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NEW STOCK OF MANUSCRIPTS, MINIATURES, PHOTOGRAPHS, MEDALS, AND MOURNING JEWELLERY
AUTOGRAPH LETTERS
& MANUSCRIPTS
BEAN, William (1787-1866) geologist and conchologist. Autograph letter signed to Edward Charlesworth Esq, 3 North Buildings, Finsbury Circus, London, 2 sides 4to, Scarborough; 3 April 1836, with integral blank bearing the address and a circular Scarborough postmarks in black and in red. Paper creased with some repairs. Regretting that he has “made no more discoveries at the Crag Bed at Bridlington, it seems to be guarded with "miser care" and I anxiously wait for some high Tides or other fortunate occurrence that may make me acquainted with more than the surface which is all that I have up to the present time examined”…. That he has “appointed Mary Bye Agent for your Geological Periodical [The Magazine of Natural History]” which he has ordered a copy of and believes “several will be taken at Scarbro'.” With much of the year engaged in municipal and “my own private concerns” he explains that “all Scientific Pursuits have been almost neglected but I hope in a little time to contribute something to your projected work ....... Any Crag Fossils you can spare will be acceptable and I shall always have great pleasure in sending you Fossils from this neighbourhood you do not possess”. Finally he asks that upon obtaining a postal frank for letters, Charlesworth sends them on the same date of the frank “for want of this precaution the Postage of your last was considerable”.
£150
William Bean was a pioneer in the study of Yorkshire geology and amassed an extensive collection of fossils, particularly from localities around Scarborough. He also took an active part in politics in Scarborough. He sold his collection of over 15,000 specimens in 1859, the majority of which were purchased by the British Museum and the Yorkshire Philosophical Society.
His correspondent was the geologist Edward Charlesworth (1813-1893). The eldest son of the Rev John Charlesworth, he took an early interest in the Crag fossils of East Anglia, and despite studying medicine, he returned to his passion for palaeontology, and took up his first museum appointment in 1836 in the British Museum. Charlesworth’s name came to the attention of the scientific world in the period 1835-1838 following his well publicised debate with Charles Lyell on the age and nature of the Crag formations. During this time he took over the Magazine of Natural History, a journal that Bean was a contributor to, and one that Charlesworth became able to publish in with considerable freedom.
THE STANHOPE/SUNDERLAND MINISTRY 1717
CRAGGS, James, the younger (1686–1721), diplomatist and politician. Autograph letter signed to an unnamed correspondent, 2 sides, small 4to, Thursday April 11th 1717, regarding a position as Commissioner in the Treasury: "The very extraordinary manner in wch so many of ye King’s servants have abandoned his service make it necessary for him to employ men of ye best characters & principles he can meet wth. As he can never choose better than in pitching upon you & yt he intends to put Mr Stanhope at ye head of ye Treasury, I am commissioned to offer you a place in ye new patent". He expresses the hope that "ye distress of affairs from ye divisions among us will rather incite than discourage you from entering into ye M’s service, since no necessity can make him think of changing those measures wch have hitherto been agreeable to ye Whigs" and begs his correspondent "to look on this as a private letter as a mark of my real value for you & yt you would show it to nobody." Neat paper repairs to vertical creases on reverse.
£200
James Craggs the younger was the son of the politician and government official James Craggs (bap. 1657, d. 1721). In 1713 he became member of parliament for Tregony, and on 15th April 1717 Secretary of State at War (2 days after this letter was written). The letter is associated with critical changes in the ministry which George I found necessary having a cabinet deeply divided on foreign policy, with Robert Walpole (1676–1745) and Lord Townsend (1674–1738) on one side, and James Stanhope (1673–1721) and Lord Sunderland (1675–1722) on the other. Townshend occupied the post of Northern Secretary, but was forced at the end of 1716 to give this up for the lesser appointment of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Townshend was dismissed from the latter post on 9th April 1717 upon voting against the Mutiny Bill, following which Robert Walpole resigned as First Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer on 10th April 1717. This led to the formation of a new cabinet created on 15th April 1717, dominated by Stanhope who replaced Walpole, and Sunderland who succeeded Townshend as secretary of state for the north. The present letter sought to fill a Treasury Commissioner post under Stanhope, of which the new appointees were the politicians John Wallop (1690–1762), George Baillie, George (1664–1738), and Thomas Micklethwaite (1678-1718), one of whom is likely to be Craggs' correspondent. (see ODNB)
DOCTOR'S BILL TO RAILWAY ENGINEER JOHN URPETH RASTRICK
INGLEBY, J.S. Dr. Autograph letter signed to J.U.Rastrick, 454 Charing Cross East, London, Jan 9 1839, 4to, 2 leaves, one bearing a letter and a second with two columns of accounts, with the address panel on the reverse, Birmingham postmarks and broken seal (which has torn a small blank area), docketed, 86 New Street, Birmingham, sending his account for medical consultation for Rastrick and members of his household for the period 1837-1838, with a list of numerous journeys and expenses incurred.
