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Lot 321
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Massive Benjamin Disraeli Archive of Nearly 160 ALS, 365pp in His Hand, Many to Secretary Algernon Turnor- 775+ Pages of Material!
Massive Benjamin Disraeli Archive of Nearly 160 ALS, 365pp in His Hand, Many to Secretary Algernon Turnor- 775+ Pages of Material!
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Description:

Benjamin Disraeli
various, ca. 1872-1880
Massive Benjamin Disraeli Archive of Nearly 160 ALS, 365pp in His Hand, Many to Secretary Algernon Turnor- 775+ Pages of Material!
Archive

An extensive archive containing the papers of Algernon Turnor, 2nd Secretary to Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, featuring approximately 160 documents in Disraeli's hand, or 365 pages total. Ranging in date from 1872 to 1880. Much of the correspondence is from Disraeli to Turnor, often from the Prime Minister's residence at Hughenden Manor to 10 Downing Street. The majority have been signed "Beaconsfield" or "B" after 1876, when Queen Victoria appointed him the 1st Earl of Beaconsfield. The Prime Minister's correspondence is accompanied by an additional 400pp of original material compiled by Turnor, including scrapbooks, genealogical maps, and printed pamphlets. Exhibits varying degrees of age toning and creasing throughout. Expected foxing, minor tearing, and letter folds throughout. Moderate wear to scrapbooks, including areas of spine loss and cover rubbing.

The lot includes:

- Leather Album, 6.5" x 10" x 4" titled "Letters & Mss. of The Rt Hon. B. Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield. 1874 to 1880," containing 137 documents, 340 pp., all but a few in Disraeli's hand

- 64 individual notes, letters, and envelopes, including three printed speeches by Disraeli, three photographs of Turnor (1878), and Turnor's commission signed by Queen Victoria (June 3, 1878), total of 225 pp., many in Disraeli's hand

- Notebook of "Lord Beaconfield's Entertainment of His Party during his Second Government, 1874-1880," 52 pp., with newspaper reports and menus pasted in and notes on who declined and the success of the event

- "Some incidents of Official Life during the years 1867 to 1895," a manuscript reminiscence by Algernon Turnor, 29 pp.

- a scrapbook of clippings, notes, and drawings regarding horses and horse racing, cricket, and fox hunting, 95 pp.

- a scrapbook of newspaper clippings regarding relations with France and other subjects at the end of the eighteenth and beginning of the nineteenth century, 33 pp.

- a privately printed book entitled Dr. Trevor: A Phenomenon (1913) about the life of barrister Henry Edward Trevor (1740-1794), 61 pp., with handwritten marginalia and 25 pages of handwritten additions on loose paper

- five oversized genealogical charts, ranging in size up to 30" x 40.5".

Excerpts:

- Speech of the Right Hon. B. Disraeli, M.P., at the Free Trade Hall, Manchester, April 3, 1872: "Since the settlement of the Constitution, now nearly two centuries ago, England has never experienced a revolution, though there is no country in which there has been so continuous and such considerable change. How is this? Because the wisdom of your forefathers placed the prize of supreme power without the sphere of human passions. Whatever the struggle of parties, whatever the strife of factions, whatever the excitement and exaltation of the public mind, there has always been something in this country round which all classes and parties could rally, representing the majesty of the law, the administration of justice, and being at the same time, the security for every man's rights and the fountain of honour.... And you owe all these, gentlemen, to the Throne."

- Benjamin Disraeli to Algernon Turnor, March 11, 1874, 2 Whitehall Gardens: "This MS. of the Queen's speech must be taken by you to Mr Harrison as soon as possible. It ought to have been with him an hour ago. But before you send it, you must copy from the MS. of Lord Cairns, the p. marked 3. I have inclosed a sheet of paper similar to the rest. Pray use promptitude & energy in this business, as I wish the proof to be in the hands of ye Cabt as soon as possible."

- Benjamin Disraeli to Algernon Turnor, December 6, 1874, Bournemouth: "The Queen's boxes, when there are no MS. remarks upon the labels, may be always opened, as, in general, they would only contain approvals of submissions, & time is thus gained in the transaction of business."

- Lord Beaconsfield to Algernon Turnor, [ca. February 1875, 2 Whitehall Gardens: "Has the Cabinet been called for Wednesday at 3 o'ck If not, do so. I want the notes for the Tenancies Bill."

- Algernon Turnor, Remarks on Dinner, February 24, 1875: "It is to be noted that the Marquess of Bute found himself compelled, owing to forms of his Church during Lent, to regale himself entirely on successive helps of salmon & whitebait."

