RANDOM LETTERS

From time to time Buchanan’s letters turn up on ebay and other sites. They tend to be single sheets - brief notes with incomplete dates and no clue given as to the source - although the most infuriating examples are those where the signature alone is offered for sale, ripped from the bottom of the letter. This page is reserved for these randomly acquired letters. Where possible I have added additional information after the transcript. Since I’m working off the photos supplied by ebay, etc., it’s sometimes difficult to make out every word - my ‘best guesses’ are in italics and when I am completely at a loss there is a ? .

To W. C. Bennett - 19th January 1866

Étretat
Seine Inferieure
France
Jan^ry 19^th 1866

Dear Sir,

                    Your volume reached me in a roundabout way, but I have been unable to thank you for your kindness until now. I have read a portion of the poems, & with much pleasure, and I thank you heartily for affording me the opportunity.

Faithfully yours
R. Buchanan.

W. C. Bennett Esq.

[This letter has been available on the David J. Holmes Autographs site for a while now and was listed on ebay in December, 2010 (with accompanying photo).
According to his listing in Mid-Victorian Poetry, 1860-1879 by Catherine W. Reilly, William Cox Bennett (1820-95) was born in “Greenwich, London, son of a watchmaker. He carried on his father’s business but also wrote for newspapers and became famous as a songwriter. On staff of the Weekly Dispatch, 1869-70. Member of the London council of the Education League. Lived at Hyde Cottage, Greenwich. Died at Blackheath.”]

To the Brothers Dalziel - 16th April 1866

Belle Hill
Bexhill
April 16^th 1866

Gentlemen,

                    I accept your terms contained in yours of the 14^th. You are to pay me £150 for the set of poems illustrated by Pinwell & North—£50 on Wednesday the 18^th April & the other £100 on the finish of the M.S.S. I reserve the right of incorporating the poems in my collected works, but not within three years.
          Will you kindly let me know how many more photographs there will be, that I may not exceed the No. of cuts to any poem?—With regards

Faithfully yours
Robert Buchanan.

[Another letter from the David J. Holmes Autographs site. The description mentions the letter is written “on pale blue mourning paper” (hence the black border) - Buchanan’s father died the previous month on 4th March.]

To J. Campbell Clark - 1st September 1871.

Soroba Lodge
Oban
Sept 1. 1871

My dear Sir,

I regret that I did not see you to-day when you called. Shall you be staying over Sunday? and if so, will you take lunch with us at 2½ p.m. on that day? I should be very glad also to see M^r Macdonnell if you can persuade him to accompany you.

Yours faithfully

Robert Buchanan.

J. Campbell Clark Esq.

To William Davenport Adams - 18th February [1878]

51 Upper Glo’ster Place
Dorset Sq
London
18th Feb.

Dear Sir,

Use the poems by all means; I am honoured by your wish to do so.

In great haste
          Yours sincerely
          Robert Buchanan.

W. Davenport Adams Esq.

[This letter is on the Historical Autographs site. A search for William Davenport Adams (1851-1904) led to Princeton University Library which has a collection of similar letters to Adams and the following information:

The collection “Consists of 71 letters from several well-known British authors and poets addressed to William Davenport Adams and to his wife. They are mainly responses to requests made by Adams to grant him permission to either publish some of their works or to quote them in his various dictionaries of English literature and authors. Some of the prominent correspondents names include Aubrey De Vere, Francis Hastings Doyle, Emily Faithfull, Norman Gale, Joseph Hatton, Lucas Malet, William Hurrell Mallock, Charles Marriott, Robert Bright Marston, Gerald Massey, Sir Lewis Morris, Sir Walter Alexander Raleigh, Sir George Otto Trevelyan, William Watson, and William Aldis Wright.”

“William Davenport Adams was a British journalist and author, son of William Henry Davenport Adams. He was an editor of provincial papers, and a dramatic critic from 1878 to 1904. He compiled an unfinished Dictionary of the Drama (1904) and other literary works, such as Dictionary of English Literature: Being a Comprehensive Guide to English Authors and Their Works, With Poet and Player: Essays on Literature and the Stage, and Latter Day Lyrics: Being Poems of Sentiment and Reflection by Living Writers.”