£35
John Urpeth Rastrick (1780-1856) was a pioneer in the development of locomotive engines and the railways, and was a noted civil engineer. In his early years he worked with Richard Trevithick and George Stephenson, and later was engineer for a number of railway lines, notably the London & Brighton line (on which he was working at the time this letter was received). Little is known about his family, so it is of some significance to find mentioned in the bill an item relating to Miss Mary R., presumably his daughter.
MARTIN, John (1789–1854), artist. Autograph letter in the third person to 'Harral', The Editor of La Belle Assemblée, 1 side 4to with the address panel on the reverse bearing 4 postmarks and seal, 30 Allsop Terrace [London], May 22nd 1823, regretting that he did not receive the editor's card of admission to the Exhibition of the "Fall of Nineveh". Paper loss where the seal was attached (affecting about 4 words) and with an adhering strip of paper from an album.
£200
La Belle Assemblée was a court and fashion magazine published under this name from 1806 until 1832. Under the editorship of Thomas Harrol the magazine published original poetry and fiction, articles on politics and science, book and theatre reviews, serialized novels, and in its later years produced fine fashion plates for which it is best remembered.
The subject of this letter to Harral is interesting, for Martin was to paint his own interpretation of the Fall of Nineveh, a tour-de-force which he began in 1827 and completed and exhibited the following year, with a price tag of 2,000 guineas.
LETTER TO MICHAEL FARADAY
MARTIN, John (1789–1854), artist. Autograph letter signed to M. Faraday, Royal Institution, 1 side plus integral address leaf, 8vo, 30 Allsop Terrace [London], February 26th 1836, thanking him for his letter and reminding him that "When we were conversing the other evening there was some mention of laying my plan for improving the Thames upon the Library table" and saying that if this is agreeable he will send him his drawing and map when convenient. Corner repair to blank of address leaf, with remnants of edge mounting.
£350
An accomplished painter and engraver, Martin was also enthusiastic about urban improvement, especially in London, where water supply and sewage management were of serious concern. Martin laid a number of plans before government Select Committees on these issues including in 1832 "An Outline Plan for supplying London with water from the Thames at Teddington Lock" which is undoubtedly the scheme referred to in this letter. This plan was approved at a meeting of the Institute of British Architects at a meeting on February 29th 1836, and on March 3rd to a voluntary Committee chaired by Lord Euston (which included Faraday) who enthusiastically supported the scheme. Lengthy discussions and amendments were considered in the ensuing years, and his scheme was finally adopted after his death, solving London's water problem.
Michael Faraday (1791–1867) the famous natural philosopher and scientific adviser, was at this time Director of the Royal Institution laboratory.
MARTIN, John (1789–1854), artist. Autograph letter signed to Dr Elliotson, 1 side, 8vo, 30 Allsop Terrace [London], May 7th 1837, presenting him with proof copies of his engravings Death of the First Born and Destroying Angel "as some mark of my friendship & the remembrance I shall never cease to entertain of your kind & valuable attentions". The reverse has old mounting gum marks.
£250
The recipient of Martin's letter was John Elliotson (1791–1868), senior physician at University College Hospital and an exponent of mesmerism. His serious involvement with mesmerism dated from the autumn of 1837 when, after observing the work of the French mesmeric demonstrator Baron J. E. Dupotet he began to mesmerize patients in his own wards at University College Hospital. He achieved both ‘excellent cures’ and ‘striking phenomena’. However, in August 1838 the editor of The Lancet, Thomas Wakley, thought he had caught the sisters in deliberate trickery, and strongly attacked Elliotson. Elliotson responded with equal force. Further controversies ensued, and in December 1838 the hospital committee forbade the practice of mesmerism on the wards. Elliotson resigned from both the hospital and the college the following month (ODNB).
