[Lord Bryce (James Bryce), Liberal politician, jurist and British Ambassador to United States.] Three Autograph Letters Signed to 'Ross' (the future Sir W. D. Ross), on East End philanthropy, Oxford, and the war.

See the two men's entries in the Oxford DNB. The three items are in good condition, lightly aged and worn; the second is lightly spotted. Each is folded once. All three signed 'Bryce'. ONE: 13 February 1914. No place. 3pp, 12mo. On bifolium. Begins: 'My dear Ross / I should like [to] help in so good a cause, but cannot possibly venture to make any promise for a date so distant as Nov. next. It would be a tempting of Providence as we say in Scotland.' He is not even certain whether he will be in England then, 'and there is nothing one has more to avoid than the breaking of promises'. He is 'glad to hear of the movement: & it will be much reinforced if the idea of a School of Social Studies in Oxford goes forward'. TWO: 23 February 1915. 1p, 16mo. On Hindleap letterhead. He apologises for having been 'prevented by incessant work from sooner sending you a donation to the Barnett House Fund'. He hopes 'to hear more about its working from you when next in Oxford'. THREE: 4 December 1917. On House of Lords letterhead. 2pp, 12mo. He is sorry to learn that 'the Poplar experiment did not succeed', but has no doubt that Ross's 'discretion was wisely exercised'. The 'contribution as a mark of sympathy' that he is enclosing 'has to be small, because there are charitable war causes so much more urgent, and making so strong a personal appeal to me that I am obliged to reserve for them all that I can give'. Concludes: 'I gather that Oriel, and doubtless many another college, has fewer undergraduates than ever.'