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Lot 412
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Pair of Viscount Palmerston ALS on Troops in Portugal and Disease Outbreak
Pair of Viscount Palmerston ALS on Troops in Portugal and Disease Outbreak
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Description:

Henry John Temple
England, United Kingdom, August 9, 1833 and April 4, 1844
Pair of Viscount Palmerston ALS on Troops in Portugal and Disease Outbreak
Archive
A pair of autograph letters signed from Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston. The first letter, dated August 9, 1833, is addressed to Sir Hussey Vivian concerning the lack of necessity of sending British troops to Portugal. With a retained mail cover addressed in Palmerston's hand. The second letter, dated April 4, 1844, is addressed to Josiah George concerning an outbreak of diseases connected with the town of Romsey. Both are intriguing pieces of Victoriana. With flattened mail folds, light soiling and minor toning. Both boldly signed. Overall very fine. Ex. Collection of Steve Forbes.

Details and highlights from the letters:

1. Autograph letter signed "Palmerston." 2pp of a bifolium, measuring 7.25" x 9", [England] "F.O." (likely Foreign Office), dated August 9, 1833. Marked "Private" and addressed to Sir Hussey Vivian. Reading in full:

"My dear Vivian,
I have communicated your letter of the 7th to Lord Grey that he may bear in mind your wishes in the event of such an occasion arising as would lead him to make arrangements which would admit of their being taken into consideration. But our recent accounts from Spain lead us to think that we shall not have occasion to send any troops to Portugal."

2. Autograph letter signed "Palmerston." 5pp of a bifolium, measuring 7.25" x 9", [England] "C.T." (possibly Court), dated April 4, 1844. Addressed to Josiah George. Reading in part:

"…am glad to find that the statement which I had heard of the number of deaths in Romsey was so much beyond the real fact; though still there has been this year in Romsey as well as in other towns in the neighbouring districts a mortality much beyond the usual average. No doubt the diseases which caused this mortality were owing to the peculiar character of the weather, and to some unusual circumstances in the state of the atmosphere… it seems at first sight more possible that the way in which the mildness & dampness of the weather acted was by aiding the decomposition of animal and vegetable matter and of stagnant water, and thereby leading to the disengagement gasses injurious to the health of man. If this be so, the peculiar condition of the atmosphere last winter would not have been so injurious in its effects if there had been in the towns, where illness has prevailed, less accumulations of animal and vegetable matter and of stagnant water; and it would be very useful in those towns with a view to prevent a similar recurrence of disease to make arrangements to remove existing & to prevent future accumulations of the same kind…I believe as you do, that Romsey is remarkably free in general from epidemic & infectious disorders…Romsey has remarkable facilities for cleansing & drainage by reason of the abundant streams which flow through the town, and which would carry away all impurities which were thrown into them. But it is very possible that in many parts of the town, & those most thickly inhabited, things which ought to be thrown into those streams, never reach them, but are allowed to accumulate & to generate noxious effluvia. I remember Dr. Beddome mentioning to me a striking instance which occurred in the house next to his own of the way in which stagnant mud & water in the cellar, produced fever in the house, and how the recurrence of fever was prevented by an arrangement which kept the cellar dry…"

Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston (1784-1865) was born in London to the Irish branch of the Temple family that derived their title from the Peerage of Ireland. When his father died in 1802, he became the 3rd Viscount Palmerston. He later entered Parliament in 1807, and from 1809 to 1828 served as the Secretary at War, responsible for the finances of the army. From 1830 to 1851, he served three terms as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. He would go on to serve two terms as Prime Minister from 1855-1858 and 1859-1865. At the age of nearly 71 in 1855, Palmerston became the oldest person in British political history to be appointed Prime Minister for the first time. Historians also tend to regard Palmerston as the first Liberal prime minister.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 7.25" x 9" (folded)
  • Medium: Archive

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