IRISH

2pp., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged paper with short closed tear and creasing to edges. He is enclosing 'a letter from Rome written by Father Costelloe. O.P. (a high authority on questions Roman archaeology and art) in reply to my inquiry about the frescoes of 'Pinturichio [sic] in photo-type. - The letter is addressed to a Domincan priest in Dublin, Fr Condon.' He expects 'a still more satisfactory account when the work is complete & published for sale', and ends with best wishes for 'a full measure of the Easter joys'.

38 + [1]pp., folio. Disbound. In fair condition, on aged paper, with the first leaf chipped and frayed at edges. Repaginated with a stamp 119-158. Kilmainham Hospital was a home for retired soldiers along the lines of Les Invalides, and much of the material in this paper consists of correspondence of Secretaries of State for War John Cam Hobhouse and Edward Ellice. The volume is a response to Hobhouse's proposal 'to bring into one building, and under one management, the several establishments of the in-pensioners of Chelsea and of Kilmainham hospitals.

3pp., landscape 12mo. In good condition, lightly-aged, with two punch holes for placement in album to margins of each of the three leaves. He congratulates him on his catalogue, states that he is attaching a wants list (not present) and that he is leaving it to the recipient 'to make out the account as I am not good at adding - & also dont know the postage. | The Librarian at the House of Lords showed great interest in your catalogue & is writing to you for one'. He suggests sending a copy to John Hayward, and gives his address.

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Reads: 'Dear Mr. Williams, | Pray arrange Guests in the correct order whatever that is. I shall have frequent opportunities I hope of meeting the good Bishop.'

12pp, small 4to. Disbound. In fair condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. In small type and double column. An item of surprising rarity considering its historical importance: no other copy traced, either on ESTC, WorldCat, COPAC or at the National Library of Ireland. Sandys, who has been described as 'the earliest engraver of any importance in Ireland', was also notable as the printer from 1705 of the 'Dublin Gazette'. The previous year he had published 'Articles of the Treaty of Union, agreed on by the Commissioners of both Kingdoms, on the 22d of July, 1706' (ESTC N471342).

8pp., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. An interesting letter, written four months before the death of her husband. She begins: 'Dearest Sylvia - | I meant to write to you last month because I am one of those tiresome people who remember anniversaries & it was in August that you both came down to the Windermere to see us.

1p., 12mo. In good condition, laid down on part of a leaf from an album. Headed in a contemporary hand 'Read', with the date '1815'. The note reads: 'Dear Sir | I beg to return you my warm thanks for your very kind & obliging letter which has made me very happy & conferd [sic] on me a great favor | I Have Dear Sir | the honour to | be with great | thanks your | faithful humble srvt | Henry Grattan'.

3pp., 4to. Bifolium. On aged and worn paper, with some repair, and traces of stub from mount still adhering. Addressed on reverse of second leaf, with postmarks, to 'Messrs Beilby & Co | Printing Ink Manufacturers | Birmingham'. On the same page, in another hand: 'Mr Reuben Sparks.' Knowles's entry in the Oxford DNB gives the context. In 1816 he 'moved to Glasgow, where he established and ran a school for nearly twelve years [...] In 1823 and 1824 he added to his income by conducting the literary department of the Free Press, a Glasgow paper which advocated liberal and social reform.

The two items in fair condition, on aged and spotted paper with slight damage to one corner and minor water staining. ONE: Copy of Typed Letter to 'Jonathan Cape Esq., | 11, Gower Street, | LONDON, W.C.1.' 1p., folio. He begins: 'Dear Cape, | When you told me at the Devonshire Club that you were going to criticise the "Daily News" Literary page, I was charmed, as I always welcome attacks within reason.

6pp., 4to. In fair condition, on aged paper with worn edges. It is not known whether the letter was sent or published. The Lynds settled at their celebrated London address of 5 Keats Grove (where James Joyce had his wedding reception) in 1924, but the letter was clearly written after the Second World War: 'Now that the Northern Ireland election is over, it may be worth considering whether the campaign against partition, if continued on its present lines, is likely to be effective in achieving its end.