It would appear that this letter relates to Latter Day Lyrics: Being Poems of Sentiment and Reflection by Living Writers (available at the Internet Archive), which was published by Chatto and Windus in 1878, since it contains three poems by Buchanan:  ‘Charmian’, ‘"O bairn, when I am dead"’ and ‘The Footprints’. After Buchanan had moved to Ireland in the autumn of 1873, he seems to have used rooms in Gloucester Place for his visits to London and there are letters to Browning from this address  from 1874 to 1878. So it is most likely that this letter was written in 1878.]

To George Canninge - 8th December [1880].

5 Larkhall Rise
Clapham
Dec. 8.

Dear Sir –

Can you play at a Gaiety matinée on Dec. 22, in a new play of mine? If so, please send a line by bearer stating lowest terms, & let me know where I can telegraph to you in the morning. We commence rehearsing at Gaiety at two to-morrow.

Truly yours
R. Buchanan.

G. Canninge Esq.

[This letter to George Canninge, the actor, is almost certainly regarding Buchanan’s production of his play, The Nine Days’ Queen, which was premiered at a matinée at the Gaiety Theatre on December 22nd, 1880. There is a review of the performance (with Harriett Jay in the role of Lady Jane Grey) in the Theatre Reviews section.]

To Lawrence Barrett - 30th April [1884]

11^a Park Road
Regents Park
                    N.W.
April 30.

Dear M^r Barrett,

                    I hope to have the pleasure of bringing you the M.S. of Doctor Dee very speedily. As the scrip is somewhat rough, perhaps you would permit me to read it to you; but that must be according to your wish & leisure.
          I hope you are thinking seriously of ‘Hamlet.’

Faithfully yours
Robert Buchanan.

Lawrence Barrett Esq

[Another letter from the David J. Holmes Autographs site, which suggests 1884 as the possible date. Lawrence Barrett was an American actor and according to the description of the letter: 
“This letter probably dates from the spring of 1884 when Barrett took over the management of the Lyceum Theatre in London, during its owner, Henry Irving’s first visit to the United States. DAB notes that although Barrett’s ‘engagement there was productive of no financial success, he was received cordially in professional and artistic circles, and was the recipient of many social attentions, including a banquet given in his honor.’”
This is the only mention of a play called ‘Doctor Dee’ I’ve come across and I would suggest it is an alternate title for That Doctor Cupid which was first performed in 1889.]

To Mr. Baldwin (New York) - 22nd October [?]

11^a Park Road
Regents Park
London
Oct 22

Dear Sir –

The poem to which you drew my attention is certainly not mine, tho’ it is quite bad enough to have come even from the pen of

Yours truly
Robert Buchanan.

– Baldwin Esq.
New York

[Another letter from the ‘11^a Park Road’ address, so I’ve placed it here although I have no idea of the year it was written. Buchanan used rooms at 10^a Park Road in 1872 (according to letters to Browning) and there are letters from 11^a to Augustin Daly in July 1886 and to Edmund Gosse and Marie Corelli in February 1887.]

To Letty Lind - 26th April [1890]

3 Guildford Place
Russell Sq.
April 26.

Dear Miss Lind,

I am afraid I cant exceed £2, as our cost is very heavy — but I will promise to make an increase if the piece is a success — which I expect.

Yours in haste
R. Buchanan.

Miss Letty Lind.

[This is presumably connected to Miss Letty Lind’s appearance in The Bride of Love, reviewed in the Penny Illustrated Paper on 31st May, 1890:
“The third act was the most dramatic of the piece. It was here that Miss Letty Lind, personification of the poetry of motion, danced her seductive measures as Euphrosyne”.
So, that was two quid well spent.]

To William Heinemann - [1891]

25 Maresfield Gardens
South Hampstead
N.W.
Sunday

Dear Heineman,

Only just got your letter on returning to Town. Quote from Marlowe by all means. Instead of Shakespere, on title-page—”Come, live with me, & be my Love”—I used the Shakespere version as being the most familiar.

Yours truly
Rob^t Buchanan.

W. Heineman Esq.

[Buchanan’s novel, Come Live with Me and Be My Love was published by William Heinemann in 1891.]

To Mr. Madge - 8th January 1893

TELEPHONE N^o ?

MERKLAND,
25, MARESFIELD GARDENS,
SOUTH HAMPSTEAD
Jan. 8.

