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Indenture quadripartite of 11 Feb 1761 by which George Lane, of Bramham Park, Yorkshire (West Riding), with the consent of Ralph Bourchier, 'doctor in physick', of Great Ormond Street in the parish of St.George the Martyr, London, and his daughter and heir Margaret Bourchier, assigned to the Hon William Chetwynd, of Dover Street, London, the manors or lordships of Benningborough [Beningbrough], Overton [Ovington], Barforth and Newton-upon-Ouse, all in the North Riding of Yorkshire, formerly the estate of John Bourchier, deceased, for the remainder of a term of 500 years. Signed and sealed by the four parties. Ralph Bourchier inherited the estates on the death of his great-niece Mildred, wife of the Hon Robert Lane, in 1760.

A printed volume containing decisions of the French Conseil d'Estat relating to commerce, 1700-1708, but including three manuscript items as follows:

1. 'Essai des marchandises qu'il est permis de tirer des pays estrangers...suivant l' arrêt du Conseil du 18 Aoust 1705', a table listing items of merchandise permitted to be taken from Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Scotland, Germany, Ireland and Portugal, [1708]. (2 leaves. 11" x 8½").
2. 'Règlement que le roy veut estre observé dans l'ordre de distribution et raport qui sera fait par les sieurs intendans du commerce des affaires qui auront esté renvoyées au Conseil de Commerce', dated at Marly on 9 Oct 1708', followed by lists of areas of jurisdiction with their departmental officers. (14 leaves. 11" x 8½").
3. Incomplete manuscript index to the volume, which is paginated throughout in manuscript. (6 leaves. 11" x 8½").

Manuscript volume lettered 'Memoire de Finance' containing two works written in the same hand, probably mid 17th century, and attributed by an inscription on the fly-leaf to Charles de Marillac, Archbishop of Vienne (c 1510-1560) and his nephew, Michel de Marillac (1563-1632). The first section of the volume comprises three Gallican tracts, namely 'De patrimonio ecclesie', in Latin and French (latest date mentioned is 1646), arguing that secular patronage was the source of ecclesiastical wealth; 'Cura et authoritas in his quae pertinent ad fidem', defending control of the church by the Chritian prince, with much reference to the early church; and 'La Jurisdiction en generale est un pouvoir et autorite publique', arguing that independent ecclesiastical jurisdiction was confined to spiritual matters, citing papal and royal legislation up to 1639.
The second part of the manuscript contains a treatise entitled 'Du Conseil du Roy', in French and dated to [1611], being a discussion of the personnel, functions and rules of the King's Council (begins on folio 110 + 2, latest date 1629).
The attribution to the Marillacs is made in a later hand than that of the main text.

Manuscript extracts from 'le plus ancien registre qui se trouve au grand Conseil du Roy [lequel] commence [au] dernier jour du mois d'octobre 1483 & finissant le 7e jour de fevrier 1527', possibly written in 1528.

Five fragments of Latin mediaeval manuscripts, formerly pastedowns, details as follows:

1. Fragment of a leaf containing part of a legal tract entitled Judicium Essoniorum relating to the procedure at assizes, dating from the 13th century. The text has variants and is in places abbreviated from that printed in G.E. Woodbine Four thirteenth century law tracts (New Haven, 1910). The text corresponds to the pp 119-20 of Woodbine's edition, where the composition of the work is attributed to Ralf de Hengham and the date of the composition put at 1267-1275.
2. and 3. Two consecutive leaves containing extracts from Part II of Gratian's Decretum, comprising Causa XXVI, quest. VII 16, to Causa XXVII, quest. I 19, on penance and the marriage of those who had sworn chastity. There is a glossary in a different hand and ink, with each section preceded by a symbol corresponding to one in the text. The leaves are possibly Italian and 14th century.
3. Leaf, foliated 109, in a late 14th century hand, containing part of Lib. XLII, 8, 1-10, of the Digestum Novum, relating to restitution to deceived creditors. With a glossary and marginal and interlineal annotations in several 13th-14th century hands. The fragment is probably English.
4. Fragment from the head of a bifolium, containing part of a commentary on Aristotle's De Anima Book III, heavily glossed and annotated in several 13th century hands. The fragment is probably English and early 13th century.

Manuscript volume containing mathematical calculations tables, accounts and sketches, with notes in Italian, c1500.

