Autograph Letters

Scottish naturalist (1797-1855).One page, 8vo, sl. discolorationm good condition. "My Dear Sir,/ As the printing of my book now draws near to a close, I write to have proofs of the Plates you have in hand at your early convenience, that we may have the copies worked off." Poss. An Introduction to Conchology; or elements of the natural history of molluscous animals. JOHNSTON. George. M.D., of Berwick London, 1850. 8o.

Political writer and historian. One page, 4to, some defects but text clear and complete. "I have inclosed a few observations, for insertion, if you have room, in your valuable Magazine [The Monthly Magazine], on the present State of the Poor, and suggesting such remedies . . ." He doubts if the measures he suggests will beintroduced and finds other people's ideas on the subject "either visionary or worse".

Poet, son of William Roscoe (1782-1843). One page, 4to, spike-hole, edges stained, fold marks, text clear. "I beg to enclose a Bill for £20.8.0 - for £12 due for & £8.8. - from Mr Roscoe / In the letter I believe there was some exchange of Books but I apprehend the account is correct tho' I have mislaid the particulars - / May I beg you to make my compliments to Mr & to believe be . . .". Some figures added in another hand ("5.8/3.3").

John Cheese Watkins, bookseller. Two pages, 8vo, ragged edges (perhaps some loss), text readable. "<??> of the within being forwarded at a certainty [inserted phrase ] by the Coach from the - which leaves London either on Friday night or Saturday morning early --- & which will greatly oblige . .

Author, see DNB. Two pages, 8vo, good condition, with additional biographical notes by another hand. "Will you please to read the enclosed, & ascertain for [me?] if there is a Polish translation of "Jessica" ["Jessica's First Prayer"]. My cousin, Dr Manning, several times told me it had been translated into every European laguage; but he may not have thought of Polish. /Could you also tell Mr. Stevens for me that I never received the October [no.?]. of the Leisure Hour or Sunday at Home .

1 page, 8vo. Creased and discoloured, with some wear to extremities and a small spike-hole at centre. He encloses sixteen pounds for the payment of the bill of 'Mr Holder', and enquires whether 'Mr Halsey' has paid over the fifteen pounds he owes.

Tennis player, one of the Four Musqueteers. One page, 4to, fold marks, very good condition. With original envelope (his initials and address printed on reverse. He is sorry not to have answered her last and thanks her for some books. "But I have been travelling a lot all over Europe and North Africa since the beginning of the month and am now leaving for South and North America.

Theological writer (1792-1866). Two pages, 4to, chipping and discoloration slightly affecting text, mainly good. "Sir/ I am obliged to you for affording me a sight of Bede. I should be glad however to know the price [small excision "t"] you intend to set it down at- because looking at your list No 66 the copy there is said to be neat [underlined] 3.13.6. which I suppose cannot be the one now sent as the binding is in a very indifferent state, & the leaf (pages) 33[3?]-334 - is torn almost in two.

Three pages, 8vo, somewhat faint but good. "Mrs William Thornton presents her compliments to Mr Sunter & requests that he will be so good as to send her tomorrow 2. Dozn. of Letter sized Envelopes, with Quenns=Heads stampt upon them. Also 2. Dozen of a larger size of Letter Envelope without [underlined] Queens-heads.- Likewise a ver soft black-Lead pencil for making a very marked [page 2] outline in drawing, & a quire of Letter=paper of that very thin sort used for writing to France or India./ Mrs. W. Thornton would also be extremely obliged if Mr.

(1783-1858). Thomas Rodd and Son NOT in Brown or Maxted! One page, 4to, fold marks, text clear and complete. "Mr Rodd,/ I am surprized that the vols. of Humboldt have not been yet sent home, as they were to have been done as soon as possible, and desire that they may be returned to Berkeley square immediately bound or unbound, - the Atlas shd. be sent on receipt of this, it never being intended to have it bound -" Addresss page part of conjoint leaf as foloows: "eighteen/ Aylsham, December {eighteen from above] fifteen 1825/ [address]/ [frank]Orford".