- Algernon Turnor to Benjamin Disraeli, March 11, 1875, 10 Downing Street: "I send an almanac for 1875 to enable you to fix a day for the prorogation of Parliament. Can you give me any clue by which to identify the Rev. William Jackson. There are so many of that name."

- Benjamin Disraeli to Algernon Turnor, March 30, 1875, Hughenden Manor: "We must, of course, have a dinner on the Birth-Day. Perhaps all Peers. This might conclude our season." [Queen Victoria's birthday was May 24.]

- Benjamin Disraeli to Algernon Turnor, May 10, 1875, 2 Whitehall Gardens: "Will you have the goodness to give me a note for Hary Chaplin's Horse-Motion for Tuesday? You are, I believe, master of the subject. I am sorry to give you so short a notice, but I was in hopes, that somebody else was looking after the matter for me."

- Benjamin Disraeli to Algernon Turnor, October 26, 1875, Hughenden Manor: "Confidential / A great personage wants the enclosed inserted in the newspapers. I don't wish it to come ostensibly from me. I suppose you can manage it.... If you can get the parg: in tonight, i.e. for tomorrow mornings Times &c, it wd be better."

- Benjamin Disraeli to Algernon Turnor, October 28, 1875, Hughenden Manor: "Put in the Queen's Box a copy of the papers on Admiralty Instructions re Slavery."

- Benjamin Disraeli to Algernon Turnor, November 30, 1875, Windsor Castle: "Send to the Papers that I have left Windsor Castle for Longleat, on a visit to the Marquess of Bath. I hope everything is going on well about Mr Cave's mission. H. M. approves it & thinks the sooner he goes, the better."

- Benjamin Disraeli to Algernon Turnor, n.d.: "I send you a mass of rubbish, but wh: must be looked over."

- Benjamin Disraeli to Algernon Turnor, April 13, 1876, Hughenden Manor: "I wish you wd send me the Lord Chancellor's speech on introducing ‘Judicature' bill, if you can find it in a No of Hansard."

- Matthew Burn to Benjamin Disraeli, August 12, 1876, Tilsonburg, Ontario, Canada: "I take the liberty of writing to ask you as a great favor if you will send me a Photograph of yourself, which I may be able to retain and hand to my only Son should he be spared to come to mans estate. I have always been a most ardent admirer of your political career as well as of your private character, and when it became in my power to shew the admiration which I had for your name I had my only Son at his christening called ‘Benjamin Disraeli'; and I am sure, should you honor me by sending a likeness of yourself, my son will prize it.... he completed his fifth year on the date of this note." [Endorsement by Benjamin Disraeli to Algernon Turnor: "I don't think there is a decent photg: of myself. If, by any chance, you cd see one, some day, remember this queer fish."]

- Benjamin Disraeli to Algernon Turnor, August 18, 1876, Castle B[romwich: "Private / I want to know how we stand with regard to the Khedive & his new Tribunals. I understood when I left town, that the Law Officers differed, & were to see the Ld Chanr at the House of Lords on that day. What happened?"

- Benjamin Disraeli to Algernon Turnor, August 18, 1876, Castle B[romwich: "The Queen telegraphs to me, & as H. M. is daily moving, requires immediate replies. These are impossible as there is no telegraph wire to Castle B, & the nearest is at Carl at least 3 miles off: generally indeed Birmingham, wh: is at least 5 miles off. The Master of the Horse dwells here, whom the Queen may wish suddenly to command. The place itself is populous & wealthy enough to be qualified for a wire. It seems to me a great shame, as I know it is to me a signal inconvenience to be debarred from one."
"The Queen telegraphed to me at Birmingham last night betn 10 & 11. Did not receive message till this morning! By foot!!"

- Lord Beaconsfield to the Electors of Buckingham, August 21, 1876: "The Queen having been graciously pleased to summon me to the House of Peers, I return to you the trust which, for so many years, you have confided to me as your Member in the House of Commons; an assembly in which I have passed the greater part of my life.... Throughout my public life I have aimed at two chief results. Not insensible to the principle of progress I have endeavoured to reconcile change with that respect for tradition which is one of the main elements of our social strength; and, in external affairs, I have endeavoured to develop and strengthen our Empire, believing that combination of achievement and responsibility elevates the character and condition of a people. It is not without emotion that I terminate a connection endeared to me by many memories and many ties, but I have the consolation of recollecting that, though I cease to be your Member, I shall still have the happiness of living among you; and that, though not directly your Representative, I may yet, in another House of Parliament, have the privilege of guarding over your interests and your honour."