Two paper leaves, formerly pastedowns and much mutilated, relating to Scottish religion. The date of the fragments is uncertain, and Professor Gordon Donaldson of the University of Edinburgh, who examined these two fragments in Jan 1965, inclined to a date in the 1630s for both items - his opinion is contained in a letter now accompanying MS 610.
The first fragment is part of a letter from 'your disciples & se[rvants?] to suffer with you: EL, AD [Andrew Duncan?], IC [Isaac Casaubon?], et cet.', which may have been written to Andrew Melville while he was imprisoned in England, which would date the documents to c 1609. Donaldson states that the text makes reference to what seems to be the Act of Revocation of 1625 and could relate to the opposition of Scottish Presbyterians to Charles I in that year.
The second fragment is part of a draft of a petition from Scotland against the attempt to re-establish episcopacy in Scotland, c 1609. Donaldson's view is that the terminology used associates it with the National Covenant of 1638.

Two papers, each in a different hand, containing observations on the price of wheat and flour and its effect upon the price of bread, with reasons given for the fluctuations and suggestions for dealing with them, with particular reference to London, [1800-1801]. The items are enclosed in a wrapper, possibly sent by J. Williams (maybe the MP for Winchelsea), addressed to Admiral Sir Michael Seymour, Bt, Commissioner of H.M. Dockyard, Portsmouth, dated and franked 14 Dec 1831.

Account books, 1807-1827, of John Ferguson's textile manufacturing company, Robert Ferguson & Son.

Manuscript volume concerning the fraudulent activities of maltsters and distillers, [1860], including tables of inspections made by postmasters in Kingston and Surbiton Common, London, from 1838 to 1844, investigating frauds by distillers, with reports on hypothetical cases of fraud, one dated 1861, and what appear to be copies of answers to examination questions. This section includes printed Regulations respecting the entry of premises subject to the survey of the excise (Excise Office, London, 1835). Inserted are a number of loose sheets, 1859-1865, including a lists of examination questions on the control of disilleries which were set in an examination at Somerset House, notes on duties and law relating to the Excise, as well as a letter from J Williams dated 31 Jan 1863 and giving 'the particulars of the late examination'.

Fragment of a leaf from an antiphoner, formerly a fly-leaf in a binding, containing part of the common of a martyr. The fragment was written in north-east France in the 13th or 14th century.

Incomplete farm account book relating to a farm at Calthorpe, Norfolk, kept by an unidentified tenant famer, who also had a farmhouse at Aylsham. The account book gives details of crops and acreage planted between 1820 and 1827, and accounts of receipts and expenses from 1 Nov 1820 to 15 Aug 1829, which show that the farmer sold mostly cereals, eggs and butter, mainly at Erpingham market. There are also notes relating chiefly to the harvest of cereals in 1843 with 'Pegg's Pig Account' for 1834, a list of fields totalling 25 acres headed 'Glebe', and a note of the assessment of Calthorpe for the poor rate in 1842.

Collection of transcripts, all written in the same hand in [1750], of papers relating chiefly to the administration of poor relief and vagrancy in Edinburgh from 1594-1750, including an Act to impose stent of £500 p.a. for 3 years for cleansing the town, 1687; a 'Report from the committee of the lords appointed to consider the proper method for providing the poor', 1731; an Act of Sederunt imposing stent for 2% on members of the College of Justice for the maintenance of the poor, 1732; a contract between the Council of Edinburgh and the Kirk Sessions for the upkeep of 'a large hospitall or work house... for the more regular maintenance and employment of the whole poor of the...city', 1740; a confirmation of the erection of 'the burgh of the Canongate', 1594; an Act in favour of 'the burgh of Edinburgh anent the annuity' 1661; a report of the 'annexation of the lands and annualls mortifyed to the ministers and hospital of Edinburgh', undated; and a report of the Lords of Council and Session on method for support and maintenance of the begging poor in the charity work house, 1749. There are also additions of 1752 and 1754, the latter being the estimate of the expense of the City Guard for 1745-1746.

A volume entitled Notes on subjects connected with agriculture, from W. Moorcroft, Kashmeer, 1823, addressed to the Secretary of the Board of Agriculture.

Letter from Sir Benjamin Thompson of Munich to Lord Sheffield [John Baker Holroyd, 1st Earl of Sheffield], 18 Nov 1791. Describing the condition and people of Bavaria. Speaking of the Elector's troops: '... I know of no Troops that are so well and so comfortably clothed as ours, both for Summer and Winter ...'. Giving details of the crops, minerals and commerce of Bavaria. 'It would be difficult,'he writes, 'to convey to your Lordship an adequate idea of the Ignorance, Superstition and corruption which pervade and darken every part of this neglected Country.' Says that the clergy and nobility hold a monopoly of the beer in Bavaria: '... which is the great source of their riches, and on that account Drunkenness must be encouraged.'

