History

One page, 4to, edges sl chipped. mainly good condition, complete. He follows his best wishes (see above) with information about the (formal) political positions he has occupied from President (giving dates of inauguration and retirement ); place of birth (Wellington St, Dublin); when elected to the Dublin Council and Parliament; when Minister for Local Government; and for Finance; when Deputy Prime Minister; current residence at Roundwood Park. Overleaf his name and title (President) in another hand.

Waldburg-Truchsess appointed Beethoven Kapellmeister to the King of Westphalia when serving as the King's Chamberlain, and was one of the four Commissioners responsible for supervising Napoleon's exile in Elba. The letter is written on the eve of his return from the Hague, where he had been Prussian ambassador since 1827. 1p., 8vo. Bifolium. In fair condition, on aged paper with wear along one edge, and damage to second leaf caused by breaking of seal (not present).

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged. He is sending a copy of a note his secretary has 'just sent about an opera box for the next season. | The box we were able to get this year contrasted so poorly with my old "loge entre les colonnes" in Paris that I am afraid my personal tastes would be about as well satisfied without one!' He feels sure that 'with this long notice and with a friendly word' from Higgins, 'something better can be done'. One of the grandest residences in London, Dorchester House was rented by Reid as the American Embassy from 1905.

12mo, [viii] + 210 pp, together with four unpaginated pages before p. 79 and two unpaginated pages before p. 165. With fold-out list of Knights of the Garter. Includes a "Catalogue of the Nobility of Ireland". On aged paper, in worn eighteenth-century binding, modern rebacking. Ownership inscription, at head of p.1, 'Mary Standish of Standish - Her Book' (suggesting a relationship with Myles Standish, pioneer American); and a couple of ownership initials on title-page.

Carpenter, who was knighted in 1951, 'For services as President, Manchester Chamber of Commerce', was a leading Manchester industrialist and banker. Among the numerous positions listed in his entry in Who Was Who, he was for 40 years the chairman and managing director of the Manchester cotton manufacturers Greg Brothers & Co., and for 21 years a director of Williams Deacon's Bank (serving as chairman for 12 years), a leading member of the Cotton and Rayon Merchants' Association, the Association of British Chambers of Commerce, and the International Chamber of Commerce.

See William Johnstone's obituary in the Illustrated Tasmanian News, May 1874. He was born in England and left Somerset for Van Diemen's Land in 1841. He set up in business the following year in Launceston, which had been founded in 1806, and is said to be the third oldest colonial settlement in Australia, after Sydney and Hobart..As the years proceeded he prospered spectacularly, and by the time of his death he was so highly esteemed, that 'many places of business had the front windows partially closed while the shipping in port and the Town Hall had the Union Jack hoisted at half mast'.

4pp., 12mo. On bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Begins: 'I have a very distinct recollection of the dinner given in the Temple by Mr. Hayward to Louis Blanc, in consequence of a curious episode connected with it which I have often related.' He proceeds to tell the anecdote, which tells how Blanc, 'eager for information respecting the Constitution of the country which was sheltering him', is enlightened by fellow guests 'in a rather solid way'. 'This bored old Mr.

Foss was a distinguished cryptanalyst, and his career is described in his entry in the Oxford DNB. At Bletchley Park during the Second World War he was the first person to decode a day's worth of the German Enigma Code (in 1940); and heading the Japanese Naval Section in Hut 7 (between 1942 and 1943). His wife Alison (née Graham, 1908-1979) inspired his interest in Scottish country dancing in the early 1930s. He was Vice-President of the Chelsea Reel Club on its formation in 1935; and became Chairman in 1938.

One page, 12mo, good condition. In his best hand. He asks for a "petit service". "Je fais une nouvelle edition de mon Adam de St Victor et je viens vous demander de m'indiquer les corrections que vour jugeriez a propos de faire dans mon 2e edition." He holds his corrections in high regard, outlining further what help he is asking for. Note: Gautier thanks the Abbe Mittet in his Preface.

