[ Philip Henry Stanhope, 5th Earl Stanhope. ] Four Autograph Letters Signed and one Autograph Note Signed (all 'Stanhope') to Sir George Scharf, in part relating to the newly-founded National Portrait Gallery, and with two references to Lord Macaulay

Author: 
Philip Henry Stanhope (1805-1875), 5th Earl Stanhope [ Sir George Scharf (1820-1895), art critic, illustrator and Director of the National Portrait Gallery; Thomas Babington Macaulay, Lord Macaulay ]
Publication details: 
From: Windsor Castle; Chevening; Grosvenor Place [London]; the British Museum; 'The Lord Warden', Dover. 1859 and 1860.
£135.00
SKU: 16583

The five letters total 10pp., 12mo. On five bifoliums. In good condition, lightly aged. An interesting correspondence, from one of the trustees of the new National Portrait Gallery to its (as yet unknighted) secretary. ONE: 'Brit. Mus. | Saturday afternoon' [1859]. 1p., 12mo. Begins: 'Lord Macaulay [another trustee] tells me that he intends to visit the Portrait Gallery with some friends at 3 on Monday.' TWO: Chevening. 2 November 1859. 2pp., 12mo. After thanking him for 'the drawings for Lady Stanhope' he exclaims: 'Another terrible storm yesterday! I dread to think of the many further wrecks which it may have caused.' He outlines his plans for a visit to Paris, and ends by suggesting a 'Meeting of the Trustees'. THREE: On Windsor Castle letterhead. 11 January 1860. He thanks him 'very cordially' for his 'kind proposal to let me have a sketch in memorial of the mournful ceremony' [annotated (by Scharf?) 'Lord Macaulay's Funeral'] of the day before yesterday.' He is reluctant to 'suggest any trammels [...] on the skill & inclination of an artist'. He will be returning to Chevening, and then back to London for the meeting of Parliament. 'There might be another meeting of our Trustees whenever we have business enough to render one expedient.' FOUR: '"The Lord Warden" | Dover'. 19 September 1860. 4pp., 12mo. He describes the effects of Lady Stanhope's 'burn', which has forced the abandonment of his plan for a 'continental ramble'. 'Meanwhile I rejoice to find from your letter that we [i.e. the National Portrait Gallery] have a good prospect of a youthful Milton. No portrait could be of greater interest to the public.' He is sorry that 'no distinguished Irishman comes to us', and fears that 'the absence of any such may be unfavourably noticed, thought I am sure that it is no fault of ours'. He ends by expressing his sympathy 'at the declining & cheerless state of health of your father'. FIVE: Grosvenor Place [London]. Autograph Note Signed. 'Thurs morng. [no date]'. 1p. Inviting him to dinner.