Typed Letter Signed, from 'V. P. 10/12', accusing the former King Edward VIII of 'obvious dereliction of duty', and expressing 'relief and satisfaction' that he has decided to abdicate.

Initialled "[?]P 10/12" (10 December"2pp., 4to. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. A number of minor autograph corrections suggest that the author of the letter may not be a native English speaker. The letter begins: 'Now that the period of delay and doubt, and of consequent uncertainty and uneasiness, is over it may, perhaps, be permitted to express a feeling almost of relief and satisfaction that King Edward has decided to abdicate.' The former king's 'retiring disposition and sensitive temperament were not equal to the fierce light of publicity that always beats upon the Throne', and 'his mental poise and physical strength' have been 'undermined to the point of breakdown'. 'No other charitable explanation seems capable of accounting for his present obvious dereliction of duty. There can be few of his former loyal and loving subjects who were not ready to sacrifice their very lives for him; and yet he could not bring his mind to sacrifice for them a personal desire to wed a wife who already had not been able to retain the affection and fidelity of two husbands, and whom apparently he did not consider a fit and proper person to be his Queen.' He has brought 'dire distress to millions throughout the Empire', and their 'universal love and devotion to him' should be 'extended in full measure to the Prince, who has so nobly and bravely undertaken the task of succeeding him in such painful circumstances'. Accompanied by a newspaper cutting headed: 'AUSTRALIA'S "DEEP EMOTION" | STATE PREMIER'S APPEAL | SYDNEY, Monday.' From the papers of Lieut.-Col. E. B. Peacock.