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![]() GLADSTONE, William Ewart (1809-1898). Prime Minister 1868-1874, 1880-1885, 1886, and 1892-1894. Autograph Letter Signed to W[illiam] Stirling[-Maxwell] MP (1818-1878), 3 pages 8vo (traces of mounting on blank fourth side), Haddo House, 2 October 1858. Arranging to pay a visit of two nights on 13 October, and explaining his future plans. Gladstone's diary for this day rather mysteriously records that he wrote to 'Mr J. Stirling'. The entry for 13 October begins 'Up at 5.30 & reached Keir at one'. Keir was indeed the home of William Stirling, who added 'Maxwell' to his name in 1865 on succeeding his uncle Sir John Maxwell in his Pollock estate. William Stirling Maxwell, although he served for several years as a member of parliament, is best known as an art historian and book collector, and for marrying Caroline Norton as his second wife shortly before her death in 1877. '... I must add that we venture to propose a further trespass on you. We hope you will allow us to bring with us for one night our eldest son who has been travelling with us in the North and will be on his way for the first time to Christ Church. ...' [No: 25826] The image is of the first page.
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