LEGAL

[ Edwin W. Field; the Law ] Autograph Note Signed to "Ellwood" [ presumably his clerk, Henry Ellwood ]

Author: 
Edwin W. Field [ Edwin Wilkins Field (1804-1871), lawyer and painter who committed much of his life to law reform. ]
Publication details: 
[ Headed Notepaper] Glebe, Goring, Reading, 27 Sept. 1867.
£56.00

One page, 12mo, fold maks, sl. crinkled, text clear and complete. "I found our housekeeper wants some money. John Cobb is coming down tomorrow. I shd thoink he was sure to go to his office first. And that if you w[oul]d on receipt of this send £30 or so to him he w[oul]d bring it for us."

[ William Scott; law ] Autograph Notes (Remarks) Signed "W. Scott", on a Parliamentary report concerning charitable payments to children and other matters.

Author: 
William Scott, 1st Baron Stowell (1745–1836), judge and jurist.
Publication details: 
No place or date [Parliament, LOndon, 1809 ]
£150.00

Two pages, 4to, bifolium, fold marks, good condition, large handwriting. "p.13 [page of report or similar presumably] Is it quite decided that any Species of Degree of bodily Infirmity shall entirely disqualify a child from receiving any benefit from this charitable Institution. There are many Trades to which infirm Children may be apprenticed; and to provide such Children with the Means of procuring a Subsistence for themselves in Life, is surely a most beneficial Act of Charity not only to themselves but to their Parents, who may have been Persons of the highest Class of Merits.

[ Thomas Hughes, author of 'Tom Brown's Schooldays'. ] Autograph Signature on part of letter.

Author: 
Thomas Hughes (1822-1896), English lawyer and judge, author of 'Tom Brown's Schooldays'
Publication details: 
Place not stated. [ 1873. ]
£25.00

On 3.5 x 16.5 cm piece of paper, cut from the end of a letter. Ruckled and lightly stained, with small closed tear (not affecting signature). Good firm signature. Reads: 'Kindest regards to your wife | Ever most truly yours | Thos Hughes'. At bottom left: '1873'. Same year printed on reverse, which carries more autograph text by Hughes, written at right angles to the text on the other side.

[ Thomas Wilde, 1st Baron Truro, Lord Chancellor of England. ] Autograph Signature ('Tho. Wilde').

Author: 
Thomas Wilde, 1st Baron Truro (1782-1855), Lord Chancellor of England
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£20.00

On 1 x 4.5 cm. slip of paper, cut from a letter. In good condition, lightly aged. A good clear signature, neatly underlined, with the cross-stroke of the initial T looping down in calligraphic style. A few words of text from the letter on the reverse.

[ John Fonblanque, author and whig politician. ] Autograph Memorandum, signed 'John: Fonblanque', regarding 'distinguishing Barons by Tenure from Barons by Writ'.

Author: 
John Fonblanque [ John Anthony de Grenier Fonblanque ] (1759-1837), English author, whig politician and barrister
Publication details: 
Temple [ London ]. 7 March 1830.
£90.00

2pp., 12mo. 55 lines of closely-written text, with a few minor emendations. In fair condition, on lightly aged and worn paper, with 'John Fonblanque' in another hand at foot of first page. The document begins: 'I have been considering whether the Distinction that we notices this morning in the Description of the Heir sometimes as Lord & sometimes not may not fornish another Criticism for distinguishing Barons by Tenure from Barons by Writ'. He proceeds to argue the point learnedly.

[ Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne. ] Secretarial Letter, signed 'Lansdowne | &ct. &ct.', to 'Sec[retar]y. of Commission', containing a list of 'the names of [Wiltshire] Gentlemen to be added to the Magistracy'.

Author: 
Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice (1780-1863), 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne [ Lord Lansdowne], Whig statesman
Publication details: 
Bowood [ Bowood House, Derry Hill, Wiltshire ]. 20 December 1861.
£65.00

3pp., 4to. Bifolium. In good condition, on aged and lightly-worn paper, with a few minor rust stains. Addressed on reverse of second leaf to the Secretary of the Commission of the Peace. In the hand of a secretary, and signed by Lansdowne. Addressed by Lansdowne on reverse of second leaf 'Sec[retar]y. of Commission'. Docketed: 'Decber. 20th 1861 | Wilts | Ld. Lansdowne recd several | <?> all but the 2 parsons'.

