Scope and Contents William Grenville, Whitehall, to Alexander Straton, Charge d’Affaires at Vienna, informing Straton of the death of King Louis XVI: “his Most Christian Majesty…was inhumanly executed in the Place De Louis 15: on Monday last, pursuant to a Decree of the National Convention” and the King ordered in Council for the departure of Monsr Chauvelin from this Kingdom within eight days.” William Grenville was the Foreign Secretary at the time and the Marquis was a French Ambassador who no longer had...

Scope and Contents Original cabinet photograph of Thomas Castro/Arthur Orton who claimed to be Roger Tichborne, the son of Lady Doughty-Tichborne. An abbreviated history of the Tichborne Family and “The Claimant” trial is written on the sheet of paper to which the photograph is glued. Roger Tichborne was presumed drowned near Australia, but his Mother, hoping he was still alive, advertised for his whereabouts in Australia. Thomas Castro/Arthur Orton came to England claiming to be Roger Tichborne. He was...

Scope and Contents Duke of Wellington, in Paris, to an unknown person concerning an unpaid bill and his opinion of decisions he made in the past. Draft of a reply from the unknown person in Cambia, stating “Greatly as I feel the condescension of …letter of the 17th, I should not again have trespassed upon you, even with my thanks, did I not fear that some inaccuracy of expression may have misled your….as to the nature of the feelings which I stated to have been …” Memo on the reverse states “the difference of...

Scope and Contents Spencer Perceval to “Madam” concerning his financial obligations for the care of Mrs. Perceval. He mentions Mrs. Perceval’s pension versus her income and his willingness to give her about 40 pounds a month for meals and lodging if it won’t interfere with the pension. The rental agreement should be no longer than a year, but also one that he can “put an end to it upon some much shorter notice…” He comments that he thinks the price for her lodging should include laying in her coal,...

Scope and Contents William Prescott, in Boston, sends William Cullen Bryant an article on Bryant’s writings written by the Count de Circourt. Prescott describes M. de Circourt as “…one of the most accomplished critics in France…it might be gratifying to you, as it is always to your countrymen, to see in what manner your writings are appreciated by intelligent foreigners.” February 3, 1848. Includes a print of a drawing of William H. Prescott by George Richmond, from a drawing in the possession of the Earl of...

Scope and Contents Charles S. Gordon, in London, informs Mr. [Stab] that Gordon’s luggage will be arriving in Constantinople and gives him instructions for the disbursement of some of the items (gun, gun case, photographic tent, camera stand) to Biddulph and Gordon. At the end of the letter, Gordon changes his mind and requests that the items be returned to him except the gun and gun case which [Stab] can keep as souvenirs. This letter was written shortly after Charles S. Gordon returned from his commission to...

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William E. Gladstone, writing on House of Commons Library embossed letterhead, to an unknown American about the United States and the current “imperfect” bill to recognize the principle of International Copyright. Concedes that the bill should help both American and foreign authors. March 25, 1890. Includes stereoscopic card of Gladstone.

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Cecil John Rhodes, on Burlington Hotel.W. London stationery, to “My dear Thomas” saying he is going out of town and to thank Bonnor for his invitation. Undated.

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Embossed form with seal for Bahama-Islands, New-Providence and heading “By His Excellency the Right Honorable John, Earl of Dunmore, Governor-General, and Commander in Chief of the said Bahama-Islands” giving Peleg Latham a license for the sloop, Matsey, to sail and depart from this “Port and Government” for New York. Signed by Dunmore and Adam Christie, Secry. Dated June 24, 1793.

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Piece of paper with signatures of Lord (Field Marshal Horatio Herbert) Kitchener and Louis Botha. Other signatures are unclear, but two are possibly Haig (Douglas Haig) and Smuts (John Christian Smuts). Dated October 4, 1922. These men were participants in the Boer War.

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Lord John Russell, Pembroke Lodge, to the author of an essay on Thomas Macaulay, praising his writing and hoping he would edit a book by Macaulay with his essay as an introduction. Russell also cites his praises for Macaulay, then adding “perhaps in painting his characters he made his lights too bright, & his shade too deep, a defect perhaps inseparable from his wonderful powers of …” November 2, 18??. Macaulay died on December 28, 1859.

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Prince Albert, Windsor Castle to Sir James (last name unknown) returning “the admiral’s voluminous correspondence with my best thanks and can only say that I agree in the feelings expressed in your answer to him. [January] 20, 1854.