- Lord Beaconsfield to Algernon Turnor, n.d., Hughenden Manor: "The Queen wishes a Barony to be given to the Mr West, who has Knole. He is a groom in waiting or equery in the Queen's Household. She wants a submission to be sent to her hereon. He is to be Baron Sackville."

- Lord Beaconsfield to Algernon Turnor, October 2, 1876, Hughenden Manor: "You are most kind but all guests are loathsome, & I shd not prove an exception. So, like a true commander in chief, I must sleep in my camp bed, on the field of battle & for my staff, I shall have an able & faithfl private Secy Look up our treaties about the Porte of modern date. I think, they were laid before Parlt this last Sess: or the preceding one. I want particularly, besides the treaty of Paris, the treaty respecting the passage of the Dardanelles, wh: was just after the Expulsion of the Egyptians from Asia."

- Lord Beaconsfield to Algernon Turnor, April 24, 1877: "The Queen has been graciously pleased to express Her Majesty's desire, that the Albert Medal, hitherto only bestowed for gallantry in saving life at Sea, shall be extended to similar actions on Land, & that the first medals, struck for this purpose, shall be conferred on the heroic rescuers of the Welsh miners."

- Lord Beaconsfield to Algernon Turnor, May 16, 1877, 2 Whitehall Gardens: "The Queen has expressed her desire that some adequate provision shd be made for the Misses De Foe, the lineal descendants of the author of Robinson Crusoe, & Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to direct, that a pension of 75£ pr annum shd be granted to each of these three ladies."

- Lord Beaconsfield to Queen Victoria, July 20, 1877: "The vindication of Yr Majestys government in the Ho: of L. last night was considered complete. The Speaker, the Cr of the Exr & Lord Hartington, have agreed upon a resolution, wh: will rescind the vote of censure in the H of C & wh: will be passed unanimously." [The House of Commons voted to censure Lord Beaconsfield on his choice for Controller of the Stationery Office. After the Chancellor of the Exchequer explained some details, the House voted to rescind the censure.]

- Lord Beaconsfield to Lord Chancellor Hardinge Giffard, 1st Earl of Harlsbury, December 19, 1877: "My dear Ld Chanr I am not at home this Evening, & on Saturday, I must go to Windsor. I would not for the world, interfere with your two days shooting, & disappoint your boys. I will write to you in a day or two on the subject on wh. I wished to have some conversation."

- Lord Beaconsfield to Algernon Turnor, September 8, 1878, Hughenden Manor: "Today came a cyphered let: from F. O. but yr key here did not fit it. Pray look to this, & see wher I have the right book."

- Lord Beaconsfield to Algernon Turnor, September 15, 1878, Hughenden Manor: "Lumber business, very unsatisfactory. The excuse, moonshine. We must take care F.O. does not usurp diplomatic honors as the War office has military, & the Col. Mich & Geo: All honors shd flow from the Fountain of Honors, advised only by the Prime Minister. The messenger, the other day, ought to have left Wycombe by ½ past three train. He was in good time, & I warned him, that the bag was pressing. He ought to be looked after: he can't be trusted. Whats his name?"

- Lord Beaconsfield to Algernon Turnor, September 17, 1878, Hughenden Manor: "I don't see much chance of rest: in fact, if it would not agitate Europe, the Cabinet ought to be at hand, but that's impossible, & I must take the responsibility on my own shoulders."

- Telegram of Lord Beaconsfield to The King of the Belgians, January 2, 1879, Hughenden: "Deeply gratified by such kind words from a Sovereign whom all Englishmen respect & regard. May you, Sir, & Her Majesty, long reign in the hearts of your Loyal & happy subjects!"

- Telegram of Lord Beaconsfield to the "Countess of Balmoral," English Embassy, Paris, March 27, 1879, Downing Street: "With duty. Count Munster, much distressed has just called on me to announce the most unexpected death of Yr Majesty's grandson, Prince Waldemar. No cause assigned: our grief is great." [When traveling, Queen Victoria used the name "the Countess of Balmoral" to maintain her privacy. She had traveled to Paris on her way to Baveno in northern Italy, where she spent from March 28 to April 23, 1879.]

- Telegram of Lord Beaconsfield to Prince Gortchakow, St. Petersburg, April 14, 1879, Downing Street: "I have heard with much emotion of the infamous attempt on the life of the Emperor, & congratulate you & Russia on his safety."