Manuscript Fee Book of E. G. M. Carmichael, Worcestershire barrister and 29th Chief of the Clan Carmichael, covering over fifty years [1895-1947].

Author: 
Evelyn George Massey Carmichael (1871-1959), 29th Chief of the Clan Carmichael, barrister at law of the Inner Temple and Worcestershire cricketer [Harrow; Oriel College, Oxford]
Publication details: 
In 'Partridge & Cooper's Improved Fee Book.' Entries dated from 1 January 1895 to June 1947.
£200.00

4to, 168 pp. Text clear and complete, in a number of different hands. Internally tight, on lightly-aged paper. In loose buff calf half-binding, with the front of the green cloth boards stamped in gilt with 'FEE BOOK [in scroll] | E. G. M. CARMICHAEL'. Every opening in a spread of seven columns across the two pages: Date, Solicitor, Name of Cause or Matter, Description, Fee, When paid, Remarks. Giving a rounded picture of the activities of a well-connected provincial solicitor. (Represented Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin - another Worcestershire man, M.P.

[ William Sprott, Procurator Fiscal of the City of Edinburgh. ] Autograph Signature and postscript to letter to Robert Park of Glasgow, covering a 'Copy of Minute about the Attorney Tax law'

Author: 
William Sprott, Procurator Fiscal of the City of Edinburgh [ Robert Park (d.1797), Writer, Glasgow; the Attorney Tax Law, Scotland, 1786 ]
Publication details: 
Copy minute from 'Edinburgh within John's Coffee House', 15 December 1786. Sprott's covering note to Park: Edinburgh. 16 December 1786.
£100.00

3pp., folio. Bifolium. On aged and worn paper. Docketed on reverse of second leaf and addressed to 'Mr. Robert Park | Writer in | Glasgow', with postmark in red ink. The first page is headed 'Edinburgh within John's Coffee House the fifteenth day of December One thousand Seven hundred and Eighty six Years. | Siderunt of the committee respecting the Attorney Tax Law.' The minutes end at the top half of the third page, and a followed on the lower part of the same page by Sprott's covering note, written by a secretary and signed by him with short autograph postscript.

[ Sir Joseph Jekyll, English judge. ] Autograph Signature ('J Jekyll') from frank.

Author: 
Sir Joseph Jekyll (1663-1738), English judge and Master of the Rolls
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£23.00

On irregular piece of paper (4.5 cm wide, and up to 2.5 cm high). In good condition, lightly aged. Good firm hand. Reads 'Free | J Jekyll'.

[Embargo Act of 1807?;] Substantial copy letter, John Holmes, lawyer & politician in Maine/Massachusetts, to William Sabatier, merchant, about land in Maine/MA. Annotated & Copied by Sabatier,and forwarded to Thomas Hutchinson, Jr (see notes below)

Author: 
William Sabatier, "office holder, merchant, jp, and lobbyist (Canadian DNB) [John Holmes, US Senator, etc. (Wikipedia)]
Publication details: 
[Holmes letter] Alfred, Mass., 24 March 1809; [Wm Sabatier note], 5 May 1809.
£280.00

Four-pages bifolium, fold marks, good condition. Holmes letter copied by Sabatier to Hutchinson, and with substantial added material also by Sabatier, 2pp., folio; Sabatier added the note to Hutchinson, p.3, "A cross grained business has happened in the appointment which will occasion a temporary delay; Hutchinson's address appears on page four with a note (presumably in Hutchinson's hand), "Willm Sabatier Esq.

[John Leslie Foster, Irish judge.] Autograph Letter Signed ('J Leslie Foster') to 'W. Wallich', thanking him for his attention to a request.

