[A Small Archive of Manuscript Drafts of Letters, and an Autograph Letter Signed] by Motley, John Lothrop - 1870

Various places in the UK, 1870. 17 closely-written pages in all, Some folds; light scattered soiling, toning and wear; one draft with a corner torn away; else good. A small but interesting lot written during Motley's tenure as US Ambassador to the United Kingdom comprised of the following items: [a] Autograph letter signed (initials), 6pp, 8vo, Stratfield Saye, 1 December, n.y. A long letter to his wife Mary, bemoaning his separation from her while she is in ill-health, reporting on his discussion with the Duke over possible remedies, planning doctor's appointments, sending his opinions of various social visitors, discussing changes that have been made at the Stratfield Saye (home of the Dukes of Wellington), and mentioning political appointments; [b] Autograph draft signed (scrawled initials), 3 1/4pp, 8vo, 30 June 1870. To the Queen of Holland, regretfully explaining that he has as of yet been unable to leave his post in order to visit, and writing: "I know how much distress you are now suffering from the sad intelligence of Ld C's death; I know how warm a friendship you ... cherished for that distinguished & lamented statesman. He is a great loss to his country & to his sovereign ... He had many of the highest qualities wh can grace a gentleman & a statesman...." With several cross-outs and emendations; [c] Autograph draft (unsigned), 3pp, 8vo, n.p., n.d. (but docketed on the verso: "Draft to Knollys for P of Wales 5 July / 70" ) of a letter to [Francis] Knollys (later Viscount Knollys), private secretary to the Prince of Wales, apologizing for having failed to attend a ball to which he had been invited the previous evening: ". . . the postponement of the ball to the 4th of July had placed us in a rather embarrassing position ... The 4th of July happens to be our national anniversary & I had ...invited all my compatriots known to me to be in London to a reception at our house in celebration of the day ....." With numerous cross-outs and corrections; [d] Autograph draft signed (scrawled initials), 3pp, 8vo, n.p., 23 July 1870. To C[harles]. F[rancis]. Adams, Motley's predecessor at the Court of Saint James, sending deep condolences on the death of his daughter. With corrections; [e] Final page (only) of a draft of a letter (signed "JL Motley") to the Duke of Bedford, one page, 8vo, n.p., n.d., sending condolences: " ...she has gone as full of years as of honour & love -- having seen her children achieve splendid success & highest position -- as proud of them as they must ever be of her & her memory -- I write to you naturally as the head of her family...."; and [f] a little over a page of a portion of a draft of a letter of condolence to an unidentified recipient; containing corrections. John Lothrop Motley (1814-1877); American historian and diplomat. Much of Motley's life was spent abroad researching his historical writings, and in various diplomatic posts. In England his friends included Bright, Dickens and Thomas Hughes. His best-known book, The Rise of the Dutch Republic, was finished in 1854, and Motley "set out with the manuscript for London to find a publisher. Murray, to whom he had letters of introduction, kept the manuscript for some weeks but finally declined it on account of its considerable length and unfamiliar subject. After some further negotiations Chapman agreed to publish it simultaneously with Harper & Brothers in America at the author's expense." When the book finally appeared early in 1856, instead of sales of less than a hundred which Motley had feared, some 17,000 copies were sold in little more than a year in England alone, and a second edition was required. In later years (1869-70) President Grant made Motley minister to Great Britain, but this appointment ended unsatisfactorily. Motley died in the UK at the age of 63 and was interred in London's Kensal Green Cemetery.