- Lord Beaconsfield to Algernon Turnor, September 18, 1879, Hughenden Manor: "Confidential The Queen returns by letter & by telegram to Her Majestys original wish, that I shd receive Lord Chelmsford. I cannot do it. Having recalled him from his blundering command, & being highly dissatisfied with him as the author of infinite mischief, I cannot let him eat my salt, but I have mentioned to the Queen, that, if Her Majesty commands me, I will receive him officially in my official residence. It is dreadful to have to come to town for such a business. I could not immediately, as I shall have people here till towards the end of the month, but I wish you wd reconnoitre as to Chelmsford's movements. I see by your letter he is in town."

- Lord Beaconsfield to Algernon Turnor, October 1, 1879, Hughenden Manor: "Lord Salisbury must have the box, wh: goes by this messenger, immediately. Cypher to Ld Salisbury that the Cabinet will meet on Monday next at two o'ck: Cypher to the Queen to that effect. And give your orders for the general summons, but I did not want that to be publicly known until a little later—say Friday. But, this, if impossible, is no great matter. Cypher also to Lord Cranbrook, that I have summoned the Cab. for Monday, assuming you will be in time, that the tel: will arrive at Bal: before his departure."

- Lord Beaconsfield to Algernon Turnor, December 11, 1879, Hughenden Manor: "I go to the Queen on Monday, & stay till Wedy H. M. leaves herself, Windsor the following day. What vacant places require the Royal pleasure? Registration I assume; not new Forest, eh? What things have I, within your cognizance, to bring before the Queen?"

- Lord Beaconsfield to Algernon Turnor, July 8, 1880, Hughenden Manor: "If you make as good & faithful a husband, as you did a Secretary, Lady Henrietta will be a very happy woman. I heartily congratulate you both. I was much obliged to you for your previous letter, & shall always be glad to hear from you."

Excerpts from "Some incidents of Official Life during the years 1867 to 1895":

- "On enquiring, at his first interview, whether his chief desired to see every letter which was addressed to him, he received the following reply ‘No, if you find one with a grain of sense in it show it to me.'"

- "But storms were brewing. A slight ripple stirred the surface, when the Public Worship Regulation Bill was introduced, which gathered force amongst a section when Mr Disraeli described the proceeding in some churches as ‘Mass in Masquerade' the alliteration being dear to his alliterative soul."

- "An admirer of Lord Beaconsfields novels wrote to Enquire the meaning of a passage which had sorely puzzled his diligent but somewhat obtuse brain. On being asked for the reply Lord B said ‘Tell him that as I subsequently wrote 3 volumes to Explain the point, and have not been successful it would be a presumption in me to make any further effort.'"

After a brief term as Prime Minister from February to December 1868, Conservative Party leader Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) led the opposition from 1868 to 1874, while Liberal Party Prime Minister William Gladstone held power. The rivalry between the two men defined British politics for a quarter of a century, even beyond Disraeli's death. During Gladstone's first term as Prime Minister, Disraeli took advantage of Liberal mistakes and built support among the people. When Gladstone resigned in 1873, the Queen asked Disraeli to form a government, but he refused to lead a minority government without a general election. In January 1874, Gladstone called for a general election, which resulted in the first Conservative majority since 1841. Disraeli again became Prime Minister.

During its tenure from 1874 to 1880, Disraeli's government enacted many reforms. He was particularly close to Queen Victoria and passed the Royal Titles Act in 1876 to make her Empress of India as well as Queen. That same year, Queen Victoria elevated Disraeli to the peerage as the Earl of Beaconsfield, and he led his government from the House of Lords rather than the House of Commons. In foreign affairs, he was a firm supporter of the British Empire, who engineered the purchase of stock in the Suez Canal, built by the French but central to British interests in India; played a key role in the Congress of Berlin that created Bulgaria and divided the Balkan Peninsula; and presided over the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879 that resulted in an eventual British victory, though with several costly battles. Parliamentary elections in 1880 resulted in a Liberal victory and the replacement of Lord Beaconsfield with William Gladstone as Prime Minister. Shortly before he resigned in April 1880, Beaconsfield arranged to honor his private secretary Montagu Corry, who became Baron Rowton. Beaconsfield died of complications from bronchitis in April 1881.

Algernon Turnor (1845-1921) was born the fourth son of Christopher Turnor and Lady Caroline Turnor of Stoke Rockford. He went to Eton in 1856 and attended Christ Church, Oxford University in 1860. He served in the Treasury Department from 1867 until he became second private secretary to Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, Lord Beaconsfield, a position he held from 1874 to 1880. He married Henrietta Stewart (d. 1930) at St. Peter's Church in early July 1880. From 1870 to 1900, he was a noted fox hunter. He also served as the Financial Secretary of the General Post Office until his retirement in 1896.

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