JOURNALIST

One page, 12mo, edges sunned, some spotting and darkening, text clear and complete. "Thanks for the 'Hermit' which I hope to peruse at my leisure. If possible, I may hand you a small subject in return but am now very busy indeed."

1p., 12mo. On aged and marked paper. Addressed to Ababrelton at 1 Northumberlandn Avenue. He thanks him for the letter and its enclosure. 'We have received copies of the latter by the dozen and we shall probably be dealing with the matter either in this or next week's issue of "Truth."'

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. The letter reads: 'My Dear Sir, | I ought to have thanked you sooner for your kind note of the 21st., but I have been much occupied. It would be pleasant for me to try my hand on Byron or Browining, but I could not dare do so without more chance of continuous work than I can hope for at present.'

Two pages, 12mo, good condition. "Since our talk I have been in America; returned - have been to Berlin on a diplomtic mission & only just touched at my club before sailing once more for New York on Wednesday - All my books, &c. are in storage at this moment & I must therefore wait until I onc emore return here for settlement - which will be soon I hope. | I hope you will not be angry at me because of what must have been strange silence on the part of [...]"

Both items signed 'Arthur Mee'. Typed Letter Signed: 5 August 1924. 1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. It would be a 'great pleasure' to him to be able to make use of the article she has sent him, 'but my papers are almost entirely in the hands of a staff of regular contributors', and he has 'very little opportunity of using outside contributions'. In a postscript he expresses pleasure at the fact that his 'papers come your way', and sends his regards to 'Patricia and David'. Manuscript Letter: 11 August 1924. Written by a secretary and signed by Mee. 1p., 12mo.

3 ALsS, ANS and TNS, three on New Statesman letterheads, one on letterhead of 127 Willifield Way, Golders Green; 27 July 1923, 19 June 1924, and 5 January and 23 March 1933, 8pp., 8vo and 12mo.An undated note, on New Statesman letterhead, reads 'These fruits of abstinence are not for me. If you got in that bottle of whiskey you spoke of for God's sake drink it.' (MG notes that this was written 'evidently on one of his cures for alcoholism'.

On 8 x 20.5 cm. rectangle, cut from the base of a 4to leaf. Fair, on lightly-aged paper, laid down on piece of cream card. Reads: 'With all Good Wishes, | Yours sincerely, | [signed] Teignmouth Shore | W. Teignmouth Shore Esq.'

2pp., 12mo. Fair, on lightly-aged paper. Kennedy is 'quite right' in his 'supposition regarding the picture. It is Proud's - indeed the only one familiar to me.' He thinks 'the original is at the rooms of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania'. He concludes with thanks for Kennedy's 'kind words about the Literary History'. The eight-line note at the end of the letter, presumably by Kennedy, attributes the picture to William Cogswell, 'from a pencil sketch (contemporaneous) but the Historical Society's affairs are now in much disorder because of rebuilding operations.'

ALS, 14 Brookside, Cambridge; 19 August [1928], 2pp., 12mo. Written on returning the proofs of two articles. 'I see you have cut out my proof of the early intrusion of the Friar Tuck element into the Robin Hood cycle: - the only piece of information in the article which a student could not easily find elsewhere! However, I don't suppose any students will bother about any part of these articles except the Bibliographies, so it probably doesn't matter.' He continues with a few scholarly points.

Landscape 12mo. Fair, on lightly-aged paper. Reads: 'Dear Dan; / You're one of the birds I just love to be praised by! / As ever / [signed] Will Irwin'.

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium.Good, on lightly-aged paper. In stamped envelope, with London and Blackburn postmarks, addressed by Smith to 'J. T. Baron, Esq. / 18, Griffin Street, / Witton, / Blackburn.' He is only able to reply to Baron's not now, having been 'ill & confined to bed'. He thanks him 'for the kind expressions you use respecting my Life of Gladstone, which I am glad you like so much. I suppose you are aware that I have recently published (through Messrs. Hodder & Stoughton) a companion work, the Life of Mr.

1p., 4to. The beginning of the article only: 21 lines of text, ending abruptly. Torn from notebook. Very good, on aged paper. A corrected draft, with the deleted original title reading 'Work & Wage in Downing St'. An interesting item, casting light on the working practices of a pioneer of parliamentary journalism. Begins: 'The keeness of competition for ministl office in Great Britain is certainly not inspired by sordid motive.'

12mo, 4 pp. 61 lines. Text clear and complete. Good, on lightly-aged paper. An impressive letter applying for work. He does not expect Massingham (addressed as 'W. H. Massingham') to remember their meeting 'in the Lobby' when he was 'chief reporter on The Sun', while at the same time holding 'a Parliamentary engagement on the staff of the C. N.' Gives details of his subsequent employment, including joining the editorial staff of the 'Manchester Guardian' ('principally to look after their weekly paper which was in a sad way.

Both 4to, 1 p. Texts clear and complete. Both on aged and worn paper. Autograph Letter: He apologises for not acknowledging her letter ('I have been so busy and away a great deal') and regrets that he does not 'for the moment remember anything which would be of service to you'. Typed Letter: He regrets that 'the present is rather a bad time for what we call the free lance in literature'. He is not himself 'very much in Fleet Street and the neighbourhood', the 'bulk' of his work being done 'far from the madding crowd'.