Surman had a brief and undistinguished military career. Having trained with the Connaught Rangers, on 30 October 1895 he received a commission in the 9th Royal Rifle Corps, which he resigned a year later, on 20 October 1896. ONE: Autograph Letter Signed from 'J. Gilbert Surman' to Grubbe, in fragment of envelope addressed by him to 'Captain E. A. Grubbe | The Depôt of the Connaught Rangers | Galway'. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. He writes having 'now left the Connaught Rangers to join my own Regiment at the above place.

The seven items in good condition, on lightly-aged and worn paper. With stamps of the Royal Society of Arts. The letter to Perry is a typed report of 2pp., folio, and more heavily worn than the rest of the correspondence. It is dated 11 August 1936, and discusses 'schemes similar to Sandersons [...] in which a firm offers work experience as part of a course taken by full-time students not previously employed in industry' and 'part-time release'.

The note and memo are on a 12mo bifolium. In good condition, lightly-aged. The letter is signed 'A. J. Hall' and addressed to 'My dear Doctor'. He explains that he would gladly visit him, 'if at liberty', but that he is 'at Wolverhampton that night with Madame Albani'. The biographical note, presumably in Stewart's autograph, is on the reverse of the second leaf of the bifolium, beneath the following, in red ink: 'Memo. by Dr. James Stewart ("Sheamus Rua") Hon. Secy.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Headed 'Private'. He begins by undertaking to bear in mind Daniell's wishes if the Endowed Schools' Bill becomes law. With regard to 'lectures on the Friendly Societies', he thinks Daniell would be 'very well qualified to deliver some; but I don't think it would do for the Government to employ any one for the purpose'. He suggests he try to make 'private arrangements with some of the Literary and Philanthropic Societies', to some of which 'Ludlow' might be able to introduce him.

2pp., 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Writing in dramatic terms, he apologises for 'the disappointment to which I subjected your society', and explains that he had 'fully calculated on receiving some notice from you, a day or two previous to the day fixed'.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Aged and lightly-stained, wih a few closed tears repaired with archival tape. Addressed to 'A. Harris Esqr. | The Shelbourne Hotel | Dublin.' He thanks him for sending his article, which he had already read 'in the Contemporary with great interest'. He has 'spoken to several persons of influence in connection with our existing educational systems, recommending them to read it carefully.

1p., 4to. On bifolium. In good condtion, lightly aged. Addressed, with part of red wax seal, on reverse of second leaf, to 'Sir Robert Bateson Harvey Bt | Langley Park'. He is 'perfectly aware' of his 'having not the smallest pretention to apply' to Harvey, but is encouraged 'by the friendly support which you gave to Mr Macnaughten at the general election in the county of Antrim to beg a continuance of your support and assistance on the present occasion'. Previously represented Lisburn and Antrim in the 1770s. See Wikipedia for details of his political career (not revealing about 1806 though).

On 1 x 5.5 cm slip of paper cut from letter. In fair condition, aged, and with slight discoloration at one end. The signature is present in full, but the underlining flourish hs been truncated.

An interesting letter concerning a song mentioned in Lewis Carroll's 'Through the Looking-Glass'. 6pp., 12mo. On two bifolium letterheads. In fair condition, on aged paper. He begins by statig that he has 'taken much interest in theh discussion in the Athenaeum respecting a song of Moore's "My heart & Lute" and possessing some information relative to it' is sends it to Friswell. He proceeds to give an account of publication, with references including the music publisher Power, Sir H. R. Bishop, John Kemble, Sherwood & James, 'The London Stage' and 'The National Airs'.

32pp., 8vo. Disbound without wrappers. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. The 'Preface to the Seventeenth Thousand' covers pp.3 and 4, and is dated 'January 11th, 1884.' The preface begins: 'Since the publication of this pamphlet, not three weeks ago, Mr. George has reappeared upon the scene, and has held up the class to which Mr. Chamberlain himself belongs to the envy and execration of the artisans of the metropolis.

