MOLLOY

[Lord Graves confronts ‘the principal blackmailing editor’.] Autograph Letter in the third person from William Thomas Graves, 3rd Baron Graves, to Charles Molloy Westmacott, editor of ‘The Age’.

Author: 
Lord Graves [William Thomas Graves (1807-1870), 3rd Baron Graves of Gravesend] [Charles Molloy Westmacott (c.1788-1868), editor of ‘The Age’ newspaper]
Publication details: 
‘Berkeley Castle | October 25th. 1831’.
£60.00

Westmacott was notorious for accepting money for the suppression of stories: Michael Sadleir has described him as ‘the principal blackmailing editor of his day’. The present communication may be related to the scandal surrounding the death of Graves’s father the previous year: he had committed suicide on learning that his wife (mother of the couple’s twelve children) was having an affair with the Duke of Cumberland. 1p, 12m. Folded twice. In fair condition, lightly aged. Reads: ‘Lord Graves presents his Compliments to Mr. Westmacott, begs to return him his thanks for the explanation which Mr.

[ John Young, mezzotint engraver and keeper of the British Institution. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Jno Young.') to Charles Westmacott, explaining why his 'picture of Cromwell' cannot be accepted for the present exhibition.

Author: 
John Young (1755-1825), mezzotint engraver and Keeper of the British Institution, London [ Charles Molloy Westmacott (c.1787-1868), journalist and blackmailer? ]
Publication details: 
British Institution, Pall Mall [ London ]. 12 May 1824.
£56.00

1p., 4to. In good condition, on aged paper. He is desired to thank Westmacott 'for the offer of your picture of Cromwell for exhibition, and at the same time to inform you, that the arrangements, for the present season, are already completed'. He ends with the tact for which he was renowned, expressing the hope that he will have 'the pleasure of seeing you at the private [last word underlined] view on tuesday next'. The recipient is presumably C. M.

Autograph Note in the third person from the London auctioneer James Christie to the journalist Charles Molloy Westmacott, with signed receipt by Christie's warehouseman John Biddle for '69 Pictures'.

Author: 
James Christie the younger (1773-1831), London auctioneer and antiquary [Charles Molloy Westmacott (c.1786-1868), editor of 'The Age', half-brother of sculptor Sir Richard Westmacott (1775-1856)]
James Christie the younger (1773-1831), London auctioneer
Publication details: 
King Street; 14 February 1825.
£280.00
James Christie the younger (1773-1831), London auctioneer

1 p, 4to. On a bifolium, addressed on reverse of second leaf: 'Thursday at 11 O'Clock | Chas. Westmacott, Esqr., | 5, Clements Inn.' Fair, on creased and aged paper. Christie's note reads 'Mr Christie presents his Compts. to Mr. Westmacott. | with Mr. Westmacott's permission, the bearer of this Mr. Christie's warehouseman, will remove the Pictures to King St. | King St, | Monday Feb. 14 | 1825.' Beneath this, in another hand, Recd 69 Pictures | [signed] John Biddle'. Above Biddle's receipt, in a third hand, are the word 'Received' and 'Recd 69 [i.e. Christie & Manson?]' in pencil.

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