Author: 
John Leslie Foster (c.1781-1842), British Member of Parliament and Irish judge
Publication details: 
Rathescar, Dunleer [Ireland]. 19 January 1830.
£40.00

2pp., 4to. Bifolium. Docketed on reverse of second leaf. In fair condition, on lightly aged and worn paper, with one dog-eared corner. He has received Wallich's letter, and thanks him for his 'great kindness in attending so effectively to my request'. Docketed in a small contemporary hand at head of first page.

[Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey.] Autograph Letter Signed ('F. Jeffrey') to his nephew by marriage John Hunter, describing his anxiety on losing Hunter as his 'agent and adviser', on his appointment as Auditor of the Court of Sessions.

Author: 
Francis Jeffrey (1773-1850), Lord Jeffrey, editor of the 'Edinburgh Review' [John Hunter (1801-1869) of Craigcrook, son of Professor James Hunter (1745-1837), and nephew by marriage of Jeffrey]
Publication details: 
Craigcrook. 25 October 1849.
£50.00

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, on aged paper, with closed tears unobtrusively repaired with archival tape. Addressed to 'John Hunter Esqre | Auditor of Court of Sn.' Written three months before Jeffrey's death, the letter begins: 'My dear Hunter - I hope you do not think that I have been forgetful of you - or indifferent to your fortunes - or ungrateful for your very kind expressions - and I firmly believe feelings - towards me - because I may appear to have been slow in offering you my congratulations on your late appointment [as Auditor of the Court of Sessions]'.

[Manuscript] The Notes of a Court Clerk of cases heard at the Easter Sessions probably at Devizes Magistrates Court (Wiltshire), given that Devizes House of Correction is the prison of choice..

Author: 
[Court Clerk]
Publication details: 
"Easter Sessions", 9 April 1823.
£580.00

24 pp, folio, some leaves detached, interleaved with blotting paper, not bound, fair condition; a scrawl of a handwriting, difficult to read. It starts with the date, 9 April 1823, Easter Sessions, two names of people who "qualified as magistrates", "The Revd R.P.B.

[Richard Almack, Suffolk solicitor and antiquary.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Rd Almack') to 'Dear Edwd:' [Edward Shepherd] discussing in detail the points in a contested Victorian will, and the 'contumely of the disappointed'.

Author: 
Richard Almack (1799-1875) of Long Melford, Suffolk, solicitor and antiquary
Publication details: 
Melford [Long Melford, Suffolk]. 14 October 1856.
£150.00

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. A well-written and oddly-entertaining letter, and an evocative piece of Victorian social history. From the context it is clear that the recipient and his wife have been accused of overstepping the terms of a will, and on this matter Almack begins: 'Furniture is very comprehensive, and would I think include Work boxes, Chests, & plated Goods. It has even been decided that plate would so pass! - Also plated would. | Under "bed linen," Blankets & Quilts pass. Under "Household Linen", Coloured Table Cloths & Doyleys would pass.

[William Beckford.] Manuscript copy by Fownes & White of 'Points stipulated for & agreed to with Messrs. Thompson Hankey & Co. on their taking the Consignments of the West India Estates of Wm. Beckford Esq: in succession to Messrs. Plummer & Wilson.

Author: 
[William Beckford (1760-1844), author and 'England's wealthiest son'; his London solicitors James Fownes and Richard Samuel White; Messrs Thompson Hankey & Co. and Messrs. Plummer & Wilson, bankers]
Publication details: 
[Messrs. Thompson Hankey & Co., 'at a meeting held at their Counting House in Fenchurch St. on the 24th Decr. 1830.' 27 January 1831.
£320.00

The connection between the two firms of London bankers Thompson Hankey & Co., and Plummer & Wilson & Co. is unclear, but after the bankruptcy of John Plummer and William Wilson of Fenchurch Street 1831, a new firm named Hankey, Plummer & Wilson was formed, Plummer & Wilson bringing to it a number of clients including Beckford. The source of Beckford's vast wealth was of course the family's sugar plantations in the West Indies, and this document dates from before the abolition of slavery. 3pp., foolscap 8vo. Bifolium.

[Samuel Warren, lawyer, writer and Bencher of the Inner Temple.] Autograph Note Signed ('Samuel Warren | Bencher') 'To the Verger of the New Temple', authorising admittance to the Temple Church.

