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J. M. Langford Correspondence
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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
Langford was born in 1809, the son of John Langford, a farmer in Wallingford, County of Berks, England. In 1825, Langford began a seven-year stationer's apprentice to James Nesbit, for which his brother paid £250. Later, Langford became the trusted assistant to John Blackwood, the head of William Blackwood and Sons publishing and the editor of Blackwood's Magazine. He died in 1884.
Consists of editorial and personal correspondence received by Langford from an assortment of English authors and noblemen, including Sir Archibald Alison, John Walter Cross, Charles Grey, Sir Arthur Helps, Alexander Williams Kinglake, Sir Theodore Martin, and Samuel Warren. Four letters are addressed to the Blackwoods, or the firm directly, not to Langford. Furthermore, there are three miscellaneous letters located at the end of the alphabetical list of correspondents; it is unknown if these are addressed to Langford. Also included is the indenture for Langford's apprenticeship as a stationer under James Nesbit.
All the letters are autographed and signed by the correspondent to J. M. Langford, unless otherwise stated. The descriptions of the letters come from the dealer catalog.
The collection has been arranged alphabetically by correspondent, with miscellaneous materials located at the end.
Purchased from Christopher Edwards in 2003 (2003-97).
This collection was processed by Karla J. Vecchia in 2003. Finding aid written by Karla J. Vecchia in 2003.
No appraisal information is available.
Organization
Subject
- Publisher
- Manuscripts Division
- Finding Aid Author
- Karla J. Vecchia
- Finding Aid Date
- 2003
- Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research use.
- Use Restrictions
-
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. No further photoduplication of copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library does not own the original. Inquiries regarding publishing material from the collection should be directed to RBSC Public Services staff through the Ask Us! form. The library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of copyright.
Collection Inventory
1 box
A brief account of Alison's life and works, apparently in his own hand.
Physical Description1 folder
Directions for posting a parcel from Miss Alison to Miss Faucit.
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About the sale of books at Sotheby's. The library of his father, who had died the previous year, was sold by Sotheby's on 13 July that year.
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1 box
A long letter first thanking Langford for his congratulations on his appointment as Sheriff of Orkney, and then about his coming battle with (T. B.) Macaulay in some election. He cheerfully digs for dirt about some speech that Macaulay was reputed to have made in India 20 years before, in which he had apparently denied that he was a Scot-presumably a damaging admission for one who was seeking election in Scotland.
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Thanking Langford for some money, and writing of his anxiety about a debate in the Commons: "The feeling in this country is decidedly warlike." He then tells a story about an Argyll ploughman whose brother was killed at Inkerman in the Crimea, who instantly volunteered for military service, to take his place.
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Sending two conundrums for Langford to solve.
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Copley was born in Boston, MA, but was educated in England and spent all his life there, becoming lord chancellor in 1827 when he took the title Lord Lyndhurst.
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Returning proofs to Blackwood's.
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[written in third person] Asking for a copy of J. Caird's pamphlet on high farming.
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Thanking Langford for his note, and arranging to see Langford and Mr. Blackwood at breakfast. "I would have written you direct to ask you to come with him but I was not sure of your address."
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Asking that copies of his volume (presumably Poems and Ballads, published by Blackwood's in 1876) should be sent to a list of three people, including Lord Elcho MP. The list has been scored through, presumably indicating that the job has been done. Also asking about his father, probably Sir William Fergusson [see below]
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Asking Langford to dine on the day that the Blackwoods are coming.
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Graciously accepting Langford's congratulations, "which I value more as coming from a friend of the Blackwoods"-doubtless congratulations on his baronetcy, bestowed in 1866.
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Informing Langford that "the volumes of your history" which were supposed to have been sent to him at Buckingham Palace had not yet arrived.
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[addressed to Messrs Blackwood] Brief note giving the title of a books, Capt. Beauchamp's Narrative of the Ashanti War.
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Asking for a copy of his book The Story of the Campaign of Sebastopol (published by Blackwood's in 1855) to be sent to him at the Athenaeum, and commenting on a play he saw recently at the Haymarket. Langford had a particular interest in the theatre.
