Beckett samuel

The horologist who designed the Big Ben clock: Sir Edmund Beckett Denison latterly Lord Grimthorpe. Three Autograph Letters Signed to Edward Hayes Plumptre regarding the business of Westminster girls’ school Queen’s College.

24436 — ONE: 14 January 1856; Queen’s College. TWO: ‘Valentines Day’ 14 February 1870; 33 Queen Anne Street W. London THREE: 3 April 1870; Doncaster. The third of these letters in particular gives a good indication of his Yorkshire bluntness his entry in the Oxford DNB describes him as ‘a man of arrogance and bile . capable of generosity strong friendships and kindness towards people in need of help’. The three items are in good condition lightly aged; the third with slight wear along one edge. All three are signed ‘E B Denison’ and the second and third are addressed to ‘My dear Plumptre’. ONE 14 January 1856: 3pp 4to. This letter concerns Queen’s College the girls’ school founded in 1848 by Denison’s relation Frederick Denison Maurice of which Plumptre would be Head 1875-1879. Subscribed ‘Chairman of the meeting of the Council this day’ and addressed ‘To the Chairman of the Committee of Education’. Begins: ‘Mr Nicolay is anxious that the Committee of Education should be informed of the opinion of the Council respecting the taking of Boarders in the new house No 68 Harley St.’. He reports the resolutions of the council who ‘think that the matter is now so far advanced that we may ask the Committee to come to a decision on the subject of taking boarders . We beg also to suggest that it is desirable that the meeting or meetings on this subject should be attended by as many of the Professors as possible as it is a matter seriously affecting their pecuniary interests’. TWO ‘Valentines day’ 1870: 2pp 16mo. ‘By this time you have possibly got my letter of yesterday which I took to the College expecting to see you & not observing that it was dated on Monday.’ After a brief discussion of College business he gives this in a postscript: ‘Crassweller came this morning wanted us to guarantee him in an action which a livery stable man is bringing against him for what he calls a nuisance in carrying off the rubbish through the Mews which Spooner referred to in his letter to you. Of course I did no such thing. It may or may not turn out that we shall have to do nothing but Crassweller will settle very differently for himself & yours.’ THREE 3 April 1870: 2pp 12mo. ‘Spooner’s account’ of Crassweller is ‘not very satisfactory’ but he has signed the cheque to him. ‘I have told Bailey that his continued employment is a disgrace to the Portland Estate after all that Bailey knows of him - & the Duke i.e. the Duke of Portland extensive London landowner too - By allmeans sic try the Duke again if you think it will do any good. I have a strong persuasion that in spite of Spooner we ought to have tried to get the building condemned by the M. Board & made it a landlord’s job’. He continues: ‘I have never heard of a 60 year marriage continuans before my father & mother’s. I shall not be in London on Wednesday for more than sleeping at any rate especially as our kitchen boiler is bust.’ Postscript refers to ‘Bickley liberality towards Q. C.’ and Lady Stanley. ONE: 14 January 1856; Queen’s College. TWO: ‘Valentines Day’ [14 February] 1870; 33 Queen Anne Street W. [London] THREE: 3 unknown