Dear M^r Madge,

Accept from me as a New Year’s gift a copy of my Wandering Jew, pub^d this day, & believe me

Yours truly
Robert Buchanan.

? ? Madge Esq.

[The picture is rather small and although the text of the letter is fairly clear, the recipient’s name is not. But it does look like ‘Madge’ to me and the managing director of The People newspaper at this time was a Mr. Madge, so it could be Buchanan’s attempt to drum up some publicity. I can’t make out the telephone number either, which is a pity.]

To Theophilus Marzials - 3rd January [?]

36 Craven Street
Strand
          W.C.
Jan. 3

My Dear Sir,

Of course my letter was misdated, & I can't think how the mistake occurred. Thanks for your kind reply. I will endeavour to call upon you some time before one o'clock to-morrow, but pray dont remain at home on that account — if you have other arrangements — I will take my chance.

Truly yours
Robert Buchanan.

Theo. Marzials Esq.

[Further information about Theophilus Marzials (1850-1920) and a copy of his poem, ‘A Tragedy’, is available at FirstScience.com.]

_____

DESCRIPTIONS OF OTHER LETTERS

The following are descriptions of letters from various sites - autograph dealers, abebooks.com etc. Without seeing scans of the letters one has to take the descriptions at face value and assume that the attribution to Robert Williams Buchanan is correct.

David J. Holmes Autographs

1. ALS, 2pp, 8vo, 102 Prince of Wales Road, Haverstock[?] Hill, N.W., date unclear. To editor [William] Hepworth Dixon, hoping to arrange a time to meet, acknowledging receipt of a letter, and remarking: “I did not guess that you wrote the notice, but I am much pleased to hear that you did so. . . .” Some soiling and toning; center fold just barely starting; else good. Item # 20048 $75.00.

2. ALS, 2pp, 8vo, Grove Cottage, Haverstock Grove, 9 February 1864. To J.A. Langford, the Birmingham antiquary and journalist: "Pray do not put yourself to any inconvenience concerning the Lecture. I have by no means decided to read in Birmingham, tho' I thought such a contingency was possible.'' Buchanan says that he won't be able to do anything until next winter, and thanks Langford for his recent book of poems ("I shall read them leisurely.''). A little soiled and worn; traces of paper tape on verso, but in good condition. In 1864, as in 1859, Langford published a volume of commemorative poems on Shakespeare. Item # 2255 $135.00.
[In December 2010 this letter was offered for sale on ebay accompanied by a photograph of the second page.]

3. ALS, one page, 8vo, Etretat, Seine Inferenie, France, 19 January 1866. To W.C. Bennett, writing: "Your volume reached me in a roundabout way, but I have been unable to thank you for your kindness. I have read a portion of the poems, & with much pleasure, & I thank you heartily.....'' A little worn, but in good condition. W.C. Bennett is William Cox Bennett, a minor poet who published several volumes of verse [see NCBEL III, 507-8]. Item # 4160 $125.00. [see above]

4. ALS, one page, 8vo, on pale blue mourning paper, Belle Hill, Bexhill[?], 16 April 1866. To the Dalziel Brothers, accepting their terms for "the set of poems illustrated by Pinwell. . . . I reserve the right of incorporating the poems in my collected works, but not within three years. Will you kindly let me know how many more photographs there will be. . . ." Rather foxed, with a red, crested six pence postal stamp embossed at top; else good. Annotated in red in beneath the return address: "Wayside Posies [date crossed through]." Item # 17903 $175.00. [see above]

5. ALS, one page, 8vo, 11a Park Road, Regents Park N.W., April 30, n.y. To the American actor, Lawrence Barrett: "I hope to have the pleasure of bringing you the M.S. of Doctor Dee very speedily. As the scrip is somewhat rough, perhaps you would permit me to read it to you, but that must be according to your wish & leisure. I hope you are thinking seriously of Hamlet.'' Verso of integral leaf slightly torn (removed from an album); slightly soiled, but in very good condition. This letter probably dates from the spring of 1884 when Barrett took over the management of the Lyceum Theatre in London, during its owner, Henry Irving's first visit to the United States. DAB notes that although Barrett's "engagement there was productive of no financial success, he was received cordially in professional and artistic circles, and was the recipient of many social attentions, including a banquet given in his honor.'' Item # 6187 $125.00. [see above]

