PARLIAMENT

Journalist, economist and politician (1800-90), M.P. for Leeds. Two pages, 12mo. In poor condition: grubby, folded three times and with two spike holes at foot. 'I am not aware that I have any power to obtain a Midshipman's Commission for any one: but if I had, I should not think it right to use it except in the application of the parents or guardians of the young man wishing for it. I must therefore request you to make your wishes known to your parents; & if they desire it I might forward to the Board of Admiralty a written application from them.

Speaker of the House of Commons (1829-1912). Two pages, 12mo. On mourning paper. Folded once. In very good condition. Thanks his correspondent for the letter of condolence on the 'heavy calamity' of the loss of his daughter Eleanor. 'You knew dear Ella so well - that you can imagine how much her high spirits & her genuine and unselfish nature are missed here - and how irreparable is the loss to me and to her mother & sisters.' Signed 'Peel'. He is been touched by 'the sympathy of friends (which is abundantly given)'.

British journalist and Conservative politician (1873-1974). The typed text is entirely legible, but the collection is in extremely poor condition - badly damp-damaged and frayed, and with much of the menu consumed by insects. ITEM ONE: TLS, 4 May 1944, 'KIRKLANDS, | HEADLEY, HANTS.', on letterhead of the Incorporated Sales Managers' Association, one page, 4to. Green-ink signature severely faded by damp. He has returned 'after a very successful three weeks' mission with Western Command'.

Second baronet (1843-1911), politician and author. Three pages, 12mo. In good condition although grubby and with a few stains. 'My Coal Mines Prevention of Child Labour Underground Bill grew out of the Eight Hours debate and a challenge to the Coal Owners, so I did not put metalliferous mines in, and excluded them by any title. There are very few boys under 13 in them, but the principle might be the same'. He has been consulted on the matter by the Home Office, and has spoken to Lord Grey about it.

Cousin (1690-1740) of the poet of the same name. Both fragment and bookplate are pasted to a piece of thin, discoloured card. The fragment, which is roughly 5 inches by 2 inches, is grubby annd rubbed. It reads, in Cowper's hand '13th July Exhibited to us under the Commission agt. Thomas Park | Wm Cowper'. Beneath this the signatures of 'Fr. Rookes' and 'Rd Maddock'. The bookplate (roughly 2 1/2 inches by 3 1/2, in good condition although somewhat grubby) is armorial, with the motto beneath reading 'FAX . MENTIS. HONESTAE. GLORIA | William Cowper Esqr.

4 pages, 8vo. Pagination: [1] 2-3 [4]. A frail survival: paper grubby, discoloured and dogeared, with a few closed tears and some fraying to extremities, but the text clear and legible. A space at the beginning of the document for the insertion of the petitioner's name in manuscript has been left blank. Begins: 'The Petition of and all other Owners of Land subject to Mortgages, and other pecuniary payments charged on it before its depreciation in consequence of the return to the present Gold Currency, by which the value of every denomination of Money is so much increased'.

4to. [vi] + 131 pages. In original yellow binding, grubby and stained, gilt on spine faded. Handsome production on fine paper. Frontispiece, 18 illustrations and pedigree. PRESENTATION COPY from the editor (the subject's son) to his mother-in-law, with accompanying letter (1 page, 16mo, 29 December 1939, on letterhead 'NEASHAM HALL, NR. DARLINGTON.').

Easily one of the most significant pieces of legislation in the whole history of Parliament. After the Lords rejected Lloyd George's budget in 1909, the Liberal Government, re-elected in 1910, laid resolutions in the House of Commons on the restriction of the powers of the Lords which later became this bill. 3 pages, 4to. Three leaves on light blue paper. A little grubby and with a few minor stains and some slight fraying, but in good condition overall. Recto of first leaf headed 'Parliament Bill. | ARRANGEMENT OF CLAUSES.' Bill itself paginated 1-3.

Clayton (c.1713-1769) was MP for Bletchingley. 1 page, dimensions roughly 6 inches by 7 inches. In poor condition: creased, discoloured and with several closed tears. 12 items - mainly bushells of malt and hops - amounting to £31 12s 3d. Beneath this the receipt in another hand, signed in the same hand as the bill 'Edward Green'. Docketed on reverse: 'Edwd. Greens Bill for Malt'. Typewritten on reverse 'GREEN, Edward, 1747.' and 'CLAYTON MSS.'

Politican (1799-1864). 2 pages, 16mo, on grey paper. In good condition. 'The enclosed has travelled after me. Wd. it not be better that you should open all letters addressed to me as Paymaster General. I have no objection. I do not envy my London life here among the moors. The weather is beautiful.' Signed 'W B Baring'.

Dodington (1691-1762); Oxenden (1694-1775) and Yonge (1693-1755) were Whig politicians and allies of Sir Robert Walpole. The document would appear to relate to their positions as Commissioners of the Treasury. Dimensions 3 1/2 inches by 4 inches. Somewhat discoloured with age, but in good condition and with good clear signatures: 'Geo: Dodington | Geo Oxenden | Wia: Yonge'. The printed fragment to the left of the signatures reads: '<...>ceipt of His | <...> said [in manuscript] 34.