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Two envelopes with picture of Sir Winston Churchill headed with “First Day of Issue” and stamped with U.S. 5 cents stamps with Churchill’s image, both dated May 13, 1965, postmarked Fulton, Missouri. One envelope has 4 stamps and is signed by Sir Anthony Eden, British Prime Minister from 1955-1957. The second envelope has one stamp and is signed by Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery.

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“William Henry Cavendish, Duke of Portland, Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter … authorizes in His Majesty’s name” the seizure of [Lord] Gregory for treason. Warrant issued at Whitehall on March 19, 1788. Warrant addressed to Anthony Fabiani, one of the Majesty’s Messengers, and 3 other. Red wax seal on the warrant.

Scope and Contents William Petty Shelburne (Second Earl) (First Marquis of Landsdowne), London, to an unknown gentleman about handling the affairs of Shelburne’s nephew and deceased brother. Shelburne says he is “determined not to interfere” but “promised the exors that I would give them my opinion whenever they called on me” and that Sir William Petty has advised that they pay their lawyer and apothecary well. Shelburne wishes the recipient to take over his brother’s affairs because he is close to his...

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Lord Randolph S. Churchill asks Mr. [J.I.] Minchin to excuse him from attending the Chess Tournament dinner on May 19 because he needs rest after a hard work session in Parliament and will be traveling to Ireland during the Whitsuntide Holidays. May 5, 1883. The letter is written on 2 Connaught Place stationary. The London 1883 chess tournament was an international tournament. Lord Randolph S. Churchill is the father of Winston Churchill.

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Warren Hastings, Dalyesford House writes to The Rev. William Johnson, Parley Place, Croydon, Surry about an assignment, possibly as an executor of an estate. He asks for Rev. Johnson’s help in acquiring financial and other information with questions about the current finances. April 25, 1798.

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Sir Robert Peel responds to a proposal to help Ireland during the potato famine. The proposal appears to involve asking for money from the government or borrowing it, possibly confiscating land as collateral. He thinks the proposal will be hard to enforce and will be a source of “dissatisfaction and discontent.” He notes “It’s difficult to argue calamity in the immediate presence of famine and disease.”

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Signature of Earl of Godolphin Sidney, Lord High Treasurer under Queen Anne, on a warrant for Tallys and Revenue of Excise. Other names mentioned are William Gregory and William Wardour. Partial document. December 9, 1693.

Scope and Contents King George IV requests that the Master of the Stag Hounds keep 6 horses for Lord Maryborough (William Wellesley-Pole). “The King is aware that this additional allowance has not been the practice but in consequence of Lord Maryborough’s removal from his late office, for the convenience of Lord Liverpool, the King does not think it right that he should be, so decided…[this] present indulgence is by the King’s express command, but not to be extended to my future Master of the Stag Hounds.”...

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Lord Palmerston writes that the “Duke of Wellington has accepted the Office of 1st Lord of the Treasury and we are to give up the seals of office at St. James’s tomorrow.” November 15, 1834.

Scope and Contents Lord Palmerton, Prime Minister, to Henry Labouchere, Secretary of State for the Colonies, about the charge by Thomas Chisholm Anstey, Attorney General of Hong Kong, that John Walter Hulme, Chief Justice in Hong Kong, was drunk at the Governor’s table. He repeats comments by Bowring [Sir John Bowring] who was at the dinner. He warns that this matter needs to be handled carefully since Anstey’s correspondence is damaging and Hong Kong is not a “very favorite establishment in our House.” He...

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December 9, 1765 letter from William Pitt (the elder) to “Dear Sir” asking him to forward the enclosed letter to Comte de Wallwoden “by the first safe opportunity.” The letter is the “notification of the melancholy loss of Lady Yarmouth” which he received on October 22. Lady Yarmouth (Amalie von Wendt) was the mistress of King George II and Wallmoden was their son. Includes an engraving of William Pitt.

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George Canning, Foreign Office, to Lord John Fitzroy saying he’d received his letter about Sir Arthur Wellesley’s victory over the French at Talavera de la Reina (Peninsula Campaign) before the arrival of Lord FitzRoy Somerset with Sir Arthur Wellesley’s dispatches. August 15, 1809.

Scope and Contents George Canning, Pavilion, Brighton, to the Prince de Polignac regarding his amazement of the arrest of the daughters of Sir Robert Wilson in Calais as they were leaving France. He asks Prince de Polignac to find out what happened and to “redress it, as far as may be in your power.” There is an abstract of the letter from Sir Robert Wilson to George Canning which gives the particulars of the arrest and his assurance that his daughters “had nothing with them but their own private property.”...