Signed Letter in secretarial hand from Sir William Brown, founder of the Liverpool Gallery of Inventions and Science, to chairman John Abraham, with printed 'Fifth Annual Report of the Committee, and Proceedings of the Aggregate Meeting [...] 1865.'

Author: 
John Abraham (1813-1881) of Clay & Abraham, pharmaceutical chemists, Chairman of the Liverpool Gallery of Inventions and Science [Sir William Brown (1784-1864) of Richmond Hill; Cuthbert Collingwood]
Publication details: 
Letter: Richmond Hill, Liverpool; 20 January 1863. Pamphlet: Liverpool: Printed by A. & D. Russell, Moorfields. 1865.
£120.00
SKU: 11240

ONE. Letter, signed 'Wm Brown'. 3 pp, 12mo. Bifolium. 25 lines. Text clear and complete. Good, on lightly-aged paper. He is 'greatly disappointed' that, '[h]aving gone to the expense of building the Hall of Inventions & Science', 'the five Learned Societies' that 'induced' him 'to make that addition to the Library, have taken no effectual means to make it available for the purpose intended'. Brown 'promised £100 towards the fittings', and is sending a cheque for that amount. Continues: 'I clearly see you will do no good unless you have one or two active gentlemen amongst you who will raise the ways & means to do what is necessary, & a much more active Chairman than myself.' He is 'quite discouraged & disappointed that no efficient steps have yet been taken to make it useful'. TWO. Printed pamphlet. Full title: 'Liverpool Gallery of Inventions and Science. Fifth Annual Report of the Committee, and Proceedings of the Aggregate Meeting of the Four Societies, held on the 7th November, 1865.' 10 pp, 8vo. Stitched; in pink printed wraps. Text clear and complete. Internally good, in discoloured wraps with slight damp-staining at foot. Title-page on front wrap is p.1, with the text comprising pp.3-10. The report is signed in type, p.10, 'JOHN ABRAHAM, Chairman.' It ends: 'It was moved by Mr. JOHN NICOL, and carried unanimously: - "That a vote of thanks be passed to the Chairman, Mr. JOHN ABRAHAM."' Largely concerning a dispute between the Gallery and the Liverpool Literary and Philosophical Society; with transcripts of several letters by the Society's Honorary Secretary, Cuthbert Collingwood. Scarce: no copy of this report in the British Library or on COPAC.