See image on my website for full text. One page, cr. 8vo, foxed, minor damage, but text clear. Letter headed "Liberte egalite | [?] jour complementaire de lan g de la republique | Cornudet membre du Senat conservateur au Ministre de Finance| je vous [?], citoyen ministre, une petition du cite chabanne mon compatriote de departement tendante a obtenir une place de controlleur des contributions directes. | ce jeune homme sans fortune mais plein d'emulation s'est rendu dans le department du jura [?] d'un parent ingenieur des ponts et chaussees [?

The present item - Daisy Harriman's Visitors' Book - is a significant artefact. Harriman was an important social activist and one of New York's leading socialites (at age 86, as Life Magazine reported, she still continued to host regular Sunday dinners for around twenty guests).

Montgomery Cunningham Meigs (1847-1931), nicknamed 'Monty', civil engineer and inventor, was the son of the celebrated American army officer and engineer of the same name (1816-1892), Quartermaster-General of the United States army during and after the American civil war. While easily overshadowed by his illustrious father, Meigs was a fascinating figure in his own right, talented in a wide range of fields: manager of the canals and locks of the Old Des Moines Rapids Canal, designer of steamboats and other river craft, and Mississippi river pilot.

Four pages, 12mo, fold mark, good condition. "I shall be most happy to give house room to Lacaita's [see note below] things you mention, and with additional pleasure at their removal to my house will be equivalent to the announcement of Lord Minto's return to [London?] whom long to see. | Lacaita will stay with Mr Gladstone & return with him. | I think they will be back in March. | I do not like the French sympathy; but what can Italy lose should the [worse?] come of it. The French can't be worse than the Austrians in any respect.

1p., 4to. On bifolium with mourning border. Nineteen lines of closely-written text, with valediction: 'Votre affectionnée, | Marie, GD de Russie et de Saxe'. In fair condition, lightly aged and creased, with minor traces of grey paper from mount adhering to edge. She begins by stating that the 'charmant ouvrage' that she sent has given her real pleasure: 'il orne ma demeure champêtre'.

1p., 4to. Lightly aged and creased.

1p, 8vo. On watermarked wove paper, trimmed down to 26 x 16 cm. Twenty-six lines of text. Worn and aged, with closed tears and strips of backing card laid down on blank reverse. Written by Anne to her mother Mary of Modena, second Queen to James II, at leaving Whitehall on the arrival of the Prince of Orange in England, November, 1688. She does not believe there was 'any one in such an unhappy Condition, so divided between Duty and Affection to a Father, and a Husband'. Wing A3224. ESTC R210019.

One page, 16mo (trimmed unevenly), signs of removal from album, minor staining, some text faded, most hard to read (either written in haste or characterusticlally illegible - or both). "You are right in [premising?] that I have many irons in the fire [also &?] that I am not [?] to be [?] [general?] use as to the [Cambridge?] [?] if there are [?] [sales?] I shall be happy to lend a hand, so far as it may be in my power."

1p., 8vo. On leaf extracted from an Exchequer receipt book. Good firm signature, undamaged, on document with creasing and heavy wear elsewhere. Laid out in customary style, with printed text completed in manuscript. Recording receipt by Comyn, as assignee of 'Hale' of fifty pounds on an annuity. Witnessed at the foot by 'Jas: Comyn'.

1p., 8vo. Bifolium. Addressed, on reverse of second leaf, with seal in red wax, 'for Serieant Maynard | at his Chamber at ye Temple or elswhere'. In good condition, on lightly aged and worn paper, with outer cover somewhat discoloured. He states that, as Maynard is 'a party concernd in ye Petn of Capt Ed: Lister & Joan his wife', he is desired by the committee to 'meet them in ye Inner Court of Wards' on the following Friday, 'to ye end you may not be concluded unheard'.

On 17.5 x 16 cm. piece of paper. Good firm signature, undamaged, on aged, worn and repaired piece of paper. Laid out in the customary fashion, with printed text completed in manuscript. Recording payment of £20 to 'Abrah. Newland Cashier appointed by the Court of Chancery to receive an Acct. of Thos Walker Esqr Acct General of the said Court Assee'. Signature at foot of witness 'R Ettie'.

