Westminster School Signed (5 results)

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Tipped-in onto part of a leaf removed from an album. Annotated at head, in a contemporary hand: 'an invitation from the Head Master of Westr - | F. P.' The letter reads: 'Sir | The King having graciously signified his intention of honoring the third performance of our Play with his presence on the 15th. inst I hope for the pleasure of your company to assist me in receiving his Majesty who comes to my house at 7 o'clock, on his way to the College.'.

No Binding. Condition: Very Good. Wallace Hester (illustrator). An original engraving. With pencil signature and title. Image size 260mm by 190mm approx. Mounted and ready to frame.The print shows Deans Yard. The school was established in 1179 and refounded in 1560.

The three items are in good condition, ondff lightly aged and worn. Three interesting items, responding tactfully to what would appear to be an accusatory communication by Harington, pointing out that his son has succeeded despite having been 'superannuated' from Westminster School. ONE: 18 October 1898. 4pp., 12mo. Begins: 'Dear Sir Richard Harington | I am delighted to read the two enclosures. The Winnington-Ingrams one associated with many memories of my Rugby, Marlborough, & later days!' He will send the enclosures to the Head Master, [b]ut I won't rebuke him or convey any rebuke. I know by my personal experience, that School Masters are far from infallible & that many boys who do not make way in public-schools turn out right well as men.' As 'an aged man' himself, Bradley ventures 'a hint', suggesting that Harrington sends 'a kindly line to Rutherford from yourself calling his attention to the useful & fruitful life which your son is leading better this than any rebuke.' He concludes by apologising, as he is 'fresh from & returning to the deathbed of my old neighbour Sir Rutherford Alcock'. TWO: 18 October 1898. 2pp., 12mo. Reads: 'Dear Sir Richard | It is such a very busy time that I lost none in shewing these to the Head Master He has just returned them & is, you may feel confident, as pleased as I that the once "superannuated" boy had proved so good & useful a man.' THREE: 25 October 1897. 3pp., 12mo. He begins by repeating his 'hearty satisfaction' at Harington's son's 'more than success in his sacred calling'. For his own part, he 'cannot blame the Head Master for carrying out "superannuation" rules'. He will 'lose no time in telling him the good news of an O.W who once came under them'. The school 'is doing well', and Bradley 'had a most pleasing account two days ago from an old pupil of my own, now a distinguished public servant, who lately removed his son from Marlborough & sent him here'. Harington's heir, the future Sir Richard Harington (1861-1931), 12th Baronet, had a successful career on the Oxford Circuit, was appointed a Puisne Judge in the High Court of Justice at Fort William in Bengal in 1899, and served in that capacity until returning to England in 1913. From the Harington family papers.

The third of these letters in particular gives a good indication of his Yorkshire bluntness (his entry in the Oxford DNB describes him as 'a man of arrogance and bile, [.] capable of generosity, strong friendships, and kindness towards people in need of help'). The three items are in good condition, lightly aged; the third with slight wear along one edge. All three are signed 'E B Denison' and the second and third are addressed to 'My dear Plumptre'. ONE (14 January 1856): 3pp, 4to. This letter concerns Queen's College, the girls' school founded in 1848 by Denison's relation Frederick Denison Maurice, of which Plumptre would be Head, 1875-1879. Subscribed 'Chairman of the meeting of the Council this day', and addressed 'To the Chairman of the Committee of Education'. Begins: 'Mr Nicolay is anxious that the Committee of Education should be informed of the opinion of the Council respecting the taking of Boarders in the new house (No 68 Harley St.)'. He reports the resolutions of the council, who 'think that the matter is now so far advanced that we may ask the Committee to come to a decision on the subject of taking boarders [.] We beg also to suggest that it is desirable that the meeting or meetings on this subject should be attended by as many of the Professors as possible, as it is a matter seriously affecting their pecuniary interests'. TWO ('Valentines day', 1870): 2pp, 16mo. 'By this time you have possibly got my letter of yesterday, which I took to the College expecting to see you & not observing that it was dated on Monday.' After a brief discussion of College business he gives this in a postscript: 'Crassweller came this morning wanted us to guarantee him in an action which a livery stable man is bringing against him for what he calls a nuisance in carrying off the rubbish through the Mews, which Spooner referred to in his letter to you. Of course I did no such thing. It may, or may not, turn out that we shall have to do nothing, but Crassweller will settle very differently for himself & [yours?].' THREE (3 April 1870): 2pp, 12mo. 'Spooner's account' of Crassweller is 'not very satisfactory', but he has signed the cheque to him. 'I have told Bailey that his continued employment is a disgrace to the Portland Estate, after all that Bailey knows of him - & the Duke [i.e. the Duke of Portland, extensive London landowner] too - By allmeans [sic] try the Duke again if you think it will do any good. I have a strong persuasion that (in spite of Spooner) we ought to have tried to get the building condemned by the M. Board & made it a landlord's job'. He continues: 'I have never heard of a 60 year marriage continuans before my father & mother's. I shall not be in London on Wednesday for more than sleeping at any rate, especially as our kitchen boiler is bust.' Postscript refers to 'Bickley liberality towards Q. C.' and Lady Stanley.

(Professor Robert, 1801-1856, Canon of Christ Church, Oxford), saying that "From the more than kind interest that you have always felt in me and mine, I know you will be glad to hear that my Brother's wound at 'Alma' has not proved so serious. We have had 2 letters from him. the ball entered just above the Knee, & came out, happily, under the thigh - Would that all had so happy a termination to their anxiety", talking of "the many bereavements that have fallen upon this or that family" in this "deplorable war", his brother "is most fortunate" in "the opportunity of zealously doing his duty under the very eye of such a Chief as Lord Raglan, & his honourable mention. in the Despatch of the 28th is no little counterbalance to all the anxieties felt. since he landed at Varna. I know what my revered father", (Colonel Sir Thomas Weare, K.H., 1778-1850), "wd have felt. to have read that Despatch", with news of his wife, 4 sides 8vo, Little Dean's Yard, Westminster, 13th October small closed tear near blank corner of side 3, elsewhere good Thomas William Weare had been at Westminster and Christ Church and was now back at his old school. Captain Henry Edwin Weare, (1825-1898, 50th Regiment, later its Commanding Officer, K.C.B. and Major-General), was Staff Officer to Lord Raglan in the Adjutant-General's department. For Lord Raglan's Despatch, (dated Balaklava, 28th September 1854), see The Times for 11th October 1854, in which, "in continuation of my despatch of the 23rd inst", following the Alma on the 20th, he considers it his duty "especially to recommend. Captain Weare, who was wounded".