6. ALS, 2pp, small 4to, St. Germains, 88 South Side, Clapham Park, 11 December, n.y. To Alfred E. Knight, Esq., thanking him for his kind letter of support, and writing: "Pray, pray, don't fancy that I pose as a badly used & misunderstood person. A man cannot take the losing side in most questions . . . nor can he criticize men & things honestly without paying the piper. . . . I get as good as I give, and if I am boycotted (which is true enough) what does it matter?. . . . As to the financial question, that's different. I have always warned young men . . . as I was warned many years ago by dear old Barry Cornwall. If I had started out with the most modest independence . . . from other sources than literature, all my life would have been different. . . . I have had to part with my work for a beggar's wage. On the other hand, I have been both careless & extravagent, & much of my worry has been of my own making. . . ." Small staple or pin hole at upper left; some light foxing and soiling (mostly stains from prior mounting); else good. Item # 17724 $350.00.

7. ALS (with an additionally initialled post script), 2 1/4pp, 8vo, 17 Cavendish Place, W., 25 May, n.y. To Evelyn Ballantyne, apparently in defense of literary criticism attributed to Buchanan: "I am very sorry if I have been unjust to Mr. James, though I cannot honestly say that I feel myself to have been so. . . . I do not . . . feel so bitterly towards [Mr. Moore] as you do, for he has amused me very much. . . . Whether or not I am a successful writer, is really of no consequence to any one but myself, -- and 'success' is a word which needs definition. . . . If it means 'to be praised and belauded,' I am the . . . failure of my generation. If it means to make those who hate me listen to me, & perhaps be a little afraid of me, I have been being successful. . . . I have some Irish blood in my veins, & rather like a shindy . . . for the love of the thing, but as for hating any one, even the man who hits me on the head from behind, why, that's beyond me!" Lightly foxed and soiled; starting at folds; good. Item # 17896 $225.00.

*

Ximenes Rare Books, Inc.
(no website but contact details (if you have a spare £900) are on the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America site.)

Autograph letter signed, 4 pp., 8vo; undated, but marked “rec’d Feb. 7, 1860,” to William Makepeace Thackeray. Preserved in the original orange printed filing folder of the Cornhill Magazine (“Publication Department”). A charming and quintessentially youthful appeal from Buchanan, then an aspiring young writer of 18, to Thackeray, the great man of letters aged 48. No doubt this letter, or some version of it, has been written many times, in many places, by many aspiring writers of tender years:

“Sir, Do not throw this letter aside; but take it up, think over it, and read it thro’ — as a man, not as an editor. I demand this in the first place; because, if you only glance over it, the suit it propounds is hopeless. — I shall be as brief as possible, for both our sakes. I am led to hope that your new periodical is not exclusively devoted to papers by men of established reputation — that, on the contrary, merit coming from any quarter may seek & find a place in it. Your Prospectus, your general works, and your latest papers, endorsed this hope. Was it a correct one? If so, you will read my poor little M.S. Some time ago I forwarded to Mr. G. H. Lewes a portion of a contemplated work, poetical of course, but of a peculiar character. His reply came thus: “Publish a volume of such poems, & you will make a position for yourself.” He advised me, however, to wait for a short space of time, in order to perfect my materials &c. and, of course, I determined to follow his advice — wise advice. Now, my object in writing to you must be plainly stated — I shall not aid my cause by rigmarole. I say plainly, then, that the publication of either of the two enclosed poems in your Magazine would do my projected adventure more good than you can ever be aware of. I am a very young man (not quite nineteen) and ask you to give me a chance of making a respectable appearance. I need not appeal to your generosity — I believe that it is too well tested. If you regard the poems as worthy, print them; if they [are] not up to the mark, burn them. But do me justice, in spite of established reputation. Excuse my freedom in addressing you so familiarly. Believe me, you have not a warmer in all Britain than the poor devil of a poet who subscribes himself, Sir, yours most respectfully, Robt. W. Buchanan.”