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Expressing his pleasure in finding that an article was written by Mrs. Oliphant (Margaret Oliphant, prolific contributor to Blackwood's Magazine), and asking for the authorship of another article on "La physique moderne."
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1 box
Regretting that he had to go to Scarborough (apparently to care for his ill sister), but saying that if he has to convey anything to the engraver he "will not fail to communicate with him direct as you suggest."
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Commiserating on his loss: "Pray do not put yourself at all out of the way about me & the maps, for I am sure that, if necessary, I could manage matters by direct communication with Mr. Gibson."
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Agreeing with pleasure to sign a petition, but saying that he would not be able to do so until the beginning of October when he returns to London.
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1 box
Asking for a book to be sent to him, which must be there by Friday as he is going to Osborne, and the book is for the Queen. (Martin prepared The Life of His Royal Highness the Prince Consort about Prince Albert, published in 1875-1880.)
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Apologizing that he cannot help him: "The Queen has never spoken to me about a Book with a title anything like what you mention. The only thing like it I know was some book I have seen somewhere advertised called "Bones & I" [a novel by Whyte Melville, published in 1868]; but I fancy that was scarcely of a kind to be suggested for Imperial perusal." He adds that another volume (doubtless of the life of Prince Albert) has been completed.
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Asking for assistance with the authorship of some lines of verse.
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A letter about the third volume of his major work, The Monks of the West, promising the fourth and fifth volumes will be published (presumably in French) in about a fortnight or three weeks; and professing himself "quite at a loss to understand why Mr. Blackwood has omitted in the English version the second title, which is in the French original: Conversion of England by the Monks . . ." He also sends a list of people to whom copies of volume III and subsequent volumes are to be sent, including J. H. Newman and A. W. Kinglake. Montalembert's book was published in English by Blackwood's between 1861 and 1879.
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Asking if anything can be done for "the person about whom I wrote to you some time since."
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Acknowledging receipt of Langford's letter, with thanks, and promising to send the paper when he receives the number of Blackwood's Magazine containing it.
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Thanking Langford for the trouble he has taken, and informing him that the Tasso has been received quite safe; and with a further note about another book on Catherine II apparently ordered through Bohn-but now that the other has arrived it is of minor importance.
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[both written in third person] Concerning his much-reprinted publication, A Handy Book of Property Law, published by Blackwood's.
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1 box
Relating some school story, apparently from Eton days.
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Inviting him to come to see him "whenever you want a breath of fresh air."
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[to Robert Blackwood] Saying that he will join Blackwood on his "Brighton Expedition."
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Giving a resume of his life and career.
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Accepting Langford's congratulations-doubtless on his election to Parliament in 1856-and expressing his delight at his position: "I am wonderfully well recd. In the H[ouse], by men of all parties: & Lord D[erby], & all my friends, loudly applaud my reserve."
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Headed "Strictly Private & Confidential," reporting that he is "desperately" endeavoring at a new novel, which is his "last chance, if I fail here," and asking him down to see him at his retreat (in Kent).
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Introducing Mr. R. D. G. Macdonald, who has written an article on Mexico.
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1 box
[to Messieurs Blackwoods & Co.] Sending his friend Mr. Gibson to collect the fifty copies of his book (probably Letter Addressed to the Citizens of Rome, published in 1849).
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[to Messieurs Blackwood & Sons] Informing Blackwood's that a parcel containing his autobiography has been forwarded from Edinburgh to London, and asking them to deliver it to his friend Charles Henry Smith.
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Signed by both the apprentice (as "Joseph Munt Langford") and his master, James Nisbet. Printed form on vellum, completed by hand and witnessed by W. Thomas Bosley and W. Rivington for the Stationers' Company. This document lays down Langford's duties as Nisbet's apprentice for the term of seven years, and acknowledges receipt of the sum of £250 paid by Langford's brother; it also states that Langford was the son of John Langford, farmer, of Wallingford, Berks, deceased.
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