Customary printed Exchequer receipt, completed in manuscript, headed (manuscript text in square brackets): Record' [the 20th August 1739] | The [th5] Day of [Septr] 173[9] | Received by me Sr John Werden Assignee of Sir. John Werden]'. Calculations in right-hand margin and clerical sign and docketing on reverse. Recording the receipt of £9 13s 4d, from Thomas Townshend. The printed text states that the money was raised 'upon an Act of Parliament, (Entituled, An Act for granting to Their Majestes certain Rates and Duties of Excise upon Beer, Ale, &c.

2pp., 8vo. In fair condition, on aged and lightly-creased paper. On single leaf, with first page with light diagonal clerical mark. Reads: 'Milward Rowe | Esqr. | Order is taken this 4th. Day of Novr 1779 By Virtue of his Majesty's General Letters of Privy Seal bearing date the 5th. Of Novr. 1760. And in pursuance of a Warrant under his Royal Sign Manual dated the 4 day of Novr. 1779. That You deliver and pay of such his Majesty's Treasure as remains in your charg Unto Milward Rowe Esqr.

A useful background guide is Geoffrey Russell Searle's 'Country before Party: Coalition and the Idea of "National Government' in Modern Britain, 1885-1987' (London, 1995). As the manuscripts in this collection indicate, Cuming Walters cherished the idea of a national party from the 1890s, and he was able to re-use material from that period on the formation of the National Party in 1920 (not to be confused with the party of the same name, a pamphlet relating to which is present, dating from 1917).

On one side of 11 x 15 cm slip of paper. On aged paper, heavily worn at head and at one edge, with some loss of text. The damage has been skilfully repaired. Reads: 'Jan. 17. 1744/5 eived then of <...>ackin Nilliam <...>ynn Bannet the following MS viz. Dares Phrygius & Tyssillons History of the Britions in Welsh, Chronica Britonum in Welsh, & the chartulary of the Abbey de Bello in Latin | which I promise to restore on demand. Witness my hand | Tho: Carte'.

Two pages, folio, minor defects including soiling, small holes and tears, but text complete and legible. Signatories at the top are: [Thomas] Parker, Henry Grey, Duke of Kent ("Kent C.P.S.), John Ker, Ist Duke of Roxburghe, James Craggs the Younger ("J Craggs"). "We do hereby direct, that out of such Moneys as are or shall come to your hands for the following Uses you lay unto William Burroughs Esqre late Commissary Generall of his Majesty's Stores, Provisions and fforage in North Britain the respective summs following Viz" Balance due ......

An informative collection of material, mainly relating to Australia, assembled in the years immediately following the First World War. The collection consists of fifty items: twenty-one typescripts (1-21), twenty-eight manuscripts (22-49), and one printed (50). Dated items range from 1919 to 1924, with the others appearing to date from around the same time. All items clearly legible, and all except item 2 complete. All but item 50 on loose leaves of paper.

4pp., 8vo. 96 lines of text. On paper ruled for accounts. On lightly-aged paper, with loss to corners and at central edge, affecting a few lines of text. Accompanying the letter is a translation (2pp., 8vo) by Colin Jordan, with the assistance of Dr Loukas Christodloulos. The letter is of great interest, casting light on Leigh Fermor's activities in Crete in the period following the Second World War.

All in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. The Grand Vizier's letter, addressed to 'The Lady Strangford' and written in a secretarial hand, is 1p., 8vo, on the recto of the first leaf of a bifolium; the autograph copy of Strangford's reply is on both sides of the second leaf of the same bifolium. The English copy of her reply is 2pp., 8vo, on a separate leaf.

Lord Hennessy has characterised the subject of these items, the Northcote-Trevelyan Report of 1854, as 'the greatest single governing gift of the nineteenth to the twentieth century: a politically disinterested and permanent Civil Service with core values of integrity, propriety, objectivity and appointment on merit, able to transfer its loyalty and expertise from one elected government to the next'.

1p., small 4to. Irregular shaped leaf of paper, aged and worn, laid down on a piece of paper 21 cm. square. Fourteen lines of text in a secretarial hand, regarding the payment of an annuity of £500 to 'David Walter - Esqr. one of the Groomes of his Mats. Bedchambr.' Signed at bottom right by Shaftesbury, and addressed at bottom left by the secretary 'To oure loving freind Sr. Robt. Long Bart. Audr. of the Receipt of ye. Excheqr.'