr Arnold when he calls to-day, as Lord Derby is sitting on an arbitration case at Westminster which takes him away from home at eleven till four.’ Derby now turns to the purpose of the proposed meeting, explaining that he will ‘with pleasure join in any mark of respect to the late Mr Mill which does not take such a fashion as to imply on the part of the contributors or promoters an agreement in Mr Mill’s political opinions.’ The recipient ‘Mr Arnold’ is undoubtedly Matthew Arnold. See his effusive letter to his wife, 1 October 1882, on a visit to Derby’s country house.