08. British History

This is a collection of clipped signatures and holograph letters from many well-known, mostly 19th century British, historical figures.

This collection contains a Benham family tree, general historical survey, and original and facsimile correspondence between Benham family members. Included in the correspondence are some original envelopes with British stamps and wax seals. Items have been tipped-in to a bound volume.

The papers consist of three handwritten short essays by Black, each pasted into a bound volume: “The Borderland of Dreams," “Metropolitan Conveyances” and “My Lady Jemimah…”.

Consists of two letters signed by Scott. One is dated 12 October 1826 and addressed to Andrew Lang, Esq. and appears to be a cover letter for a cheque. The other is addressed to an unknown recipient and concerns a claim to the Earldom of Stirling by one Humphrey Alexander (or a Humphrey and an Alexander).

The collection consists of 3 folders of correspondence dating from 1803-1810, between British Admiral Sir John Thomas Duckworth as Naval Commander-in-Chief at Jamaica and Vice-Admiral Charles Stirling (1760-1833), Resident Commissioner at Jamaica relating to repairs to ships, stores, defenses and surveys.

The papers of Admiral Sir William Sidney Smith contain letters concerning Smith's brother, John Spencer Smith, who was British ambassador to the Porte at Constantinople in the early 1790s. Correspondents include Robert Liston, British Minister to the United States. Also included is a genealogy of the Smith family, a battle order issued by Smith aboard HMS Tigre during the siege at Acre in 1799, and an invitation to the funeral of the Duke of Wellington.

This collection contains a letter from Annie Gregory to Lady Margaret Spicer, daughter of the 12th Earl of Westmoreland. In the note, Annie requests that Lady Spicer let her know if her husband Captain John Edward Philip Spicer would “let” her (Annie) a cottage called Chittoe Heath. Annie Gregory belonged to a Methodist (Wesleyan) family in Wiltshire.

This collection contains thirteen letters written by the Duke of Wellington to Miss A.M. (Anna Maria) Jenkins, a 19th century evangelist. Two other letters are from Ms. Sophy Mistes to Miss A.M. Jenkins. Accompanying some of the letters are envelopes with wax seals; also included in the collection are a miniature photo of the Duke and a paper Mariner's Compass.

This collection contains letters and literary drafts of Samuel Richardson; letters of his daughter, Anne Richardson, to her sister Martha Richardson Bridgen, and parents, and Sally Crowther Moodie. The collection also includes letters by Elizabeth (Leake) Richardson, Sally Crowther Moodie, and Jane Berthon regarding the Lisbon earthquake (1755); and correspondence from O.B. Kaiser to Samuel Richardson.

Document is an anonymous commentary on an article appearing in the February 28, 1827 edition of “The Anti-Slavery Monthly Reporter” that discussed propositions put forward by Lord Bathurst for reforms in the treatment of enslaved people in the Colonies; in particular, a prohibition of the flogging of women, which failed to pass.