Author: 
Samuel Warren (1807-1877), lawyer and writer, Bencher of the Inner Temple
Publication details: 
[The Inner Temple, London.] 7 November 1852.
£90.00

On one side of a piece of 9 x 14.5 cm paper. Laid down on 11 x 23 cm piece of pink paper cut from an album. The note reads: 'Admit one Gentleman & one Lady to the Temple Church on Sunday the 7th. Novr. 1852 - | Samuel Warren. | Bencher. | To the Verger of the New Temple.'

[Thomas Clark.] Autograph Letter Signed to Sir William Horne, threatening to 'Impeach Sir John Nicholl' over his 'Judgment in Dern & Clark'

Author: 
Thomas Clark [Sir William Horne (1774-1860), barrister and politician; Sir John Nicholl (1759-1838), Welsh judge]
Publication details: 
5 Farringdon Street, London. 12 April 1834.
£120.00

3pp., 8vo. 72 lines. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. Clark is writing again 'at the instigation of Friends', and hopes that 'in a Case of such vast public as well as private Importance, involving the Rights the Liberty & the Property of the Subject, you will extend to me your generous & powerful aid, at the Bar, or in the Senate'. His petition to the king (regarding 'Slotts Well'), certified by Horne, was suppressed, and he 'applied to Lord Eldon to present a Petition for me to the House of Peers'.

[Offprint.] English Law Reporting, A Paper read by Sir Frederick Pollock of London, England, at the Twenty-sixth Annual Meeting of The American Bar Association held at Hot Springs, Virginia, August 26, 1903.

Author: 
Sir Frederick Pollock [The American Bar Association]
Publication details: 
'Reprinted from the Transactions of the Association.' [Philadelphia: Dando Printing and Publishing Company, 34, South Third Street. 1903.]
£150.00

13pp., 8vo. Stitched, in grey printed card wraps. In very good condition. Originally printed as an appendix to the 'Report of the Twenty-Sixth Annual Meeting of the American Bar Association held at Hot Springs, Virginia, August 26, 27 and 28, 1903.' Scarce: no copy on COPAC or OCLC WorldCat.

[John Bell of Lincoln's Inn.] Part of document giving his legal opinion in a cause, written out by a clerk, and signed and dated by him.

Author: 
John Bell (1764-1836) of Lincoln's Inn, English barrister
Publication details: 
Lincoln's Inn. 14 March 1828.
£120.00

Bell's entry in the Oxford DNB records that 'In conversation with the prince regent (later George IV), Lord Chancellor Eldon was said to have described Bell as the best lawyer then at the equity bar, though he could "neither read, write, walk, nor talk": Bell was lame, spoke with a broad Westmorland accent, the effect of which was heightened by a confirmed stammer, and wrote in a hand never more than barely legible.

[Extradition 1880; Pamphlet] Official Copy. The Practice and Procedure in the Extradition of Criminals between Her Majesty's Government and Foreign States.

Author: 
[Extradition, 1880]
Publication details: 
London (HMSO), 1880.
£175.00

22pp., 8vo, blue wraps, sl. crumpled, small amount of foxing, mainly good. Eleven copies listed on COPAC, only British copies listed on WorldCat (no USA).

[Sir George Bramwell, Baron in the Court of Exchequer.] Autograph Certificate, on vellum, regarding an indenture shown to him by Catherine Stein, wife of Peter Stein. With a signed affidavit, also on vellum, signed by Charles Harris Hodgson.

Author: 
George Bramwell, 1st Baron Bramwell [George William Wilshere Bramwell, 1st Baron Bramwell] (1808-1892), English judge [Charles Harris Hodgson]
Publication details: 
Bramwell's certificate: 28 March 1861. Hodgson's affidavit: Rolls Garden, Chancery Lane. 28 March 1861, on vellum document 'Sold by J. Sullivan, Printer and Stationer, 22, Chancery Lane.'
£45.00

The two documents are on 33 x 24 cm pieces of vellum, and are pinned together. Both in very good condition. Both are printed forms, made out by the signatory. Bramwell's certificate begins (with the manuscript portions in square brackets): 'These are to Certify that on the [Twenty eighth] day of [March] in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-[one] before me the undersigned [Sir George William Wilshere Bramwell Knight one of the Barons of Her Majestys Court of Exchequer] Appeared personally [Catherine Stein] the Wife of [Peter Stein] and produced a certain Indenture marked [A]'.