In fact Thackeray seems to have taken no notice; a note on the front of the Cornhill Magazine folder here seems to indicate that Buchanan’s letter was answered only after more than three months, and then by a “Mr. Williams.” But Buchanan was not deterred, and later in the year he came to London to launch his “brilliant career.” He sought out G. H. Lewes in person, and George Eliot as well, along with Browning, Peacock, and Dickens (who accepted several contributions for All the Year Round). In time Buchanan successfully established himself as a poet, though unhappily his reputation now rests mainly upon his controversial attack on the pre-Raphaelites, The Fleshly School of Poetry, first published in 1871. It is perhaps worth adding that Buchanan did not in fact follow the suggestion of Lewes which he reports to Thackeray, but went ahead and impatiently published a first book in Glasgow, entitled Poems and Love Lyrics. This volume is undated, but clearly pre-dates Buchanan’s departure for London in 1860; curiously, the book is not listed by either the DNB or CBEL, and is wrongly described in the NUC (IU, CSmH) as having been published in the 1870's. Price: £900.

*

Richard Ford (listed on Abebooks)

1. Autograph Letter Signed to “J. Maclehose”, publisher.
Chatsworth House, Great Malvern, 30 March ., 1874. Robert Williams Buchanan, Author (see Dictionary of National Biography). One page, 8vo, good condition, thanking his correspondent for a letter and a book (to come) which he will check, adding "Macmillan's edition was full of atrocious 'misprints', but I presume Mr Bell and Mr Nichol had read the proofs this time carefully?" In the Postscript he asks for "local help" for an edition of his collected poems just issued by King & Co. Bookseller Inventory # 3121 £60.

2. Autograph Letter Signed (‘Robt Buchanan) to George Manville Fenn (1831-1909).
18 December [no year]; 5 Larkhill Rise, Clapham.
12mo, 1 p. Text clear and entire, on lightly creased blue paper, with a thin docketed strip neatly cut away at the foot of the letter. Traces of cream paper mount adhering to the blank reverse. Presumably refers to the play 'Alone in London', which debuted at the Olympic Theatre in 1885. Buchanan trusts that Fenn 'will be present in production of my new play & Miss Jay's debut on Wednesday next'. He asks whether to send the stalls, 'or do you get them from the Office? It will be indeed disappointing if you do not come, this time.'. Bookseller Inventory # 6808. £45.

[Since the letter shares the Larkhill Rise address with the George Canninge letter above, I should think the play referred to is The Nine Days’ Queen, which was premiered at a matinée at the Gaiety Theatre on Wednesday, December 22nd, 1880, starring Harriett Jay. George Manville Fenn was a prolific writer of adventure stories for boys, but was also the editor Once A Week from 1873 to 1879.]

3. Autograph Letter Signed (‘Robt Buchanan’) to Harold Kyrle Bellew (1855-1911)
10 October [1897]; Ridgebourne, 55 Christchurch Road, Streatham Hill, London S.W.
12mo, 3 pp. Text clear and entire, but on aged, lightly-stained paper, with a central tear (dividing the two halves of the letter horizontally) neatly repaired with archival tape. The blank reverse of the second leaf of the bifolium with traces of black paper from previous mounting. Asks to be sent 'the 3 acts of Judith [.] at once'. Also asks to 'hear about Marion de Lorne': ' 'Tis a big play, the last, & would go great guns if well done.' Praises Bellew's and 'Mrs Potter's' performances in Dumas' 'Francillon' (which debuted September 1897). 'I never thought F. a good piece - the subject, it seems to me, is far better treated in Divorcens; but you certainly get the most out of it.' Ends 'Surely Mrs Potter is a tragedienne, & wants a big serious role?' Postscript in large letters: 'P.S. Dont forget to return Judith!! [last word underlined three times]'. Bookseller Inventory # 6809. £40.

*

David Mason Books (ABAC)

Lists a third edition of Saint Abe and His Seven Wives (1872): “Tipped in is an ALS from Buchanan to Hepworth Dixon, 2pp. "Belle Hill, Bexhill near Hasting, Aug. 9th, " asking him to review a new edition of "Undertones" requesting "could you give it a line or two? or quote some of the new matter—say verses 19-20-21-22 of the Prologue". $137.35.

*

John Wilson Manuscripts Ltd.

Autograph Letter Signed to P.W. Bunting, sending him a book, 1 page 8vo on black-edged stationery, Cavendish Square, 10 Dec no year. [No: 3174] £32.

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