Autograph, with signature.

Letter from Thomas Perronet Thompson of Blackheath, [Kent] to George Pryme, Esq of Wiston, near Huntingdon, 19 Mar 1848. 'For the first time I appear to have got under the fallacy about a paper circulation based on all the land in the country. I just now perceive this included in the latest manifesto of Robert Owen.'

Autograph, with signature.

Letter from Gilbert Wakefield of Dorchester Gaol to George Dyer of Clifford's Inn, Fleet Street, 2 Jul 1799. Thanking him for his 'fraternal solicitude'.

Autograph, with signature.

Letter from William Ernest Henley of St George's Lodge, Worthing, [Sussex] to Matthew Cripps, Esq, 17 Dec 1899. 'I fear I cannot help you, as I remember nothing about either of the matters with which you are concerned.

Autograph, with signature.

Fragments of 5 letters from Thomas Campbell, of which 3 were written to Cyrus Redding, [1830-1844]. Including one wrapper with a seal.

Letter from Sir Robert Peel of Whitehall to Andrew Rankin, Esq of Glasgow, 10 May 1843. Acknowledging receipt of a letter regarding the removal of import duties on cotton wool.

Written in another hand and signed by Peel. With the original sealed envelope bearing Peel's coat of arms.

Letter from John Russell of Hamilton Place to [the Earl of Sheffield], 21 May 1813. Accompanying a copy of [George Sinclair's] Account of experiments on the produce and nutritive qualities of different grasses and other plants, instituted by the Duke and conducted with the assistance of Humphrey Davy.

Autograph, with signature.

Forged letter pertaining to be from William Makepeace Thackery to an unknown recipient, [1850]. 'When I said that I could do no more for you for the present I meant it literally: I never once said it as a simple excuse... When I find that your views on hard work are different I may perhaps have something to say to you. Believe me a lazy life is a curse to any man.

Written and signed in an unknown hand, as if by Thackeray.

Letter from Emperor Ferdinand I of Prague to the Judge and Councillor of Enns, 10 May 1562. Refusing a petition, sent by his son Maximilian, for the closing down of a church.

Written in another hand and signed by the Emperor.

Letter from John Burnett of the Board of Trade to Professor H S Foxwell, 11 Nov 1889. 'There can be little doubt that there were trade combinations in existing [sic] very early in the eighteenth century'.

Autograph, with signature.

10 letters from Henry Peter Brougham to various correspondents, [1809]-1863. Including an admission slip to the House of Lords, 1854. Autograph, with signature.

Letter from William Benjamin Carpenter of University of London, Burlington House, London to Augustus De Morgan, 24 Oct 1859. Referring to the possibility of examination papers being seen surreptitiously before the examination. On the question of 'cramming' he doubts 'the possibility of destroying it by any method of Examination. I believe, however, that a viva voce Examn. would furnish the best antidote to it.'

Autograph, with signature.

Letters sent and received by Mrs Sophia De Morgan, c 1870-1884. Correspondents include Charles Tomlinson and Professor Alexander Bain.

Letter from Francis Albert Rollo Russell of Steep, Petersfield, Hampshire to [William Frend De Morgan], 12 Nov 1912. Enclosing a printed copy of a letter from Garibaldi to De Morgan which praises Lord John Russell [Rollo Russell's father], and asking for confirmation of its correctness.

Autograph, with signature.

Letter from Herbert George Wells of 47 Chiltern Court, Clarence Gate, London to D Wylie King [Mining Editor of the Financial Times] of The Close, Draycott Avenue, Kenton, Middlesex. Relating to Wells's use of King's phrase 'world audit' in The Work, Wealth and Happiness of Mankind (1931).

Autograph, with signature.

With a typescript envelope (stamp torn away) and an undated cutting [probably contemporary with the letter] about The Work, Wealth and Happiness of Mankind.

Letter from Henry Crabb Robinson of 30 Russell Square, [London] to T G Osler, 28 Jun 1854. Regarding a Cambridge meeting of the Archaeological Institute; indicating his trust in the judgement of Osler and others over a decision to be made in his absence.

Autograph, with signature.

4 letters from Henry Peter Brougham to Richard Sharp MP, 1807-1820. Relating to political topics. All letters are autograph, with signatures.