[Sir Henry Maine.] Autograph Letter Signed ('H. S. Maine') to the Rev. Dr Campion, expressing support for his 'cause', but explaining that his attendance at a Lord Mayor's dinner for Sir Frederick Roberts means he cannot go to a Cambridge meeting.

Author: 
Sir Henry Maine [Sir Henry James Sumner Maine] (1822-1888), jurist [William Magan Campion (c.1820-1896), President of Queen's College, Cambridge]
Publication details: 
27 Cornwall Gardens, London, SW. 6 October 1885.
£80.00

2pp., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged paper with small closed tear along fold line. He is not sure whether, 'as a Permanent Official', he could attend Campion's meeting in Cambridge on 24 October, 'though I very sincerely wish well to your cause'. He has in any case 'accepted an invitation to a great dinner which the Lord Mayor gives on that day to Sir F. Roberts who goes to India as Commander in Chief.' He is not a great attender of public dinners, 'but this will be a large gathering ofr Indian soldiers and civilians, and I could not decline'.

['The Overseers of the Poor of Leeds' (near Maidstone, Kent).] Itemised manuscript bill to the Overseer Mr Bottle from Burr, Hoar & Burr, attornies, King Street, Maidstone

Author: 
Burr, Hoar & Burr, attornies, King Street, Maidstone, Kent [Mr Bottle, Overseer of the Poor of Leeds, near Maidstone, Kent]
Publication details: 
[Burr, Hoar & Burr, attornies, Maidstone, Kent.] Undated, but covering the period April 1817 to July 1821.
£220.00

3pp., folio. Bifolium. Addressed on reverse of second leaf to 'Mr. Bottle | Overseer | Leeds', with Maidstone postmark, and docketted 'Burr's Bill | £24 14s 8d'. In good condition, on lightly aged and creased paper. Headed 'The Overseers of the Poor of Leeds'. Closely and neatly written, with the forty itemised entries going into unusual detail. The first entry, for 6s 8d, reads: '[April 1817] Att[endin]g. you on Stonham's Son in law hav[in]g. applied to a Magistrate for an Order for relief of his Grandchildren & aftwds upon the Magistrate with you & him & advis[in]g.

[MANUSCRIPT; "Feudal Supreme Court of Brabant" - pencil note in MS; Legal or juridical Manuscript "specifically aimed at the Council of Brabant" ]

Author: 
[Brabant Law] Anon.
Publication details: 
Eighteenth-Century (again pencil note in MS). Note: 'Maid of Dort' Pro Patria watermark (i.e. Dutch paper)
£600.00

238pp. used, sm folio, full leather, raised bands, worn, words on spine obscured (gilt worn away), in Latin, French and Flemish. Note: Some Belgian scholars have kindly contributed the following background: "The manuscript is a typical 18C- juridical compilation. This one is specifically aimed at the Council of Brabant. The manuscript was probably 'started' by a lawyer, an attorney or another jurist who often frequented the council of Brabant. It contains a number of texts with Brabant law sources, and law procedures.

[John Inglis, Lord Glencorse.] Autograph Letter Signed to him from his 'affectionate Cousin | J Taylor'.

Author: 
John Inglis, Lord Glencorse (1810-1891), Scottish judge and Conservative politician [Taylor of Tibbermore, near Perth, Scotland; Balliol College, Oxford]
Publication details: 
Tibbermore [near Perth, Scotland]. 16 December [1830].
£38.00

4pp., 4to. Bifolium, with the last page of text cross-written over the first, and the valediction and signature cross-written over the second. In fair condition, on aged paper, with short closed tears along crease lines of the second page. Addressed on reverse of second leaf, with red wax seal and postmarks, to 'John Inglis Esq | Balliol College | Oxford', and redirected to 'Loganbank'.

