International Autograph Auctions Ltd.
Lot 525
[CHURCHILL WINSTON S.]: (1874-1965) British Prime Minister 1940-45, 1951-55. Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 1953. MARSH EDWARD (1872-1953) British Polymath & Civil Servant, Private Secretary to Winston Churchill for many years. Autograph Manuscript, unsigned, three pages, 8vo, The Palace, Khartoum, 24th December 1907. Marsh's manuscript recounts the funeral of Scrivings, which had taken place earlier that evening, in part 'The funeral procession left the Civil Hospital at 5.30. It was headed by the band of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers; then followed a detachment of the men; and after the coffin, which was placed on the gun carriage and covered with the colours, then walked Mr. Churchill, Col. Wilson, Mr. Marsh, Capt. Dickinson, an officer who had accompanied Mr. Churchill through Uganda and down the Nile…..Mr Churchill had put a cross of white chrysanthemums & other flowers on the coffin. The cemetery is about half a mile from the hospital & the procession went at a foot's pace, the band playing Chopin's Funeral March….the coffin was placed on the shoulders of six men of the Royal Dublins, who carried it to the grave. Mr. Gwynne proceeded to read the burial service, during which the sun set and darkness came gradually on. At the end, the Last Post was sounded on the bugles, and three volleys of blank cartridges were fired into the air'. Some light age wear and a few neat splits at the folds, only very slightly affecting a few words of text. Together with three A.Ls.S. by Marsh ('E Marsh'), five pages (total), 8vo, [Khartoum] & Whitehall, 1st February (1908) - 19th May 1911, all to Mrs. Scrivings, on the printed stationery of the Colonial Office and the Home Office. Marsh writes on behalf of Winston Churchill, sending his correspondent some photographs and a letter (none present), stating that Churchill has carefully considered her request and writing 'He thinks there would be a great deal of risk in committing the annual pension by a lump sum now. You might invest it in a business which wd not prosper & you wd then be left without any support at all….Mr Churchill knows that you are a very good cook, & he cannot understand why, with the testimonials you have received & the recommendations which he is quite prepared to renew, you cannot keep a good situation….' and in another letter sending a cheque (no longer present) for £25 on behalf of Churchill. Further including an interesting Autograph Manuscript Signed by Frederick Temple Barrington-Ward, a barrister and the Recorder of Hythe, two pages, folio, 24th June 1909, being an Opinion on Churchill and stating, in part, 'This is a case which naturally arouses in any one who reads the papers relating to it the greatest possible sympathy for Mrs. Scrivings in her unfortunate position. There can be no doubt at all but that Mr Churchill and some of his relations made definite promises to provide for the widow of his former valet and the only question for consideration is whether or not such promises are valid in law - Being promises made otherwise than by deed they are not binding unless there is sufficient consideration to support them - if the first proposal made by Mr Churchillcame after his servants death I fear that there is no consideration at all for his promise and that it is only morally binding in the court of conscience alone. If on the other hand it should be that Mr Churchill induced Scrivings to accompany him to Africa by a promise to provide for his wife and children in case anything should happen to him while away from England - then I think that the subsequent promise would be supported by the consideration of Mr Scrivings undertaking
OWING TO RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY THE-SALEROOM.COM A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION FOR THIS LOT CAN NOT BE DISPLAYED.
PLEASE CONTACT THE AUCTIONEERS DIRECTLY FOR A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION
![[CHURCHILL WINSTON S.]: (1874-1965) British Prime Minister 1940-45, 1951-55. Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 1953. MARSH E](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/23443895-8c4a-42e9-8b08-a45100ec37d8/ba9147a8-cfd9-4b17-f565-d7fc53c276af/468x382.jpg)
