ALS to Richard Edgcumbe [Saturday] 27 March 1875. Single sheet, cream laid paper, no watermark, integral blank leaf 175x111mm. Trace of fold. Offprint of modern printed address on reverse blank. Fine.
The Public Face of Wilkie Collins III 81
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90, Gloucester Place, Portman Square. W. London 27th March 1875 Dear sir, Pray accept my thanks for your kind letter. I gladly avail myself of the honour of becoming a member of the Committee for The Byron Memorial - and I will assist, |
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to the best of my ability, in helping forward the object-the excellent object, as I think-which you have in view.. Believe me dear sir Faithfully yours Wilkie Collins Richard Edgcumbe Esqre |
NOTES
Richard John Frederick Edgcumbe (1843-1937), from the family of the Earl and Baron of Mount Edgcumbe, was sergeant-at-arms to Queen Victoria, Edward VII, and George V. He was a tireless campaigner for a Byron memorial. He wrote a history of Byron's last years and later a pamphlet in which he mentions Wilkie Collins's support for his work.
(History of the Byron Memorial, Richard Edgcumbe, London 1883 p.9). There
is no evidence that Wilkie was active in the organisation.