Manuscripts
Large and diverse collection of historical letters and documents, 17th-early 20th century
Estimate: £400 - £600
Auction: 18 June 2025 from 10:00 BST
Description
Including: [Slavery interest]. Group of 3 precepts of clare constat in favour of Thomas McQuistin Angus, ‘son of the deceased Charles Angus merchant in Liverpool’, 1822, respectively by Doctor James Home (1760-1844), ‘Professor of the practice of Physic in the University of Edinburgh’, Sir James Steuart Denham of Coltness and Westshiel, Baronet (1744-1839), and Doctor James Hamilton Junior (1767-1839', ‘professor of Midwifery in the University of Edinburgh’, each a vellum bifolium, respectively signed on each page by Home, Denham and Hamilton;
[Indian Mutiny interest]. Letter of attorney appointing Robert Ainslie W.S. factor to ‘David Alexander Gordon Esquire, Lieutenant in Her Majesty’s Rifle Brigade at present serving with my regiment in India', 1858;
[India]. Printed wedding invitation addressed to ‘Miss Percival’ by His Highness Tukhtusingjee Thakore of Bhownuggur, possibly relating to the 1874 quadruple marriage of the Thakore of Bhownuggur, signed at foot in Devanagari script, presumably by Thakore;
[English Jewry - crime and punishment]. Pencil and wash profile portrait captioned ‘a Jew doctor who was hanged for murder comitted [sic] at Chelsea about 1771’, possibly depicting Dr Levi Weil;
[First Carlist War]. British Legion general order, headquarters, St Sebastian, 18 May 1836, single foolscap bifolium, engraved arms of the British Legion upper left, the order concerning officers going absent without leave, apparently a draft and also including register of promotions;
Paul III Anton, Prince Esterhazy (1786-1866). Document (passport) signed as Austrian ambassador to the United Kingdom, 1825; Earl of Mar, 2 autograph letters signed, Alloa House, 1827-33 ('If you enquire of Scotch as to me, I feel very certain you will very seldom hear a good opinion of me from them;' because I do not praise their nonsense & because I was educated in England');
and several hundred similar documents, mainly Scottish interest, including: various probate and similar documents relating to the Angus family, 1820s (see above); numerous documents and letters relating to the Marjoribanks family (Dumfries interest; these early 20th century); Francis Baily (1774-1844), astronomer, autograph letter signed; Walter Francis, 5th Duke of Buccleuch, signed document on vellum, 1839; Charles Home, 6th Earl of Home (d.1706), document signed ’Home', 1699, on paper, tape-repairs at foot; approx. 20 further documents on vellum; miscellaneous letters, and ephemera including receipts, accounts, lists of rentals, etc. (1 box)
Footnote
Thomas McQuistin Angus (1804-1825) was the son of Liverpool slave-trader Charles Angus (1767-1820), who was also the accused in a sensational 1808 murder trial. The Centre for the Studies of the Legacy of British Slavery gives Charles's Scottish address as Turnberry or Turnberry Lodge, Ayrshire. Thomas himself died in Jamaica in 1825.