Letter from John Ruskin of Denmark Hill to an unnamed correspondent, 29 Mar [1864]. Recalling the gracious reception he had once been accorded at Bradford [Mar 1859], thanking him for his compliments and for an invitation to lecture there again [Apr 1864]: 'I can't say pretty things any more...If you will let me say a few simple things in a quiet way I'll come, if my health permits me ...' Autograph, with signature. Written on black-edged paper [Ruskin's father died on 3 Mar 1864].

Letter from Raymond Wilson Chambers of University College London, Gower Street, London to Dr [H F] Heath, Registrar of the University of London, Jun 1901. Concerning Chambers's duties as a supervisor at University examinations and referring to his work in the library at University College.

Autograph, with signature.

Letter from John Ivatt Briscoe of Twickenham, [Middlesex] to an unknown recipient, 29 Apr 1828. Referring to the bill for better regulation of savings banks: making 3 points concerning security, liability of trustees, and the advantages of exact legal regulation. Autograph, with signature.

3 letters from Henry George Grey (3rd Earl Grey) of Howick, [Northumberland] to J L Ricardo MP, 16 Jun-4 Jul 1855. Dealing mainly with a free trade agreement between Barbados and Canada, and a proposed loan to Turkey.

Autograph, with signature. With 1 envelope.

Letter from Eden Phillpotts of Eltham, Torquay, [Devon] to Miss Vulliamy, 18 Oct 1901. 'May I come begging for a cause very near my heart? The memorial to Mr [R D] Blackmore is now an accomplished fact & it only remains to test the number of those who admired his work ...'

Autograph, with signature.

Letter from George Chalmers of the Office for Trade, Whitehall to T Cadell, Esq, publisher, 17 Feb 1821. Referring to Chalmers's work Caledonia.

Autograph, with signature.

(1) Letter from John Mitchell of 35 Wimpole Street, [London], to W M Maude, 24 May 1820. 'The Pamphlet you were so obliging to send me, I have read with great attention; and I think the reasoning of it so sound that I intend to vote for Lord Sutton's motion ...' ; autograph, with signature.

(2) Covering note from [W M Maude] to John Mitchell, [c1820]. Accompanying a 3rd edition of James Bischoff's pamphlet Reasons for the immediate repeal of the tax on foreign wool (1820); note undated and unsigned.

Letter from James Yates of Lauderdale House, Highgate, London to Samuel [A Thompson Yates], [1861-1871]. Mentioning 5s 6d paid to Mr Sackett for 'the engraving of Baskerville ... A person named Matthews in Birmingham has published a new edition of the view of the houses at Birmingham, which were destroyed at the Riots [of 1791 against Joseph Priestley and other non-conformists]. One of these is a view of Baskerville House. It [the house] was purchased and enlarged by Mr John Ryland, and in that state was destroyed by the mob ...'

Autograph, with signature.

Letter from Sir thomas Bernard of Wimpole Street, [London] to Samuel Parkes, chemist, 20 Nov 1816. Thanking him for making corrections to Bernard's proposals for the repeal of the salt duties. Autograph, with signature. The blank leaf is endorsed: 'Sir Thos. Bernard, 22d Nov. 1816'.

Letter from Thomas Clarkson of Woodbridge, [Suffolk] to Peter Clare of Manchester, 21 Apr 1826. Thanking him for details of a successful petition: 'Yours indeed is a great triumph, when you consider the opposition, if I may so call it, of the Boroughreeve ... It was much the case at Glasgow, where the hireling [James] Macqueen, the Editor of a Glasgow paper [?Glasgow Herald], and pensioned by two of the West Indian legislatures, and a host of W. India planters owners of West Indiamen and coopers, mechanics working for that employ resided ... There is ... something so good in our cause [the abolition of slavery], that it must always make its way among a moral people.

Autograph, with signature.

7 letters, mainly written to Marian Evans, [1860]-1874. Correspondents include Sir Edward C Burne-Jones, Sir Frederic Burton, John Chapman, George Henry Lewes, Edmund Owen, Herbert Spencer and Sir Charles V Stanford. Several of the letters express appreciation of the quality of George Eliot's writing.

All letters are autograph, with signatures.

Letter from William Wilberforce of Iver, Buckinghamshire to the [? Home Office], 2 Aug 1823. Asking for 'Mr. Peele' [i.e. the Home Secretary, Robert Peel, later Sir Robert Peel] to consider 'the application of several highly respectable people in favour of Geo. Fish [convicted at Hull] ... that instead of being transported for 7 years according to his sentence, he may be placed in the Penitentiary in the not unreasonable hope that the principles which were instilled into him in his childhood may there be reviv'd'. Requesting that any decision be communicated to him at Elmdon House near Coventry.