Merchant and merchant banker (1740-1810). 3 pages, 16mo. In very good condition. He is unwilling to produce his title to the property, the request, in connection with the purchase of a neighbouring property from an individual named Bonar, having 'something else in view'. He encloses [not present] 'a plan of the premises, in all about 2 1/2 acres by which you may perceive it would be convenient for the purchaser of Bonars, to pick a hole in my title'. He gives a brief description of 'three seperate [sic], but contiguous tenements, all fronting the road'.

Politician (1796-1866) and scion of the notable banking house. 2 pages. 16mo. With a mourning border. In good condition. 'As brother Tom [Thomas Baring (1799-1873), banker and politician] is to second the address there are certain of his relations who are very desirous of hearing him but do not like to apply thro' him lest it should <?> the <?> orators modesty' He asks whether his order can be used on behalf of the Rev C. Baring & the Rev. H. G. Venn.

Merchant and banker (1773-1848). 2 pages, 8vo. Creased, grubby and discoloured. 'The proclamation has been made this morning and the Poll [presumably a parliamentary election, as Baring sat in the Commons from 1806] will open on Thursday next. I request therefore that our counsel may be here at latest Wednesday evening. The officers appear very & have sent for an decidedly in the interest of Mr Seymour. We may expect therefore a hard struggle & every of attempt against us.' In a postscript he asks his correspondent to 'fix the fee'.

Miscellaneous Writer (see Dictionary of National Biography). Two pages, 12mo, faint foxing, other minor defects, but mainly good condition and text clear. "Allow me to congratulate you & the Conservatives of Manchester on your great triumph - a double victory, since it not only brings you into the House, but keeps Jacob Bright out!"

Peel (1829-1912) was a Liberal politician and Speaker of the House of Commons. Primrose (1846-1923) was a Privy Councillor, Secretary to Gladstone and Speaker of the House of Commons. Both items are 3 pages, on 16mo bifoliates. Both are creased and discoloured. Between 1873 and 1874 Peel was Patronage Secretary to the Treasury. The exchange apparently concerns an election or by-election in Exeter.

English politician and wit (1691-1762). Some minor staining but in very good condition overall. Dimensions approximately 2 1/2 inches by 7 1/2. Signed 'Geo: Dodington' beneath, in another hand, 'Recd.

George Canning (1770-1827), English Tory politician. The frank consists of only the central part of the front of the envelope, without stamp or postmarks, dimensions approximately 2 1/2 inches by 4 inches. Reads 'To D. O'Brien Esqre | 21 Craven Street | Geo: Canning'. Affixed at the foot of the recto of a letter written by his cousin Stratford Canning (1786-1880) in the third person (2 pages, 16mo, in good condition), reading 'Lord Canning begs that in the Votes distributed tomorrow morning the 2d. Reading of the Oxford University Bill may be fixed for Thursday the 6th. July.

English aristocrat and Tory politician (1773-1848). Conclusion of letter cut into slip of paper, dimensions approximately 1 inch by 5 inches. In good condition with three small glue stains from mounting on reverse. Reads 'Believe me | ever faithfully yrs | Carlisle | Castle-Howard | Sepber 26 . 1830'. Reverse reads '<...> knowledge <...> it is singular that so much opposition should exist to so'.

English Conservative politician (1799-1880). 4 pages, 16mo. Creased and somewhat grubby, with minor damage at head of one leaf caused by previous mounting, but in good condition overall. He has received his correspondent's note and will 'be glad to aid the objects of the conference in any manner in my power'. He cannot however 'comply with the request of the Committee that I will preside over Section B. on Tuesday next'. He has to 'present the prizes at the Society of Arts on that morning'. There is also 'important evidence in a Committee of the H. of Coms.

English Liberal politician (1870-1963). Both letters are 1 page, 8vo. Both are dusty but otherwise in good condition. In the first letter he says he has 'only now had time to read the proofs of your book on Palestine, and have read them with interest and pleasure.' He says he will be 'glad to write an introduction, as you were kind enough to ask me to do; no doubt you will not desire it to be more than a quite brief one.

British politician (1893-1957), who gave his name to the 'Belisha Beacon'. All four items signed 'Leslie Hore-Belisha'. In the letter (1 page, 4to, in good condition) he thanks Landa for his note and says he 'should be most happy to do anything I could for you in the matter of the Tribunals. These, however, will come under the Ministry of Labour and not under the War Office. I think, therefore, it would be well if you get into touch with Ernest Brown.' All three notes 1 page, 16mo, and all three in good condition.

Soldier and Tory politician (1893-1996), at 6 ft 7 inches the tallest ever Member of Parliament. 1 page, 16mo. Dusty but in good condition. He asks Landa to forgive him for not having thanked him earlier for assisting him with his lecture 'The Jew in Parliament'. He is grateful for 'the extremely valuable notes which you allowed Mrs. Knollys to take, and I feel that I can face my audience with equanimity and confidence.' Pencil notes on reverse giving addresses of W. A. Rutkowski, Samuel Lipman and Aaron Samuels.