Published by Without date or place
Manuscript / Paper Collectible
On piece of 9 x 14.5 cm card. In fair condition: aged, lightly-stained and with traces of mount adhering to reverse. Reads: 'To | Lord Jeffrey | With Kind regards from | Thos: Hood'.
Published by Cadell & Davies, 1812. Sheet size 21in x 14in, 1812
Seller: R.G. Watkins Books and Prints, Ilminster, SOMER, United Kingdom
Stipple engraving, from 'Contemporary Portraits',
Published by No place or date
See his entry, and Craig's, in the Oxford DNB. 13 x 9 cm envelope, with seal (no impression of any kind) in red wax over the broken flap. In good condition, lightly aged. On the front of the envelope, in Jeffrey's hand, 'To / James Gibson Craig Esqre / 7. North St Andrew Street'. Beneath this, at bottom left and between the customary lines is the signature 'F. Jeffrey'.
Published by No date or place
Manuscript / Paper Collectible Signed
See his entry in the Oxford DNB, with that of the recipient Lady [Maria] Theresa Lewis (1803-1865), who lived in Kent House in Knightsbridge with her second husband Sir George Cornewall Lewis, Bart, her first husband having been the novelist Thomas Henry Lister (1800-1842). 32mo, 2pp. On the two sides of a piece of gilt-edged paper. In good condition, folded once for postage. Signed 'F Jeffrey'. A difficult hand. Begins: 'My very Dear Lady Theresa / We must set out at the very lateston Monday the 6th May - But I have no Engagement after the 2d and shall be delighted to come longer on any of the subsequent days -'. He thanks her 'for being quite well again', adding 'Dear Charly [i.e. [his second wife Charlotte Wilkes of New York, great-niece of the English radical John Wilkes] is not entirely [settled?] this morning - a restless night'. With regard to a fever, 'Dr F. says nothing at all serious'. He ends: 'She is [?] patient'.
Published by Edinburgh. 12 March, 1814
Manuscript / Paper Collectible
3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. On aged paper unobtrusively repaired with archival tape. Addressed, with postmarks, on the reverse of the second leaf: 'To | Dr James Hunter | Professor of Logic | St Andrews'. He begins by complaining that he has 'only this day got rid of the end of the session - and of the review - and here - for the first time since my return - a morning to myself - and my friends'. He is happy to find himself 'at home again [.] Mrs J. suffered a great deal during the voyage', but has recovered. It will give them both great pleasure 'to see you here'. He does not have 'many marvels to tell you of America but it may serve us for an afternoons chat when we get a day of leisure together'. He has returned 'to a strange crisis of Europe' and does not 'yet know exactly where I am - I feel like one of the seven sleepers just rubbing his eyes after a nap of the centuries'. He ends by expressing pleasure at the news that Mrs Hunter's health has improved, and in a postscript assures him that their accounts 'will be very easily settled'.
Published by Craigcrook. 25 October, 1849
4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, on aged paper, with closed tears unobtrusively repaired with archival tape. Addressed to 'John Hunter Esqre | Auditor of Court of Sn.' Written three months before Jeffrey's death, the letter begins: 'My dear Hunter - I hope you do not think that I have been forgetful of you - or indifferent to your fortunes - or ungrateful for your very kind expressions - and I firmly believe feelings - towards me - because I may appear to have been slow in offering you my congratulations on your late appointment [as Auditor of the Court of Sessions]'. Taking up the new appointment will involve Hunter 'relinquishing the situation of [Jeffrey's] private agent and adviser', and this has been a source of 'some anxiety': 'at my age, and with my habits [it is] a great misfortune and embarrassment'. The letter continues with a discussion of the matter. 'I can easily see that your engagements in your new office, may make this matter difficult to arrange - but I wish much that it shld be arranged, if possible, before the courts meet on 13 Novr'. In a postscript he assures him that he believes that he owes his appointment 'entirely to your own merits - and the general good opinion which these merits have won for you'. For more on John Hunter, friend of Leigh Hunt and the Carlyles, whose sister Elizabeth Helen Hunter (1798-1824) married Francis Jeffrey's brother John (1775-1848), and who took over the tenancy of Craigcrook Castle after Jeffrey's death, see Helen Watt, 'John Hunter, the Forgotten Tenant of Craigcrook' (Edinburgh, 1977).
Published by London 'If not called for in 3 days to be returned to Francis. Jeffrey. No 22 Throgmorton St London'. 5 September, 1795
Manuscript / Paper Collectible
3pp., 4to. Bifolium. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed on reverse of second leaf, with return address, to 'Mr John Jeffrey | Post Office | Deal | Kent'. At the time of writing John Jeffrey was a New York merchant, and would not return to Britain permanently until 1810; it would appear from the letter that he was returning to America following a visit to England. See Cockburn's 'Life of Lord Jeffrey', which contains transcripts of other letters from Francis to John (though none from 1795). The letter begins: 'My dear John | I never had less to say to you than I have at present but never so irresistible an inclination to write to you - and that must be my apology - I have thought so much of you since we parted that I think it will help to divert my attention if I address myself to you directly - It may be of some satisfaction for you to learn that we accomplished our voyage just about the time when we supposed you would be beginning yours and that we are safely returned to our lodgings which do not seem the more comfortable that we feel ourselves more at large in them'. He comments on the pleasure with which he 'observed during your stay here so great a coincidence in our sentiments and habit of thinking as must help us in unity I think during all the rest of our lives - I scarcely know anybody to whom I can make myself so easily understood and nobody with whom I have so generally concurred in my notions of disputable points'. After breaking off the letter he continues the following day: 'the wind is still from the East so that you cannot yet be got very far tho' you are indeed completely separated from us as you will be when you have put the Atlantic between us - My Father [he also uses this phrase in a published letter to his brother] has continued to feel a little of his gout ever since you saw him and expects to be detained here by it some days longer than he expected'. He concludes by urging him to be 'as punctual as possible in your writing and to remember with equal affection those first friends who will always love you better than any other'.
Published by 18 Berkeley Square London; 21 February, 1834
Manuscript / Paper Collectible
7pp., 12mo. On two bifoliums. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Written in a difficult, hurried hand. Jeffrey begins his letter: 'It grieves me to annoy you, in your retreat - especially with dull Scotch matters But they tell me at the Treasury that you are still the person to settle such things as this'. The first part of the letter apparently concerns the Edinburgh solicitors Robertson and Sands, who are to lose salaries of £80 each from the crown. Jeffrey is enclosing a petition (not present) for a 'man [who] has been 4 months in prison'. He reports that he 'came up sick - but am now pretty well again'. He discusses general matters, including 'Littleton's Irish tythe scheme', giving the reasons why he believes it will be 'a failure': 'The plan of letting the landlord have an allowance, which the occupying tenant is not to share, I think will never do - at least in the way of pacification - and is in itself unjust - If the mere land tax were once redeemed - & existing leases at an end - all would be well enough - the land being then all let tythe free with some grant, of course - It is the transition state which perplexes us'. The letter continues with references to 'Mr. Grahame' and 'Taylor'.