[John Orde.] Autograph Letter Signed to Messrs Erskine & Curle, Writers, Melrose, regarding his claim for drains against Messrs Scot & Turner.

Author: 
John Orde [Messrs Erskine & Curle, Writers [solicitors], Melrose, Scotland; Scot & Turner]
Publication details: 
No place [Melrose, Scotland?]. 3 October 1824.
£35.00

2pp., 4to. On bifolium. Addressed by Orde on reverse of second leaf, with docketting and faint postmark. Good, on lightly-aged paper.

[John Brewster, Under Sheriff of Nottingham.] Autograph Note Signed to John Goodall, enclosing an account of legal charges in the cases Grammer against Lord Melbourne and Grammer against Hides, relating to Greasley Moor Green, Nottinghamshire.

Author: 
John Brewster, Under Sheriff of Nottingham [William Lamb (1779-1848), 2nd Viscount Melbourne [Lord Melbourne]; Thomas Grammer of Greasley Moor Green, Nottinghamshire; John Goodall, solicitor, Derby]
Publication details: 
Letter dated from Nottingham, 19 March 1845. Account of charges at 12 March 1845.
£70.00

On 4to bifolium, with the account of charges on the recto of the first page, and Brewster's letter on the recto of the second. In very good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed, with Nottingham and Derby postmarks, on the reverse of the second leaf, to 'John Goodall Esq | Solr. | Derby'. Docketted: 'Brewster Jno. | Under Shff of Nttm | with acct. of Charges in Grammer at Melbourne | Same at Hides'. The letter reads 'Inclosed I forward you the Account of Charges relating to these

[Sir Leon Radzinowicz.] Duplicated typed copy of a lecture to the Second United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, titled 'Criminological and Penological Research'.

Author: 
Sir Leon Radzinowicz (1906-1999), criminologist, founding director of the Institute of Criminology at the University of Cambridge
Publication details: 
[London, England.] 'Lecture to be delivered on Monday 15th August [1960] (afternoon: hour to be fixed)'.
£180.00

19pp., foolscap 8vo. On ten leaves stapled together in one corner. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper with staining from staple. He introduces his subject as follows in the first paragraph: 'I regard it as a great honour to have been invited by Professor Lopez-Rey, on behalf of the Secretariat of the United Nations, to address the Second United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders. The subject assigned to me is criminological and penological research, a fascinating but intricate theme.

Autograph Note Signed ('Eldon') from the Lord Chancellor John Scott, 1st Earl of Eldon, to John Cross of Lincolns Inn, undertaking to take 'the pleasure of the Prince Regent' on a certain subject. With signed envelope carrying Eldon's seal.

Author: 
John Scott (1751-1838), 1st Earl of Eldon, Lord Chancellor of Great Britain, 1801-1806 and 1807-1827
Publication details: 
No place. 'Friday Morning'. [1819.]
£45.00

Both items in very good condition, on aged paper, and both with minor traces of mount. The letter is 1p., 12mo, on a bifolium. The envelope is a leaf of paper, also 1p., 12mo. It is addressed by Eldon to 'John Cross Esq | 19 Lincolns Inn', franked in the bottom left-hand corner 'Eldon', and is without postmarks. It carries the seal in black wax, with the barest of impressions. Docketed in pencil in a contemporary hand '1819'.

Manuscript 'Inventory of Plate and other articles bequeathed by the Fifth Codicil to the Will of The Right Honourable John Manners Earl of Hardwicke, to go and be held and enjoyed with the Title and Honours of Hardwicke.' Signed by the trustees.

Author: 
Messrs Green & Abbott, 33 Davies Street, Berkeley Square, London; Richard Woollcombe, solicitor, 36 Theobald's Road, London [John Manners Yorke (1840-1909), 7th Earl of Hardwicke]
Publication details: 
In the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division, London. 1920.
£150.00

14pp., small 4to. Good, on lightly-aged paper, in ruled notebook, in worn black morocco binding, with marbled endpapers, and the following stamped in gilt on the front cover: 'The Right Honble John Manners | Earl of Hardwicke deceased | Inventory of Heirlooms'.

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