AUTOGRAPH

An interesting collection of material relating to the preparations for the historic first Secret Session in the House of Lords, from the papers of Neville Digby Bosworth Smith (1886-1964) of the Privy Council Office. The material dates from the five days preceding 25 April 1916, when the House of Lords having voted in favour of the measure, it held a secret session to debate a motion regarding conscription following the passing of the Military Services Act 1916. (For a contemporary account of the parallel proceedings in the other house, see Sir C. P.

From the celebrated collection of Richard Monckton Milnes (Lord Houghton). 1p, 8vo. In fair condition, creased and lightly aged, with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to edge on blank reverse. Firmly written, with one deletion, and reading: 'Mr. Creech presents his best Compts to Messrs. Bell & Bradfute - incloses a Catalogue of Books in quires which he is to expose to Sale to the Trade upon Tuesday the 21st. - at Hunters. | Requests the favour of their company to dinner on that day at 3 oClock -'.

The three leaves are worn, aged and stained. Two of the leaves carry the four pages of 'The Epistle to the Reader', by the editor Daniel Burgess, and at the head of the first of these pages is the ownership inscription: 'Ex dono Tho. Hollis'. The third leaf is the title, and the title-page has two ownership signatures at the head, neither of them legible. Sotheby sold the united library of Hollis, Thomas Brand Hollis and John Disney in 1817.

On one side of a piece of paper cropped to 11 x 8 cm, resulting in loss of text at edges. Otherwise in fair condition, lightly aged. Reads: 'Septr 13th 18[...] | [...] dear Sir - | As Mrs. Moore is [...] | [...]ith a parcel for Beafort Build[...] | [...] the opportunity of returning a book whi[...] | [...] to a set, you may be inconvenienced [...] | [...], and I have got all I wanted out of it [...] | You will have the goodness to send the [...] | [...] basket to Mrs. Dyke. | Yours ever | T.

From the celebrated autograph collection of Richard Monckton Milnes (Lord Houghton). 1p, 8vo. In very good condition, lightly aged, with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to blank reverse. Folded once. A fair copy (with long s), possibly made for an autograph collector. A twenty-four line poem, in three eight-line stanzas, beginning: 'The Moon in silent brightness | Rides o'er the Mountain brow; | The Mist, in fleecy whiteness | Has clad the vale below;'.

Printed in black ink on both sides of a 26 x 30 cm piece of thick shiny art paper. Worn and folded twice. One side carries a priced list of eleven 'Natural History Works by R. KEARTON, F.Z.S.

The recipient of the letter is William Wade Linton (c.1839-1892), son of the wood engraver William James Linton, who in 1867 had separated from his wife the novelist Eliza Lynn Linton (1822-1898), and emigrated to America with three of his children by his first wife's sister, settling at Appledore, Hamden, Connecticut, where he set up a printing-press. 3pp, 16mo. Bifolium. In good condition. The letter begins: 'Dear Mr Linton | My having been very poorly and also having been away from home & full of many absorbing matters must plead my only excuse for having left your note so long unanswered.

No other copy of this historic item - part of the hurried parliamentary process of bringing conscription to the United Kingdom for the first time - has been traced on either OCLC WorldCat or LHD (COPAC). The only other parliamentary papers relating to the Military Service Act on those databases are a single copy of the bill with committee amendments, ordered to be printed four days before the present item, on 20 January 1916, which is in the Canadian Archives; and two copies of the act itself (5 & 6 Geo. 5 c.

On 6 x 11 cm piece of paper, laid down on slightly larger piece of grey paper cut from an album. In good condition, lightly aged. The only writing, in a large firm hand, is 'Autograph | Quo Tai-chi'. At the head of the mount, in a contemporary hand: 'Quo-Tai-Chi (Dr) Chinese Ambassador in London'.

3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with a few light stains from mount. Folded once. Having seen the Times announcement of the birth of Cecil's son the previous Saturday, Jellicoe sends his 'Most hearty congratulations' on the birth of Cecil's son, and is 'so delighted that all is going so satisfactorily & that you can come to see us on the 14th.