12mo. In a quavering hand (he died the following year), he is returning two volumes of Terence to Bohte with a payment and inviting a visit from Jones. Two items,

One page, c.6 x 4", trimmed or part of page, edges discoloured, spike-hole, but text clear, possibly incomplete. "Mr Jeffery willl please to pay for the following Books Viz./ Plutarch's Lives £1-2/ Grose's[?] Ethics --6[s]/ F[?]uller's Thinking 4[s]/ ,Sketches?> -2[s]/ Bi[e?]ntons[sic] Characters 3-6/ Browne's Morals 2.6//£2= =/ RichBorough [??= in Kent, perhaps Parsons there?]" Vertically written in a different hand, "Acct the Contents/ W[?]. Parsons".

A. One page, 8vo, bifoliate, spike-hole, fold marks, minor damage, corner nearly detached, text clear and complete. "Dear Sir./ I beg you will do me the favour to let me know immediately on receipt of this, the exact quantity of tonnage it will be necessary to apply for in order to send 500 [underlined] Copies of the Register to Calcutta, 300do. to Madras, and 100 [underlined] to Bombay.

Four pages, 4to, fold marks, discoloration, some damage with minor loss of text.

Miscellaneous writer and traveller in Greece and the Far East (1758?-1841), DNB. Two autograph letters signed, edges discoloured, texts clear and complete. (7 March) "Sir/ I yesterday received your new Catalogue in which I find two articles which I am desirous of having No 2634. Belon (Pierre) & 3440 Ranwolfs Travels. provided they are in pefectly good condition [underlined from "as"] [.] I possess a copy of the same edition of Belon, but it [superscript] being very much stained I should be glad to get another that is perfectly well preserved.

Astronomer and Radcliffe Librarian (1733-1810). Became Librarian in 1783. One page, 4to, chipped and stained but text readable. "Mr. Hornsby presents his Compliments to Mr. Robertson, & begs the favour of him to deliver the two last Publications of the Royal Society {insert: Small Paper} , to the Bearer, if Mr. Wingrove [Wingrave in Maxted?] has not yet recd. them. As it is the Small Paper which Mr. H[ornsby] chooses to have on account of binding the late volumes of the same size with the preceding ones, Mr. H.

French Bookseller prob. One page and, verso, address and bookseller's note, 4to, In French, small portion lost on opening seal, edges discoloured, all grubby, text moreorless clear. Une infinite de causes parmi lesquelles je trouve le besoin des livres anglais que vous devez me fournir en echange de ceux que vous avez choisi <?> empeche de vous expedier les derniers. Neanmoins ni mon silence ni [?] qui <?> ecoute depuis le 4 Septembre 1820 ne <???> envers vous, et j'ai toujours ces livres a votre des [?].

One page, 8vo, good condition, text clear and complete. "Dr. Arnold desires his name may be set down as Subscriber to the history of Shrewsbury by Rev. H Owen & Rev. JB Blakeney . . ./ Large paper". Not in Bent. Not in Besterman. Published 1825, 2 vols. (i.e. much later).

One page, 4to, minor defects, text clear and complete. "Lady Perceval's Compts. to <. de La Rue, & requests he will send the following Books, or, if he has them not in the Library that he will be so good as to write for them to Paris./ Gradus ad Parnassum - bonne Edition francoise-/ Les opuscules Latins[sic] de M. Le Bean/ 2 Vols./ Praed[i]um Rusticum de Vaniere [Jacobi Vanierii Praedium rusticum.. Jakob Vaniers Gedichte von der Landwirthschaft.

Victorian phrenologist (1788-1858) and natural philosopher. Paper dimensions roughly seven and a half inches by three inches. Folded four times. Good, but worn and with some loss to bottom corners from previous mounting. Reads 'I am | My dear Sir | Yours most truly | Geo: Combe | If you see Mr. <?> at the meeting put this letter into his hands, lest I should not see him before it. | [signed] G C'.

