[Stafford Northcote; Disraeli; Suez Canal] Autograph Note Initialled SHN [Stafford H. Northcote] to his Private Secretary, John Arrow Kempe about a high level meeting to discuss the 'Suez Canal purchase'.

One page, 12mo, bifolium, second leaf laid down on slightly larger paper, good condition. Text: We are to have a meeting at Mr. Disraeli's house at 2.30 tomorrow, at which Lord Derby, Cave and Stokes are to be. | Would you write a civil note to Sir Erskine Perry to tell him that some pressing business will keep me from seeing him. Northcote has added a note to the top of the page, Let Mr. Corry [Montagu Corry, Secretary] have a note of the engagement so that Mr.Disraeli may not forget it. Kempe has docketed the note Discussions on the Suez Canal purchase.Note: In 1875, the Khedive of Egypt had gone bankrupt and needed to sell shares in the Suez Canal (of whose traffic four-fifths was British) to gain money. Disraeli purchased 176,602 shares, or 44% of the Canal's total.