Collection of Correspondence to Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield, British statesman, Conservative politician and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

On offer is a collection of four unrelated pieces of late 19th century correspondence from unknown years, addressed to Benjamin Disraeli.

Item 1:
An unidentified piece of correspondence from “S.” to “D.” containing an apology and notice of restitution paid in haste. The letter is undated, but noted as written in London on a Tuesday. Information that has traveled with this document suggests it is addressed to Benjamin Disraeli from Edward Henry Stanley, 15th Earl of Derby, but evidence confirming this has been lost.

Written on a card 4-⅜ x 7-⅜ inches folded, demonstrating age-tone with darker spots at the bottom third. There are two horizontal fold creases and the lower right corner is torn off. Condition is Good.

Edward Henry Stanley, 15th Earl of Derby (21 July 1826 – 21 April 1893; known as Lord Stanley from 1851 to 1869) was a British statesman and was the older brother of Frederick Arthur Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby, for whom the NHL's Stanley Cup is named.

Item 2:
A letter from Charles Cecil John Manners, 6th Duke of Rutland, informing Disraeli of his inability to make their appointment due to the unexpected interference of a Railway Committee sitting. Written in Albany on a Monday, the letter is dated in another's hand June 2nd & 3rd (a Tuesday), 1845.

One page on 7 x 4-¼ inches, previously folded with age toning, mild discolouration, and a stain in the centre of the outer page. Very Good condition.

Charles Cecil John Manners, 6th Duke of Rutland (1815-1888) styled Marquess of Granby before 1857, was an English Conservative politician and Conservative Leader in the Commons. He was elected as the Tory representative from Stamford, a position he would hold until 1847. Rutland was knighted in 1867.

Item 3:
A letter from Hugh McCalmont Cairns, 1st Earl Cairns, most happy to accept an invitation from Disraeli ‘en garçon' as his wife, Lady Cairns, will not be in London. Written on House of Lords blind embossed letterhead and dated 16 March without a year. Dates of service would place it between 1868 & 1880.

One page folded to 7-¼ x 4-½ inches, with some discolouration on the lower-right quarter of the front page and age toning. Good condition.

Hugh McCalmont Cairns, 1st Earl Cairns, was an Irish statesman who served as Lord Chancellor of Great Britain during the first two ministries of Benjamin Disraeli. He was one of the most prominent Conservative statesmen in the House of Lords during this period of Victorian politics. He served as the seventeenth Chancellor of the University of Dublin between 1867 and 1885. Of his legal attainments there can be no doubt. His influence upon the legislation of the day was largely felt where questions affecting religion and the Church were involved and in matters peculiarly affecting his own profession. His power was felt, as has been said, both when he was in office and when his party was in opposition. He had been chairman of the committee on judicature reform, and although he was not in office when the Judicature Acts were passed, all the reforms in the legal procedure of his day owed much to him. He took part, when out of office, in the passing of the Married Women's Property Act 1882, and was directly responsible for the Conveyancing Acts, and for the Settled Land Act.

Item 4:
A letter dated July 5th between 1874 & 1879 while serving as Chancellor of the Exchanger, from Stafford Northcote on blue embossed 11 Downing St. letterhead. This note serves as an inter-office memo informing Disraeli when the Chancellor will meet with him.

One page, folded 4-⅝ x 7-⅜ inches. Horizontally creased from a previous fold, with some age toning and discolouration on the edges, and a small stain in the upper left quadrant. Very Good condition.

Stafford Henry Northcote, 1st Earl of lddesleigh (1818-1887) was a British statesman who served under two of Britain's most influential Victorian-era leaders, William Ewart Gladstone and Benjamin Disraeli. He served as Chancellor of the Exchequer between 1874 and 1880 and as Foreign Secretary between 1885 and 1886, and was one of only two people to hold the office of First Lord of the Treasury without ever being Prime Minister. In Lord Salisbury's 1886 ministry he became Foreign Secretary, but the arrangement was not a comfortable one, and his resignation had just been decided upon when on 12 January 1887, he died very suddenly at his home in the First Lord of the Treasury (Prime Minister) residence, 10 Downing Street. The Chancellor's official residence is Number 11. However, since the residential flat at Number 11 is larger, many PMs choose to live there during their term, and Chancellors will occupy the flat at Number 10, an arrangement that continues to this day.

Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield (21 December 1804 – 19 April 1881) was a British statesman, Conservative politician and writer who twice served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He played a central role in the creation of the modern Conservative Party, defining its policies and its broad outreach. Disraeli is remembered for his influential voice in world affairs, his political battles with the Liberal Party leader William Ewart Gladstone, and his one-nation conservatism or "Tory democracy". He made the Conservatives the party that was most identified with the British Empire and the military action to expand it, both of which were popular among British voters. He is the only British prime minister to have been born Jewish.