The letters are to John Murray IV and Hallam Murray. They concern mostly the preparation of John Martineau’s manuscript of “The life of Henry Pelham, Fifth Duke of Newcastle, 1811-1864”. A number of the letters reflect upon the difficulty experienced by Martineau and John Murray IV in gaining permission to publish the manuscript. The 5th Duke’s son, Lord Edward Pelham-Clinton, declined to give permission and it was only after his death that it could be published, in 1908.

Other letters concern the proposal by John Murray IV that Martineau consider writing a biography of John Murray III. Martineau pondered the task, but declined to undertake it.

The letters are arranged chronologically.

1897: folios 1-50;

1898: folios 51-85;

1899: folios 86-123;

1900: folios 124-142;

1901-1904, 1907: folios 143-160.

Undated: folios 161-163.

Other.

Copy, ? 1893-? 1895, of part of a letter, 13 March 1879, of Sir Michael Hicks Beach to Sir Bartle Frere. The copy, by John Martineau, appears to have been used in the writing “The life and correspondence of Sir Bartle Frere, Bart., G.C.B., F.R.S., etc.”, published in 1895. Folios 164-167.