Two pages, 12mo. Very good. Thanks his correspondent for 'your kind letter & for the hospitality you have given me in the North American Review. I hope you will be able to bring out my article in the March Number as the political Kaleidoscope changes so quickly that some part may appear belated if it is long delayed.' Asks for a change to be made if it is not possible to bring the piece out in the March issue. Signed 'W E H Lecky'.

English artist (1840-1920). Two pages, 12mo. Good, but with closed tear at head unobtrusively repaired with archival tape, and some spotting. In stamped envelope addressed in autograph and with postmark. 'I shall be pleased to come & see your pupils work on Wednesday June the 1st but shall not be able to reach there before 2.45 I regret to say. | With kind regards | Yours very truly | [signed] Briton Riviere'.

Irish administrator and Member of Parliament (1815-62). Consists of the front of the envelope, the dimensions of which are roughly five inches by three. Addressed to 'R. Byham Esq. | Ordnance Office | Pall Mall | London', and signed 'Th Redington'. Two postmarks in red ink: the first, in a circle, appears to read 'PAID | NW | 6 DE | 1846'; the second, in a circle topped with a crown, appears to read 'PAID | DE 7 | 1846'.

English admiral who 'while in command of the "Immortalite" captured and destroyed many French gunboats and privateers, 1802-5' (DNB).Two pages, 12mo. Good though grubby, and with blank second leaf of bifoliate cut down to a stub. Thanks Byham for 'all your kindness'. 'I shall have an opportunity of expressing my good wishes & those of Lady Owen to Mrs. Byham & yourself whenever you can seize a moments holiday'. Gives directions. '[...] At the 24th.

Shipowner (1840-1916), philanthropist and writer on social affairs. The recipient Herbert Vaughan (1832-1903) was the third Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster. Two pages, 12mo. Good, but with recto of leaf slightly smudged. Reads 'Dear Cardinal Vaughan | If half past nine is not too early I could come on Friday at that hour. I am afraid I cannot make it any later in the morning as I have to reach the City before 10.30. I could come on Friday Evening between 5 & 6 if that hour should suit you better'. Signed 'Charles Booth'.

Novelist and wit (1788-1841). On piece of paper roughly four inches square. Folded twice and lightly creased and with traces of glue and paper from previous mounting adhering to four corners of reverse, and affecting text. Typed title neatly attached at foot. Reads 'Will you give our kindest regards to Your Family and always believe me | Yrs Very Sincerely | The: E. Hook'. Reverse reads '<...> club.

General and courtier (1767-1845). Three pages, 12mo. Folded twice. Good, but on discoloured, lightly creased paper. Difficult hand. Regarding the 'Talents & Acquirements' of a certain 'Captain Spiller'. 'I am much obliged to you for your kind Enquiries after Lady Howard, she is now on her Road to Yorkshire from Bath, where she has recently been.' Signed 'Howard'. Postscript: 'I only came to Town on Tuesday Evening. I will mention Captain Spiller to Lord Morpeth in the hopes that it may be of some avail.'

English comedian (1848-1907), grandson of the actor Charles Kemble. Two pages, 12mo. On grubby, spotted and stained paper. 'I was so sorry to have been prevented coming to you on Sunday last, and also that my absence from town has precluded the possibility of my leaving Cards. I hope I may be more fortunate another time.'

English architect (1849-1930), responsible for many notable London buildings, including the Victoria and Albert Museum. The recipient Spielmann (1858-1948) was an art historian. One page, 12mo. Grubby, and with pin holes in top left-hand corner, as well as small closed tear at foot of leaf (not affecting text). Reads 'I regret that having to be in Manchester on Friday next I shall be unable to attend the art Committee of the St. Louis Exhibition'. Signed 'Aston Webb'.

English writer (1882-1950). One page, quarto. Good, but lightly creased and dusty, and with minor spotting. Concerns the writer George Augustus Sala, about whom Straus would publish a book in 1942. He is grateful for the Sala letters, and encloses a cheque. 'I appreciate your good nature in letting me have them. [...] My own Sala collection is fairly, but not wholly, complete. I have no copy, for instance, of his pamphlet (1860 or 1862) on the Wimbledon Volunteer Rifle Meeting.