3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. Forty-eight lines of closely-written untidy text, with several deletions. The paper is aged, and the blank reverse has been used (by a child?) for dabbing paints in various colours, but the text is clear and completely intact, although Pusey's crabbed handwriting makes readings tentative. The letter begins: 'My dear daughter in J C. | Those who have taken pains for the souls of others do not easily forget them, and you and your [Friends?] have been often in my mind, and I hoped that you were fighting the good fight, tho I was no longer a witness to your fight'.

1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged and creased. Folded twice. Addressed at foot to 'Mr. Jock Colville, | 10, Downing Street, | Whitehall, London, | England.' The typed salutation is to 'Dear Mr. Colville', but Hopkins has crossed out the name and replaced it in autograph with 'Jock'. The note reads: 'I received the silver models of the "Whale" and the "Phoenix" and have given them to the President with the message from Mr. Churchill.' According to J. D.

The full title reads: 'Harmsworth Trust Library | The Tenth Portion | Catalogue of the Collection of the Writings of the Revd. C. L. Dodgson ("Lewis Carroll") Forming part of the renowned Library of the late Sir R. Leicester Harmsworth, Bt., LL.D. (and now Sold by Order of the Trustees)'. 21pp, 8vo. With frontispiece, and plate with illustrations on both sides, as well as several facsimiles in text. (Front cover states: 'Illustrated Catalogue (2 Plates and 6 Line Reproductions)'. In yellow printed and stapled wraps, with last page of text printed on inside back cover.

Valediction of Letter only, 19 x 9cm, laid down on similar sized piece of paper, from collection of similar valedictions most of which mention the Duke of York as recipient. Text: "news from Ld Wellington, at which I sincerely rejoice | I have the honour to be Sir | with the greatest respect & attachment | Yr obdt Servt | J Shelley." Docketed by HRH (probably) or secretary (Date and Sender) and from a large collection of similar valedictions (similarly docketed), so often to the Duke of York ("Royal Highness" etc) that they may reveal the fate of his incoming correspondence, or part of it..

Weyman is largely forgotten now, but he was admired by Robert Louis Stevenson and Oscar Wilde, and Graham Greene singled him out for regular re-reading among the authors of 'the key books in my life'. 1p, 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged, with pin holes to one corner. Folded twice. He is 'relieved' that Balfour thinks 'it will do. Yes, if you will kindly send it me I will look it over again & get it typed.' He has 'not seen the Church for some years', and will be grateful if Balfour will note any inaccuracy. He supposes that if the work is received within a fortnight 'it will do'.

A fragile survival. One page, 20 x 22cm, small closed tears, foxing, minimal loss of two or three letters, text fully legible as follows: "Whereas it is requisite and necessary that [an?] Advance of Money should be made for paying for the Repairs at Sterling [sic] & Dumbarton Castles in North Brittain. We have therefore pursuant to an Ord[e]r this day of the Board Imprested unto James Luly the sum of Twenty pounds And we desire the Honble Harry Mordaunt Esq.

2pp, 12mo. On grey paper with mourning border. In good condition, lightly aged. The indentity of the recipient is unclear. The letter begins: 'Dear Ly Virginia | The other day I bought your novel, & the first comfortable leisure moment I had, I began to read it.

1p, 8vo. In fair condition, creased and aged. The only piece of Waithman's autograph is his signature at the foot: 'R Waithman'. The rest of the document, apparently in Holste's hand, reads: 'Henry Holste of 22 Bush Lane Merchant, maketh Oath and saith, that he has been resident in London above Fourteen years, and that from the first day of January 1812 to the first day of September 1823. he has not been out of England for a single day | Henry Holste. | Sworn at the Mansion house this Twenty fifth day of August. One thousand eight hundred and Twenty five | R Waithman | Mayor'.

1p, 8vo. In fair condition, lightly aged and creased. The only piece of Waithman's autograph is his signature at the foot: 'R Waithman'. The rest of the document, apparently in Schmidt's hand, reads: 'John Schmidt Native of Hamburg residing at No 77 Westmoreland place City Road, Merchant maketh Oath & saith that he first arrived in London in the Year 1795. and has continued to reside here up to the present time with the exception of a few Months, but that he has not left England for a single day since the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight. - | J. Schmidt.