Elliotson was a close friend of Martin as well as his doctor, and was a great admirer of his work. The proof engravings that Martin sent him were mezzotints for his series Illustrations of the Bible published 1831-1835.
PHILIP MILLER AND PETER COLLINSON
MILLER, Philip (1691–1771), horticulturist and writer. Incomplete autograph letter signed to Peter Collinson, at the Red Lyon in Grace Church Street, London, with at the foot, Collinson's autograph forwarding notes to another un-named correspondent, 1 side 4to, Chelsea Nov 7th 1746. Regarding coniferous trees and shrubs, Miller writes "….. Mr Rand that the Cones were sent to the Bishop from America [had] the different smell of the Virginia Cedars ........... which has much Stronger scent than either of these, the ----- of which is commonly sold for the tree Savin [Juniper], a large tree of this is growing at Cashioberry [Cassioberry, Hertfordshire]. The Sumack with winged leaves is an inhabitant of our gardens........ It was formerly growing at Fulham and was [in] Pluckenets collections. Mr Catesby also sends seeds of this sort over [in] 1724, when we raised several plants from it at Chelsea, which were [also] killed the same year 1728/9."
Collinson comments that "The reason P.M. takes notice of the Pines of Mr Lethieu[llier] is in the first place that he used to call them Cluster pines. In the next is - that I produced from this tree Cones of 3 different yea[r’s] growth on the same branch unshed – in opposition his notion of all being shed the first year.....Wee have raised some winged leaved Sumack from thy last seeds pray send more for it is all lost before in our garden..... Thou will find P.Millar has not understood thy Letter wch may deserve thy cordial notice – for Phil is a very worthy Man but is apt to be a little too Posit[ive]."
Right hand margin frayed (with some text loss) and repaired, plus some transparent repair tape to blank reverse. Extremely rare, combining in one item observations by England's two foremost horticulturalists/botanists of the mid 18th century.
£400
Philip Miller was the most distinguished and influential British gardener of the eighteenth century, under whose charge (from 1722 to 1770) the Chelsea Physic Garden of the Society of Apothecaries of London came to excel above all others in Europe. His work necessitated the continuous introduction of new plants, achieved by a wide correspondence at home and abroad. 'Mr Rand', mentioned in the letter, was the botanist Isaac Rand (1674-1743) and former director of the Chelsea Garden. 'Pluckenets' collection refers to the extensive collection of the botanist Leonard Plukenet (bap. 1642, d. 1706), which he published in four huge volumes between 1691 and 1705. 'Mr Catesby' is the naturalist Mark Catesby (1683-1749) who undertook pioneering natural history work in America (supported by Peter Collinson), sending back large quantities of biological material to his English subscribers.(ODNB)
Miller's correspondent was the botanist Peter Collinson (1694–1768), whose greatest contributions to horticulture developed through his friendship with John Bartram, the father of American botany, with whom he established a scheme whereby Bartram supplied seeds and seedlings to British patrons in return for an annual subscription. He developed close friendships with other horticulturalists and naturalists, including Philip Miller, Mark Catesby and Smart Lethieullier (1701-1760).
NASMYTH, James Hall (1808–1890), mechanical engineer. Autograph letter signed to Cundell, 8vo, 1 side plus integral blank, Penhurst, Kent, Oct 31st 1882, expressing his grief that he is "not to be able to be present and pay my last sad tribute to the remains of the Dear departed "most worthy Master"! It must be some consolation to all whom he was so Dear that he departed without Pain after his long and happy and admirable life. We shall never meet with his like again".
£80
Nasmyth's letter refers to the
death of George Cundell (1798-1882), a scientist, pioneering photographer and
politician, and is possibly addressed to one of Cundell's surviving brothers.
