THE BALKANS IN 1881
HAMLEY
(Lieutenant General Sir Edward Bruce, 1824-1893, Soldier and Writer. M.P.)
Very long Autograph Letter Signed to "My dear STORY"
(William Wetmore, 1819-1895, American Sculptor, Art Critic, Poet and Editor) saying that he thinks the "last communication which passed between our respective firms was a letter I posted to Madame le Conte at Naples when I lighted there for a moment on my way to Constantinople in '78. The excursion I made with my colleagues that year along the Balkans was perhaps the most agreeable I ever took part in - weather splendid, scenery grand, with the picturesque accompaniments of daily encampments, Russian cavalry as escor, and waggon trains drawn by oxen or buffaloes and driven by Bulgarian peasants, for our baggage. Early in June our way lay through fields of roses, then being gathered for the distilleries of otto, which we saw at work in every valley - next we entered a region of vineyards - and finally as we approached the Black Sea we traversed vast forests - and all the time the Balkan range, generally green to the summits, rose close by ... as we cross and recrossed it in our visits to the passes which formed the important parts of the frontier ... notwithstanding that our national interests were often conflicting, we formed a very harmonious party - we being the representative of the Seven Powers that signed the Treaty of Berlin ... Last March I was unexpectedly called upon by Lord Salisbury to take the place of our Commissioner on the Armenian frontier - the Commission having come to a deadlock the preceding year & never having left Constantinople. This time I had only two colleagues, a Russian General and a Turkish Colonel - and I only took two officers with me from England - when all preliminaries were settled at Constantinople, we started for Trebigond. The most picturesque Turkish town I have seen, less squashed and ruinous than usual, spotted all over with foliage, and full of bits for an artist. The old Byzantine walls remain, on the sides of the two deep glens which define the ancient citadel, and across their mouth the old harbour is still traceable, large enough for an ancient navy ... All round were high mountains ..." he continues describing his trip, the scenery "All this part of Asia Minor is dreary, partly because there are absolutely no trees - everywhere brown mountains ... we (the English party) kept on eastward thro' Kars (with Ararat, a dome of snow,long visible on our right) to ... the Capital of the Caucasus ... thence by rail to Pate on the Black Sea where we embarked and coasted along ... The change of Government here was in some respects unlucky for me - I was sent out to see that the Turk got fairplay - and Lord Salisbury would have been much better pleased with the results than the present ministry could be expected to be - I was at Constantinople when Mr Goschen arrived ..." he then talks about his circumstances back home and says he was "dining lately with Martin, now Sir Theodore, he was loud in praise of a certain poem which had lately appeared in Blackwood. I told him I knew the gent wot wrote it, and cordially agreed with him - he pronounced it 'better than Browning ...'", he asks "what is doing in the Studio - and what was the fortune of the Hebrew monarch who was when I saw him, a creature of clay, tho' with a spirit which promised well for immortality in marble ...", he ends with "regards to Mrs Story, Madame Peruzzi and the youths ...", 12 sides 8vo., Palace Chambers, Ryder Street headed paper, 9th January
Item Date:
1881
Stock No:
38874
£475
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HANCOCK
(Charles, b. 1766, C.B., Captain R.N.)
Autograph Letter in the third person to Messrs Adderley & Bax,
asking them to transcribe the wills of J.E. Liebenrood, (d. 1812), of Prospect Hill, Reading, and the most recent will of his widow Lucy (d. 1829 in Middlesex), Hancock's sister, 1 side 8vo., 3 St. Albans Place, Charles Street, Waterloo Place, 9th April
Item Date:
1831
Stock No:
51805
£75
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HANHAM
(J., d. 1861, from 1850 Captain, from 1856 Adjutant, 11th Depot Battalion)
Signature taken from a letter, n.p., n.d., c.
Item Date:
1860
Stock No:
52076
£75
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HANWAY
(Jonas, 1712-1786, Traveller & Philanthropist)
2nd part of a Navy Treasury document signed while Commissioner of the Victualling Office,
acknowledging receipt of the sum of £103.16.11, 1 side oblong 4to., London Victualling Office, 27th May
Item Date:
1778
Stock No:
1065
£30
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HARCOURT
(Hon. William, 1743-1830, younger son of Simon, 1st Earl Harcourt, from 1809 3rd Earl, Field Marshal and Courtier)
Autograph Letter Signed 'Wm. Harcourt' to Captain Lee, 16th Light Dragoons, at British Head Quarters, Flanders,
explaining that, had Harcourt been with the Army, he would not have given consent to "Hawkins' expedition to England, which cou'd serve no good purpose", but which "makes it necessary for you to forego your wishes of coming here, more especially as the embarkation takes place on Friday next", as to promotion, "I have it in contemplation to propose you for my second Majority, whenever you can arrange the money part of the business", and recommending him to write "to Sr. Wm. Lee upon the subject without loss of time", Harcourt has written to Sir William "respecting the payment of that part of your outfit which he engaged for", telling Sir William that by promotion Captain Lee had realized "a Commission ... worth 3000 Guineas", but that Harcourt "had every reason to be satisfied with your good conduct", on the other hand "the peculiar situation of my Regiment makes it absolutely necessary for me to look for a more experienced Officer, one better acquainted with Regimental details whenever the whole of the business is brought forward", assuring him that "I will not forget your friend Butler for a Colonelcy, tho' my first object must be to provide for Bennet", given the latter's "attention to his duty and attachment to the Regiment ... I shall hope to be with you in a few days", and ending "Yours sincerely and affectionately", 5 sides 4to, address panel on side 6, London, 10th March no year but apparently
address panel dusty and blank outer edge creased with a portion caught by the seal on opening, two closed tears at folds, but address panel perfectly legible and without loss
Item Date:
1794
Stock No:
56636
£475
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