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PRIME MINISTERS OF QUEEN VICTORIA Bound volume, full brown morocco, 4to, 295 x 225 mm (ca 11½ x 9 inches), spine a little worn, lettered in gilt on the spine and upper cover. A fine collection of letters, documents and engravings, including two early letters of Disraeli, the letters hinged or lightly mounted, the engravings largely pasted to fine cartridge paper. Queen Victoria: Typewritten Document Signed, 2 pages folio (trimmed and separately mounted), appointing Colonel Francis Cornwallis Maude a Military Knight of Windsor. Aberdeen, 4th Earl of: Autograph Letter Signed to the Duchess of Gordon, 2 pages 8vo, with envelope neatly inlaid below and an portrait engraved by T. Woolnoth after A. Wivell on the opposite page, announcing that he had appointing Mr Baillie to the Embassy at Vienna, expatiating on Baillie's virtues, and letting her know that he had also complied with another of her wishes. '... My brother will of course do all in his power to make the residence at Vienna agreeable; but his stay there is likely to be short, as I presume after my resignation he will shortly be recalled. ...'Disraeli, Benjamin: Engraved portrait after G.J. Stodart. Autograph Letter Signed ('Disraeli') to Lady Stepney, 4 pages 8vo, '½ past one', no date [21 May 1833], explaining that circumstances which had delayed his attendance on his 'inextricable engagements at Hampton Court', might make him late for dinner. '... it will be very difficult for me to evince that punctuality at dinner for which I am distinguished, & which at your house is not only a duty, but a pleasure. ...'Gladstone, William Ewart: Letter Signed to the Rev Dr Colls, 2 pages 8vo, mounted opposite a portrait (head and shoulders), Downing Street, 19 January 1846, declining to ask Sir Robert Peel to present him to the living of St Mary's, Bryanston Square. Melbourne, William Lamb, Viscount: engraved portrait (half-length) by H.H. Meyer after Sir Thomas Lawrence Autograph Letter Signed to the Marquis of Conyngham, 2 pages 4to, South Street, 7 July 1837, writing a fortnight after the accession of Queen Victoria, enquiring as to certain precedents: '... Geo 4 came to the Crown in January 1820, the coronation I believe took place the same summer. Did he wear the crown at the opening and prorogation of the Parliament. William the 4th came to the throne in June 1830. He was crowned September 1831. During that time he twice opened & once prorogued the Parliament. Did he wear the crown upon those occasions? ...'Palmerston, Henry John Temple, Viscount: Magazine portrait after a photograph. Autograph Letter Signed to 'My dear ?Baringwall', 1 page 8vo on black-edged paper, expressing the hope of seeing him the following Saturday. Autograph Letter Signed to Vernon Smith, 1½ pages 8vo on black-edged paper, B[roadlan]ds, 5 November 1857, reporting on an incident, probably connected with the Indian Mutiny: '... [the report] was followed up by another that the Prisoners had been put to Death by some of our Troops who had attacked them on their Release. I hope the whole may be false but if it is true and not very satisfactorily explained Mr Grant ought himself to be released.'Autograph Letter Signed to an unnamed correspondent, 1 page 8vo, Melbourne, 10 September 1845, giving an account of his movements until his expected arrival in Dublin on the following Saturday. Peel, Sir Robert: engraved portrait, half-length, by H.T. Ryall after Sir Thomas Lawrence. Fine Autograph Letter Signed to the Duke of Wellington, 4 pages 4to, Whitehall, 17 December 1841, bearing a brief minute in Wellington's hand written cross-wise at the head. An excellent, unguarded communication headed 'most private', discussing candidates for the lieutenancy of Rutland - Lord Doune out of the question because he is in holy orders, Gilbert Heathcote ('a shabby politician'), Finch illegitimate, etc. The letter continues on the question of a vacant place in the Order of the Garter: '... My belief is that such matters as these Garters, patronage, and so forth, weight much more with the Duke of Buckingham than any thing else - and I think the Course he will take as a member of the Government will be very much influenced by personal considerations. He will adhere to us - or fly off accodingly as he may think it may be for his private interest. I write to you always without the slightest Reserve, knowing that I can safely do so, and that it is for the public Interest I should do so. ...'Autograph Letter Signed to 'Sir Walter' [?scott], 2 pages 4to (inlaid, but dismounted), Whitehall, 24 February 1827, declining to use his influence 'respecting the oild gas company in Edinburgh. Russell, Lord John: Important Autograph Letter Signed to Lord Melbourne, 4 pages 4to, Wilton Crescent, 19 November 1840: '... On looking at the Morning Chronicle, I see that if we do not succeed in Syria, we are to attack Mehemet Ali in Egypt. Surely it is not wise for you to hold out such threats when the French Chamber is so divided that a little more needless irritation may enable Thiers to carry a majority by a coup de main. In the Times there is an article by a correspondent, in the end of which a circumstance is remarked, which I have not observed in one instance only. In the days of Lord Grey, every important note was carefully revised by him, & generally submitted to the Cabinet ... . Esterhazy said two words to me the other day to the effect that the matter ought not to be prolonged. ... To this day I am not aware what was written to Lord Granville in consequence of our two cabinet meetings. All this is very unpleasant, but I think it best to tell you what I feel. I beg however you will not send this letter to Palmerston.'Salisbury, Robert Cecil, third Marquis of: Small engraved portrait, head and shoulders. Important Autograph Letter Signed to [Edward] Tracy Turnerelli (1813-1896) on the Armenian question, warning him of the calamities which would result from Kindling a war in the Turkish Empire, 6 pages 8vo with autograph envelope (separately mounted), 20 Arlington Street, 14 May 1895. 'It would give me very great pleasure if I could say any word which might help you in advocating peace, & endeavouring to avert the calamities of war. But my experience & vivid recollection of what took place during a similar crisis not quite 20 years ago, has left deeply impressed upon my mind the danger of any person in prominent political position saying any word that might interfere at a critical point in the negociations & the action of the government of the day. Infinite harm during the Bulgarian atrocities was done by indiscreet language of that kind. It is impossible me to know whether similar harm would be done now, or not. ...'Derby, Edward Stanley, 14th Earl of: Autograph Letter Signed to the Rev Dr [Edward White] Benson, 1 page 8vo on black-edged paper, Knowsley, 29 November 1858, agreeing with him that the system of canvassing for admission to Wellington College should be discouraged, and commenting on his slowly-improving health. Disraeli, Benjamin: Autograph Letter Signed to Mr Bragg, 2 pages 4to (trimmed, not affecting the text). no place, no date [probably 1825]. Asking him to deal in future with Mr [Robert] Messer, and to send Disraeli the balance remaining in his account after deducting what was due to himself. Rosebery, Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of: Autograph Letter Signed to [Lord] Reay, 1 page 8vo, Dalmeny Park, Edinburgh, 25 July 1883, regretting that he was unlikely to be able to visit Galashiels that winter. In addition there is another fine political letter signed with, as yet, undeciphered initials, probably to Charles Baring Wall, of Norman Court, Liberal MP ca 1847. We are indebted to Prof Mel Wiebe of Queens University, Kingston, Canada for assistance with the two early Disraeli letters and the unidentified piece. [No: 21317] The image is of an engraving of Disraeli.
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