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. Another hand - presumably that of the recipient - has written the word 'Printer' at the head of the page, and docketted the reverse 'Maginn | with Lockharts Greek Bubble' (the anonymous poem 'The Greek Bubble', published in 1826, is in fact said to be the work of J. Thompson). The letter reads: 'Dear Sir | Inclosed is a review of a poem by a friend of mine, who I believe is an acquaintance of yours. If you could make room for it tomorrow, you would much oblige me. Arrange the review yr. own way.

64pp., 12mo. Frontispiece in red and black, with diagrammatic pyramid with 'Rank and File or "Soldiers."' at the base, and 'C. S. Parnell, M.P.' at the apex. At foot of the frontispiece is printed 'The Assassination Oath of the I. R. B.' Disbound pamphlet without covers. In fair condition, on lightly aged and worn paper.

15pp., 12mo. Disbound without covers. In good condition, on aged paper, with a few pencil marks in margin. 'Reprinted by Permission' on title-page, and 'First published in the "St James Gazette."' on first page of text, which is headed 'Reminiscences and Reflections | (Revised).' Begins: 'It is my privilege to have been born in Ireland. [...] The lighthouses on the Irish coast - models of cleanliness and good order in a country not famous for either - are known to have been objects of special interest to me.

On a gilt-edged piece of card, 13 x 11.5 cm., with rounded edges. In good condition, lightly aged. The illustration by 'E M W' on one side is printed in silver, yellow, light blue, grey and brown, and shows a snowy country scene with two tiny figures beneath a shining sun on a stone bridge over a stream. Captioned 'The Joy of Christmas be in your heart.' Cowan's eight-line poem, on the other side, is printed in grey, in variety of gothic fonts. It begins: 'Only its best and brightest history | May Memory relate you!

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. He thanks de Boinville and his family for their 'kind wishes & feelings': 'I have thank God, quite recovered from my accident'. He is sorry that de Boinville and his wife 'have been suffering', and hopes to see them on his return to London. One of a batch of letters addressed to de Boinville in the 1850s.

2pp., 4to. In good condition, lightly-aged, folded into packet. 34 lines of text. He begins by expressing his pleasure on Bateson's 'kind attention in naming me one of the God Fathers to your little Boy' [the future Conservative MP Robert Bateson (1816-1843)]. He next turns to the agricultural crisis: 'The accot. you give me of the state of the North of Ireland is very distressing under these circumstances. I feel no inclination to witness it by visiting my Estate there this Summer.

On 4 x 11.5 cm piece of paper cut from letter. In fair condition, lightly aged and a little creased. Reads: 'purposes. | Yours very truly | John Francis Maguire'. On reverse: '[...] printer can easily understand my marking. Buf if you have any difficulty [...]'

Hertford's Letter: 1p., 4to. Bifolium. Addressed on reverse of second leaf, with broken seal in read wax, 'To | Sir Robert B. Harvey Bt'. In good condition, lightly aged, with closed tear caused by breaking open of seal. Reads: 'The dissolution of Parliament will I trust apologize for the liberty I take in requesting the continuance of your friendly offices in the county of Antrim, but I cannot apply for a new favor without expressing my obligations for those already conferred, and of assuring you that I remain most truly, Sir, Your faithful & very humble Servant'.

1p., 12mo. On bifolium, addressed on reverse of second leaf to 'Richard Bentley Esqre'. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. The first paragraph concerns a 'humorous paper' he is forwarding for Bentley's consideration (i.e. possible publication in Bentley's Miscellany). In the second paragraph he informs him that he has ready 'a series of Essays on LONDON, similar to those which attracted so much attention in Blackwood'.

Heavily influenced by its author's own journalistic career, 'The Pen and the Sword' is not only of great significance in the development of Michael Foot's thinking, but is also an important work in the study of Jonathan Swift. The book was a firm success, going through four printings between 1957 and 2008. It was first published in London by Macgibbon and Kee, with the subtitle 'A Year in the Life of Jonathan Swift' (the year in question being 1710).