Nasmyth refers fondly to Cundell in his 'autobiography' compiled by Samuel
Smiles in 1883: 'Among my most intelligent private friends in London were
George Cundell and his two brothers. They resided near my lodgings, and I often
visited them on Saturday evenings. They were most kind, gentle, and genial
....... George was agent for Mr. Patrick Maxwell Stuart in connection with his
West India estates ........ My special friend George was known amongst us as
"the worthy master." He was thoroughly versed in general science, and was
moreover a keen politician. He had the most happy faculty of treating complex
subjects, both in science and politics, in a thoroughly common-sense manner
........ With companions such as these, gi ith a variety of tastes, I spent many
of my Saturday evenings most pleasantly and profitably. They were generally
concluded with a glass of beer of "the worthy master's" own brewing.'
PALMERSTON, Henry John Temple, third Viscount (1784–1865), prime minister. Autograph letter signed 'Palmerston' to J. Kinnaird, 8vo, 2 sides, 20th February 1856, in support of the election of John Patrick Somers for the seat of Sligo, Ireland, "Mr Somers stands again for the Town of Sligo upon the vacancy occasioned by the death of Mr Sadlier, and I wish it to be made known to any who might be disposed to be influenced by a knowledge of my intentions that my good wishes are in Mr Somers's favour".
£50
In the election which took place on 7th March, 1856, the Liberal candidate John Patrick Somers lost the seat to Conservative Rt Hon John Arthur Wynne (1801-1865). The seat was again contested in 1857 when Somers was declared elected, but on petition the seat was given to Wynne, who had a majority of 31. The Select Committee appointed to investigate the election proved that officials had taken votes from Wynne and placed them with Somers.
John Sadleir (1813-1856) the politician and financier whose death occasioned the election, was one of the leading figures in the Independent Irish Party which held the balance of power in the House of Commons in 1852. He resigned his ministerial position in 1854 when he was found guilty of being implicated in a plot to imprison a depositor of the Tipperary Bank who had refused to vote for him. Financial ruin followed through disastrous speculations and he committed suicide on 17 February 1856.
Lord Palmerston was son of the Irish peer, Viscount Palmerston. He began his parliamentary career as a Tory and concluded it as a Liberal, and at the time this letter was written was serving his first period as Prime Minister (from 1855-1858).
A FINE 18th CENTURY LETTER ON NATURAL HISTORY
PULTENEY, Richard (1730-1801), botanist and physician. Autograph letter signed RP to Dr. Cuming at Dorchester, Saturday night, October 12 [1782], 3 sides folio plus integral address panel with postal stamp ‘BLAND FORD’ and seal, thanking him for his letter, and sending him a miscellany of news especially on natural history matters:
‘…..I went to Town in Consequence of a note sent to me by Mr. Sellers requesting a Specimen of the Ostrea Pleuronectes. I am sorry to say I have no under Valve to spare there are 5 to 1 of the upper to be met with in all Collections whence I conclude the fish is seldom taken alive.’
'I saw the Account of Mr. Fosters Death in the paper the Day after I got to Town. He died without a will so all his Collection goes to a Brother who cares not a straw for any such matters. I found poor Da Costa lamenting his Death. His Book I fear is not forward I suspect we shall not see it soon if ever, yet I saw perhaps 10 or 12 of the Plates all good, chiefly figured fossils.’
‘I delivered your message to Dr. Hunter ………. the Dr. in the most obliging manner showed me all the Drawers (upwards of 100) of the shells from Fothergills Museum. I cannot describe anything they are sumptuous & as he is told by connoisseurs inferior only to the Portland Collection . They are arranged according to Linnaeus by Dr G. Fordyce & Humphreys’.
‘Dr. H. also shewd me the Copy of his great work on Coins 63 plates all the Letter press except the preface printed a magnificent quarto indeed. I congratulate you on the pleasure you will one day receive in possessing it. I also saw many of the Insects they have all been lately arranged by Fabricius ……… according to his own System different from Linnaeus‘s’.
‘I asked the price of the Venus Dione at Martin’s Shop a worse than that you have valued at 3/6. a good one valued at 10/6. & difficult to be got. Da Costa says the Voluta athiopica in good preservation cannot be had for less than 1.11.6.’
‘Sr. Jos. Banks in Lincolnshire I spent nevertheless one morning at his Room with Dr. Dryander his Librarian who is to assist in carrying on the great work I looked over about 200 of the Plates 680 already finished 900 in all intended’.
‘Editors of the Med. Reg. have sent me a Letter to ask for Corrections to the new Edition for Dorsetshire can you correct your part of the County? Have they sent to you also?’.
