The letters are arranged chronologically under each correspondent.

Watt, George (1851-1930).

Letter, 25 November 1891, of George Watt to ?John Murray III concerning the preparation of an index to Watt’s “Dictionary of the economic products of India”. Folios 1-2.

Letter, 11 November 1903, of George Watt, acting on behalf of the Government of India, to ?John Murray IV concerning the Government of India’s wish to push the advertising and sales of the catalogue of Indian art produced for the Delhi Durbar Exhibition of 1903. Folios 3-4.

Watt, J.G., Reverend.

Letter, 27 March 1899, of J.G. Watt to John Murray IV. The letter concerns William Knapp and the difficulty he experienced in obtaining access to the letters of George Borrow held by the British and Foreign Bible Society whilst preparing his “Life, writings and correspondence of George Borrow” (1899). Folios 5-6.

Watt, James (1736-1819).

Three letters, 1815, of James Watt to John Murray II. The letters concern negotiations over the publication of a corrected copy of an essay on steam and steam engines by Dr John Robinson. Folios 7-10.

Watt, James (1769-1848).

Letters, 1822-1844, of James Watt to John Murray II and to John Murray III. The letters concern various matters, including: mention of the committee for the establishment of a monument to Watt’s father, James Watt (1736-1819), and of the printing of the proceedings of the committee; and, Watt’s observations on the “Mémoire sur les Bateaux à Vapeur des Etats-Unis d’Amérique ...” (1824), by Jean Baptiste Marestier.

1822, 1824, 1829: folios 11-28; 1839: folios 29-42; 1840, 1844: folios 43-52.

Watt, Robert.

Letter, 19 October 1808, of Robert Watt to John Murray II. The letter concerns the arrangements for the publication and sale of a medical work by Watt. Folios 53-54.

Watt, S.M., “Miss”.

Letters, 1909, 1919-1920, of S.M. Watt, Earl’s Court Square, London, to John Murray IV. The letters for 1909 concern a proposal by Watt to make an English translation of a work on Tolstoi by Serge Persky. The letters for 1919-1920 concern a request by Watt to see a portrait of Ugo Foscolo in the possession of John Murray, and of her thanks for having been allowed to do so. Folios 55-62.

Watts, Alaric Alexander.

Letters, 1819-1854, of Alaric Watts to John Murray II and to John Murray III. The letters concern various publishing interests. Mentioned are: Watts’ involvement, as editor of the “New Monthly Magazine”, in the publication of “The Vampyre” by John Polidori; the offer by Watts, on behalf of Charles Maturin, of the manuscript of “Fredolpho” to Murray; Watts’ management and subsequent proprietorship of the annual, the “Literary Souvenir”; the offer by Watts, on behalf of William Howitt, of the manuscript for “The book of the seasons” to Murray (published not by Murray but by Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley in 1831); observations on the publisher Henry Colburn; and, a perceived slander in the “Quarterly Review” against Alaric Watts’ brother, Mosley Watts, and late niece, Mary.

1819-1820, 1826-1827, 1829: folios 63-81; 1830-1831, 1833-1836: folios 82-104 [Notes 1-3]; 1854: folios 105-106. Undated letter, 1851 or after: folios 107-108.

Notes.

[Note 1.] Folios 99-100. Letter, 5 May 1836, of Alaric Watts to [John Gibson Lockhart], as Editor of the “Quarterly Review”. [Note 2.] Folios 101-102. Contemporary copy of a letter, 9 May 1836, of John Gibson Lockhart to Alaric Watts. [Note 3.] Folios 103-104. Manuscript copy, ? 1836, of an article from the “Observer” newspaper for 17 November 1833 concerning the death of Alaric Watts’ niece, Mary Watts. The copy would appear to relate to folios 97-102.