Autograph, with signature.

Letter from George MacDonald of 39 Melville Street, Edinburgh to Mr [Robert] Balgarnie, 21 Jun 1885. Thanking him for an invitation, which he hopes to accept. 'I suppose the month of August would do for Scarborough - but so far we are not even sure that we shall not be in Bordighera before the end of that month. We are getting very good gatherings here.'

Autograph, with signature.

6 letters written by Thomas Campbell, c 1815-1841. Correspondents include Lord Jeffrey [Francis Jeffrey], Cyrus Redding and Bess Campbell. Topics covered include social engagements and Campbell's health.

All items are autograph, with signatures.

Letter from Thomas Hoskins Webb of Camden, Maine to Joseph Hume, 11 Aug 1849. Thanking him for his 'kind attention to my inquiries relative to the important subject of Postal Reform'; sending him a copy of a pamphlet issued by 'our Free [sic] Postage Association, wherein you will find an extract from one of your letters to me, and in an Appendix the statistics by you kindly funished'; offering to send extra copies should Hume or Mr Rowland Hill desire any. Webb mentions 'another subject or project designed for the public good. I mean a "People's Library". Altho' we abound in Charitable, Literary, and Scientific Institutions, we have nothing of this description. We have Athenaeums, Social Libraries, Circulating Do., Mercantile Do., Apprentices' Do., Historical Do., but not one People's Library... The great mass of the community, the People, emphatically so called, have no right of admission to any of these places...'.

Autograph, with signature. A note in another hand states that a reply was made on 28 Aug 1849; initialled: 'D'.

Letter from Sir Samuel Romilly of Gray's Inn, London to John Baynes (also of Gray's Inn), Embsay Kirk, near Skipton, Yorkshire, 2 Sep 1785. Regrets but excuses Baynes's silence: '... if [the lakes in Cumberland] are half as beautiful as they are described to be I dont wonder yt you cannot turn yr attention to anything yt is enveloped in y smoke of London... I have heard a gr[ea]t deal since you have been gone abt our friend y Count [i.e. Riqueti, Comte de Mirabeau] tho not from himself or his belle amie [Henriette-Amélie Van Haren, Madame de Nehra]. That great deal, however is only a great many books wch he had written ...'. Mentioning a work of Mirabeau's that had been banned in France. 'Have you seen [John] Adams, the American ambassador [later US President]? I dined y o[the]r day in compy with him and his wife and w[ha]t is much better his dau[ghte]r who is so pretty ... As for y Fa[the]r he is quite M. l'Ambassadeur and seems afraid to say any thing without mystery lest one sho[ul]d find out yt he is not of a higher order of beings that oneself'. Discussing the state of patent law in respect of new inventions and examines way of making it more beneficial to patentees. Concludes with remembrances 'to our good friend Dome'.

Autograph, with signature. Endorsed with the name: Thomas G Whytehead.

Letter from Michel Chasles of Paris to Augustus De Morgan, 31 Aug 1852. On mathematical matters.

Autograph, with signature.

Letter from Robert Bald of Edinburgh to Joseph Hume MP, 27 Apr 1826. Excusing his silence 'but ... I have been uncommonly pressed with mineral surveying and reporting thereon arising in a great degree from the conflicting elements which arise betwixt master and servant. Coals rise in price to an exorbitant rate, and the great manufacturing interests of Glasgow & chief consumers of coal there agreed to have the districts surveyed as to the means of supplying the City with abundance of coal at a moderate rate, and to lay rail ways into the coals fields which were the best'. He encloses "two copies of the treatise I wrote regarding the coal trade of Scotland and the slavish system of bearing coals by women. I have been attacked and run down for doing so: this I care nothing about ...'. Autograph, with signature.

Letter from T Guinier of Societe l'Avenir Realiste, 23 rue de Grenelle-Saint-Honore, Paris to Frere Hubert, 15 Jul 1868. Covering letter to copies of the brochure Realisme Social, detailing subscription rates: 'en vous priant de bien vouloir utiliser les uns et les autres de la maniare qui vous paraetre le plus fructeux [sic] pour assurer la propagation de nos idees et la reussite de notre A'uvre de regeneration social'.

Autograph, with signature. A note states that the letter was answered on 19 Jul 1868.