BELLOWS

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. From the papers of the playwright Tom Taylor, who was editor of Punch at the time these letters were written. Both 16mo bifoliums, on uniform grey paper. Both addressed to ‘Dear friend’ and signed ‘John Bellows’. Both in good condition, lightly aged, and each folded once for postage. The second with a spatter of ink at one corner (not affecting the text). From the papers of Tom Taylor, who was editor of Punch at the time. ONE (‘6mo. 13. 1877’): 1p, 16mo. He is ‘much obliged’ to the recipient’s daughter for ‘noting my omission of sursis.

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. A long letter, closely and neatly written, with a number of emendations suggesting that it is a draft. After a short reference to the Count's kindness to him and his friend Joseph Neave, he devotes the rest of the letter to 'the heavy trial thou has had to pass through', discussing the nature of loss with 'knowledge from my own experience, that the loss of a child is a grief into whose full depths no stranger can enter, and that words, even well-meant, when uttered at an unfit moment, pain instead of helping'.

1p., 8vo. In good condition, lightly-aged and worn. Addressed to 'My dearest Bellows'. He has received the pamphlet at the Hotel Bristol, and 'earnestly' believes that 'it will make the right impression upon the powerful of the world'. His party starts the following week for Russia, '& I will take in hands [sic] our plans of delivery as soon as I get on the spot'. He ends with a pious sentiment. Bellows paid two visits to Russia, and counted Tolstoy among his friends.