Brief

Brief von H. Coleridge an Bernhard Bolingbroke Woodward

Brief von Herbert[?] Coleridge an Bernhard Bolingbroke Woodward, o. O., 21.06.1860. Schwarze Tinte auf Papier. 1 Doppelbl. Ausfertigung. Mit Bleistiftanmerkungen von anderer Hand.

Bestätigt den Empfang eines Paketes. Beglückwünscht Woodward zur Ernennung zum Bibliothekar der Königin. Macht ihn darauf aufmerksam, dass sich in der Bibliothek des Buckingham Palace 70 oder 80 Bände mit Musik Händels, größtenteils Autographen, befinden, die dringend eingebunden werden müssten. Beruft sich auf Victor Schoelcher. Vergleicht den beklagenswerten Zustand der Manuskripte mit dem Schicksal des Nachlasses von William Turner.

Transkription:
June 21/60
My dear Sir
Your packet arrived safely this morning; your letter preceding it by a whole day. It seems perfectly well done, and I shall be glad to receive the remainder at your early convenience. Any questions you have to ask I will answer to the best of my power.
I am very glad do hear of your appointment to the post of Queen’s Librarian; though I have a somewhat indistinct idea as to the locality of the library which is to be committed to your charge. If it is at Buckingham Palace, your first care ought to be to get the 70 or 80 vols of Handel’s works, most of them his original MS., sumptuously bound; for according to M. Schoelcher they are in a most disgraceful state. Handel bequeathed them in remainder I think to George III, who was too mean to bind them; much as the liberal English nation accepted Turner’s bequest of his priceless pictures, and fraudulently have evaded the condition annexed to the bequest, [...?] that a proper gallery should be built for their reception in ten years from his decease.
Yours truly
H. Coleridge

B. B. Woodward Esq

P.S. I believe I am wrong about Handel. I think now Schoelcher says he gave his MSS [...?] to George II a little before his death. Whichever be the true story, it is a disgrace to Royalty to leave such all-important treasures to the mercy of the worm.

Bleistifteinträge von anderer Hand:
[am Kopf:] Important Re Handel
[neben der Unterschrift:] Grandson of t h e Coleridge