12mo, 1 p. The purple ink of the letter has bled, otherwise in good condition. He does not 'think it likely that we shall soon see this neighbourhood again'. They have had 'frequent bad weather, constant illness, & general discomfort'. The Yateses 'hope to meet you at Hamburg, where we expect to arrive on Wednesday 5th. August. So be it!' Mrs Perkins was the wife of the wealthy brewer Augustus Frederick Perkins.

12mo: 1 p. Twenty-one lines. Clear and complete. Fair: on lightly-aged and ruckled paper. He 'turned up at the Executive this afternoon rather in the hope of seeing you than in the expectation of being useful'. He had 'intended amongst other things supporting a meeting of the Committee sometime next week'. He is 'only just emerging from the influenza you gave me last time, which proved of a rather virulent order!' He has 'a visitor in the house & must consult the home arrangements'. 'The absence of Fred Byles (on holiday) ties me somwhat more closely than usual.

Three pages, 8vo, good condition. He telss Hope that "when you come over you will be expected to notify me at the Foreign Dept The Times Printing House Square, London E.C." The birth of his "son and heir" has led to his going home for a few days ("the fatigue of producing that Empire Supplement" contributed). He reveals that he earns well from "cynical productions concerning British affairs, signed A.W. in the New York Evening Post". He is moving to Camden Hill and expects to be in the London Office for some years.

8vo, 4 pp. Bifolium. Sixty-eight lines of text. Complete and legible, but damaged: grubby and creased, with short closed tears and small hole at gutter. Interesting and informative letter. Stuart's message of condolence on Benjamin Whitworth's death is one of many which 'have been very acceptable more especially to his widow who has been laid aside so long with bad health, his daughters have been quite worn out'. Describes how his brother's health 'began to break down after a slight attack of paralysis some two or three years ago when at John Brown & Co Ld.

Fourteen lines on the back of two-tone Dutch postcard, the front being tined light blue. Addressed to 'Edw Draper Esq, 3 Vincent Square, Westminster, London, England'. Aged and grubby, with two creases and slight traces of previous mount on front. Hatton's hand is difficult, but the note, addressed to 'My dear Friend', defending his use in a story of the following version of the celebrated quotation: 'When Greeks joined Greeks". Concludes 'You are right about the tinder box of course.'

4to: 1 p. Fourteen lines of text. Aged and worn, with closed tears along the fold lines, but with text clear and complete. He thanks his correspondent for the letter ('It is always a great delight to me to know that people like my work.') and gives details of where the 'little book I published on "Pride of Body" ' can be purchased. Ends with the details of his 'new novel "A Soldier of Life" ': 'I mention it, as you say it is difficult for you to get hold of books and I should like you to read it.'

8vo: 3 pp. Lightly creased and aged, but in good condition overall. Text entirely clear and legible. Headed ''African Affairs | Book Review (Pollock)'. A knowledgeable and readable review, for the magazine 'African Affairs', beginning 'Thomas Leask was a modest elephant-hunter with a passion for scribbling. [...] he never seems quite to have got over his surprise at finding himself transplanted from his native Orkney to the land of the lordly Matabele and miserable Mashona.

12mo: 2 pp. Very good. 'The Association for establishing depots of cheap food for the poor' has been formed, 'under the auspices of Lord Brougham, the Earl of Shrewsbury, Sir John Villiers Shelley, and others,' and Jerrold asks whether Raikes would 'permit us to add your name to the list of patrons', a position which 'entails no pecuniary responsibility whatsoever.'

Irregularly shaped piece of paper, consisting of the front and sides of an envelope. Roughly 14 x 18 cm. Good, but with long vertical closed tear to right of signature, neatly repaired on reverse with archival tape. Reads 'London June Twelve 1832. - | Lady Frederick Bentinck | Bedford Hotel | Brighton | [signed] G. Bentinck.' Red ink postmark, circular and topped with crown, reading 'FREE | 12 JU 12 | 1832 | +'. Remains of red wax seal at foot. Docketed 'Bentinck' along right-hand edge.

One page, 12mo. Very good, on lightly aged paper mounted on piece of card. Reads 'London | July 28/13 | Master M. Bull | I append autograph as requested | Yours truly | John Oxenham'.

Dimensions of card roughly two and three-quarter inches by four inches wide. Good, with light creasing to corners. Clear signature reads 'Yours very sincerely | Max O'Rell | 18 March 1895'.

One page, 12mo. Very good: lightly aged and creased. 'You are welcome to my autograph for what it is worth.' From the collection of the Rev. E. J. F. Davies.

One page, 12mo. Very good. 'Absence abroad has prevented me hitherto from complying with your request. I have pleasure in enclosing herewith a specimen of my signature.'

One page, on piece of paper roughly seven inches by eight wide. On aged paper laid down on a piece of card, and with some wear and paper and glue stains. 'My dear Madam, | In reply to your letter of Novr. 18th, I have pleasure in sending you my autograph, as you desire.' Four-line printed biographical cutting in bottom right-hand corner.

One page, 12mo. Good, on aged and lightly spotted paper, but with blank verso showing traces of previous mounting. Nine-line printed biographical cutting laid down in top left-hand corner. Reads 'Madam, In accordance with your request I enclose my autograph'.

One page, 12mo. On blue paper discoloured from glue by previous mounting. Seven-line printed biographical cutting in top right-hand corner. 'I am very happy to comply with your request [for an autograph].'