With other passing references to leading naturalists and physicians, including Sir John Pringle, William Curtis, Sir George Baker, Sir William Watson, and Maxwell Garthshore, plus a note that he has no news of Captain Cook’s medal [issued in 1784].
£1,200
A successful physician, Richard Pulteney M.D, FRS, was also a noted historian of British Botany and an ardent promoter of Linnaeus’s work and methods. Pulteney published his most significant work A general view of the writings of Linnæus the year before this letter was written. As this letter typically suggests, Pulteney maintained a wide range of contacts in the scientific and medical world, with whom he shared an abundance of information. His correspondent and friend Dr William Cuming (1714-1788) was a physician and a noted antiquarian and topographer, with whom Pulteney corresponded regularly.
Pultney’s report of the death of Ingham Foster (1725-1782) comes 9 days after Foster’s death on October 3rd. Foster was a London merchant, an avid collector, and a close friend of the naturalist Emanuel Mendes da Costa (1717–1791). His extensive collections which included fossils and shells were auctioned in 1783 and 1784. Pultney’s reference to Da Costa’s preparation of an illustrated book is apparently for a work that never reached the press (his last major work Historia Naturalis Testaceorum Britanniae was published in 1778).
The ‘shells from Fothergills Museum’ were those of Dr John Fothergill (1712-1780) a Quaker physician, whose shell collection was held at the time to be second only to that of the Duchess of Portland. The collection included material collected on Cook’s first voyage. Following Fothergill's death, his collection of shells and corals was purchased in 1781 by Dr William Hunter for £1100.
Dr William Hunter formed a fabulous collection of coins which he bequeathed to the University of Glasgow. One of his biggest coin purchases took place in 1782 (the year Pultney writes) when he purchased for £2,400 the Hess collection, whose highlights were the Roman Imperial gold coins.
The reference to Dr Dryander and the preparation of plates refers to the Swedish botanist Jonas Carlsson Dryander (1748 –1810) who was from 1782 Banks’ librarian (following the death of Daniel Solander). The plates referred to are probably those engraved from the drawings of Sydney Parkinson (1745?- 1771) who accompanied Banks on board HMS Endeavour as his botanical draughtsman. The intention was to publish these upon returning to England, but Parkinson died on the voyage home in 1771. Banks with assistance from his librarians had over 700 plates drawn up but they were never published until recently.
LOWESTOFT EXCISE OFFICER / CONSTABLE / SURVEYOR 1789-1805
WEBB, George of Lowestoft. Manuscript notebook of George Webb, variously describing himself as Officer of Excise, Constable and Surveyor of the Highways for the Parish of Lowestoft, with 174 pages of close-written manuscript (5 leaves with no MS entries) bearing dates ranging from 1785 to 1805. The contents cover notes and tables relevant to Webb's duties under subjects including window taxes; turnpike trustees; repair of roads; accessories; shop tax; male and female servants; carriages; search warrants; seized goods; proclamations; selling beer without a licence; bread assizes; auction duties; justice's clerks fees; pawning; duties on spirits; militia; surveyor of highways matters; hawkers & pedlars; stamps on receipts, and more. He includes many sample forms of legal documents, judgements etc mostly actual cases including the names of the individuals involved. A highly interesting working notebook relevant to Lowestoft and the wider county of Suffolk, citing a very large number of names of local people. Bound in contemporary full leather (neatly rebacked), with one of two brass clasps still preserved. PHOTO
£600
George Webb identifies himself as an Officer of Excise in several of the earlier entries bearing a date of 1785. In entries dated 1789 he is identified as a constable and a Surveyor of the Highways, evidently performing two or more parish officer roles. Constables were elected by the parish and had a wide range of duties including the levying of taxes. The Surveyor of Highways was an unpaid officer chosen by Justices from a list of landowners in the parish, who was obliged to survey the highways three times a year and organise road repairs. It is very interesting to find Webb occupying appointments as Excise officer, constable and Surveyor of Highways, apparently concurrently.
This may be the George Webb found in the IGI, born in Lowestoft in 1727, who died 27th May 1812. He married Hannah Taylor, and had at least two children, Lewis (born about 1752, died 1 April 1790) and Charles (born 12 January 1771, died 1 October 1771).
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