2pp, 12mo. On grey paper with letterhead of his name. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with slight staining tape staining to two corners from mount. Addressed to 'Mrs Richard Eyre, | Bullsmead, | Maiden Newton, | Dorset.' The subject of the letter is the preparation for the 1948 British film 'Scott of the Antarctic', in which Mills starred in the title role. The recipient is the mother of the noted English director Sir Richard Eyre (b. 1943), whose father Charles Royds was Scott’s First Lieutenant.

[4] + 78 + [1]pp, 8vo. In printed wraps. Internally in fair condition, on lightly discoloured paper, in worn and stained wraps. Verse translation of the French source of Shakespeare's Richard II, 'Histoire du Roy Angleterre Richard'.

2pp, 12mo. On the first leaf of a bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged and creased. Folded twice. 'Mr. Keble presents his compliments to Mr. T. Sneyd Kinnersley, & is much concerned to have received his note so late, that it was impossible for him to return an answer in time for the 20th. He has no spare copies of the Engraving, or he would gladly forwarded [sic] one. Neither does he know whom to apply to about it, unless it be Mr. Parker, or Mr. Harrison the Architect, [i.e. James Park Harrison (1817-1901)] whose address is | 11 Chancery Lane | London. | Mr.

Valediction of Letter only, 5 lines inc. signature and address, 19 x 7cm, laid down on similar sized paper, with remnants on verso suggesting that it was in an album at one time, with note identifying writer ("The Countess Spencer"). Text: "& you will very highly oblige & gratify me. | I have the honor to be your Royal Highness most obedient Sert | Lavinia Spencer". From a large collection of similar conclusions,so often to the Duke of York ("Royal Highness" etc) that they may reveal the fate of his incoming correspondence, or part of it..

On front of 5.5 x 12 cm envelope. Damaged seal in red wax on reverse. The envelope has been cut down, triming the merest fraction from the opening flourish of the signature, and the breaking of the red wax seal has left it in two parts. Otherwise in fair condition, lightly aged. Firm underlined signature 'Lucan' at bottom left, beneath an equally bold 'Captain Wyndham'.

The female recipient is not named, but is Lady Ann Cullum (1807-1875), wife of Sir Thomas Gery Cullum (1777-1855) of Hardwick House. The two letters are in fair condition, on creased and folded thin paper, the second with a torn corner unobtrusively repaired with archival tape. ONE: 'Wednesday'. 1p, 12mo.

The 1880 'Balliol Masque' indicates Jowett's standing, and the pronunciation of his name: 'First come I. My name is Jowett. | There's no knowledge but I know it. | I am Master of this College, |What I don't know isn't knowledge.' 2pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with fold lines. Begins: 'My dear Jex Blake | I am very glad to hear of the prosperity of Rugby, in which I shall always take a great interest.

The three letters total 7pp, 12mo. All three in good condition, on lightly aged paper. From the papers of Sir Richard Harington (1835-1911), 11th Baronet, whose father Rev. Dr Richard Harington (1800-1853), had been Principal from 1842 to his death. All three endorsed by Harington with date of receipt. The subject is the replacement of a stained glass window in the college, with Harington receiving the old window, which he put up at his Worcestershire country house, Whitbourne Court.

Two etchings in black ink, printed side by side on a 23.5 x 18 cm piece of wove paper, with a thin printed line dividing them. Possibly proofs of two plates on conjoined leaves in a book. In fair condition, lightly aged and creased, with a tiny nick at foot and dog-eared corners. Each of the sketches is full-length, and has a caption at foot, in a facsimile of D'Orsay's hand.

Valediction only, 15.5 x 7.5cm, cut from letter, as follows: "to give him the command of -| I have the honor to be with very high respect | Your Royal Highness | Dutiful | and Obedt. Servant | St Vincent". Note that Nelson had been given the command of the Mediterranen Fleet three days earlier (14 May 1803). Docketed by HRH or secretary "The late Earl St Vincent" and from a large collection of similar valedictions, so often to the Duke of York ("Royal Highness" etc) that they may reveal the fate of his incoming correspondence, or part of it..

3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with white paper stub from mount still adhering. From the distinguished autograph collection of Richard Monckton Milnes (Lord Houghton). The letter begins: 'Mon cher Ministre, | J'ai lu avec un vif interêt l'écrit que vous avez eu la bonté de me communiquer'. He had told him, the other day, that it was 'une belle question à traiter', and he was certain that the recipient would deal with it 'supérieurement'.