SHAKESPEARE'S HOME AND RURAL LIFE

COPY OWNED BY REV. HENRY WARD BEECHER WITH ALS FROM AUTHOR PRESENTING THE BOOK. First edition, large 4to, purple cloth elaborately decorated in gilt, aeg, with numerous, full page "illustrations of localities and scenes around Stratford Upon-Avon by the helioytype process". Disbound copy, covers worn, spine browned. With references in the text to Rev. Beecher's visit with his wife to Stratford on Avon in 1850, with a treatment of his observations thereof. Rev. Beecher's bookplate with his address of 82 Columbia St on the pastedown. The author James Walter, a Liverpool shipowner, is declared on the title page as Major of the Fourth Lancashire Artillery Volunteers, an organization that he founded. The Volunteer Movement in England took hold after an invasion scare in 1859. The volunteer units were composed of part-time soldiers eager to supplement the regular British Army. The Lancashire Artillery that Walter founded was one of the first and the largest in the Volunteer Movement. Walter's ALS, dated Chicago, February 4, 1883 is on letterhead of the Grand Pacific Hotel where both Walter and the famous Rev. Beecher (1813 - 1887), Congregational clergyman, orator, abolitionist, and social reformer, were hotel guests. The letter (transcribed, see below, xxxx indicating unreadable) reveals what an operator Walter was. Using both flattery of Beecher and feigned self-deprecation, he tries to ingratiate himself to Beecher's favor apparently with the purpose of selling Beecher some portraits of George Washington by Shapler that were "owned by his family". He obsequiously points to the section of the book, a rather pretentious, grand, state-of-the-art production for the time, which describes Beecher's visit to Stratford on Avon ("look to page 77 for your own beautiful paper"). Walter also name-drops Rev. David Swing, who as the most popular clergyman of Chicago of the time, naturally would have been known to and by Beecher. An interesting curio of an artifact. GRAND PACIFIC HOTEL Chicago Reverend H. W. Beecher Chicago, 4 Feb 1883 My Dear Sir, On my arrival in New York last pairl, I ried to see you but vailnly - sickness + anxiety xxxxxx discourag(m)e(n)ts consequent on being utterly unknown in the mighty Babel of dollars caused my return to my (name of his estate) in England - I am within the last 2 months returned and find myself here in Chicago - I make another effort to shake your warm hand - a xxxx xxxx of your Star papers now for over thirty years compels it - and I want you to see the Shapler Washington portraits owned by my family , which are here in the Pacific Hotel with me - they are best seen under the Electric Light in the Corridor or Drawing Room here - If you will kindly let me know any hour after 5 tomorrow Monday or Tuesday I will have been pleased xxxx xxxx - I am deeply anxious you should have been - I am a stranger as you see in America - tho(ugh) here in Chicago Professor Swing has been most kind to me - Do me the xxxx of accepting my "Shakespeare House" book: it will carry you to Stratford so deeply impressed on your heart and mind - (and) invaluable only for its illustrations - look to page 77 your own xxxx beautiful paper. Dont trouble to call on my room 395. I will call at your room anytime you let me know convenient - my room is a Den - when at home I am a horticulturalist. My xxxx friend the author of "Lorna Doone" xxxx grown Pears Plums and Apples - alas the reason for xxxxx pasts have all nigh driven us to the Worldhome - xxxxx my wife and daughters to "tidy up" English fashion - my palace is a very xxx of confusion worse confounded. Respectfully Dear Sir, James Walter. …