WINSTON S. CHURCHILL (1874-1965)

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WINSTON S. CHURCHILL (1874-1965)
An unpublished five-page autograph letter, signed, from 105 Mount Street, 7th September, 1905, to Muriel Wilson at Villa Edelweiss, Cannes, the envelope signed with initials. Churchill appears upset by a visit Muriel is proposing to make to Italy in other company, but claims he has expostulated with her, not from any "claim" on her affections, but because he himself wants a share of her presence. "And if you chose to career around Italy with any one you chose -- I should have no right whatever to complain -- even to myself. No that is not what I have asked for. I have asked to be enabled sometimes to see you -- at my own risk -- & I would gladly share any subsequent disappointment or sorrow that might -- & probably would come to me for the sake of the warmth and glitter of your presence." He is actually angry to be treated with such "benevolent indifference" but powerless. "It is a stupid world," he exclaims, "& I am a fool in it. Write to me as you promise and tell me about your Italy. I shall be all next week with Ivor at Ashby St. Ledgers, Rugby; & I shall look every morning for that looped handwriting which sometimes disturbs my letter bag so inconsequently. The first days in October I go to Blenheim ...."

He then mentions a number of more matter-of-fact concerns. He is anxious to get "Freddie" [Frederick Smith] into Parliament, partly for the benefit of the polo team. "He is clever and has just the kind of flashy gifts which are a useful adjunct, if not a sufficient foundation for a politician's reputation. If he gets in & Charlie Castlereagh too we shall have quite a good polo team."

His book is "practically finished ... you cannot think how hard I have worked. Nearly 1100 pages of writing. But on the whole I am satisfied." He has refused the offer of #4000 for it and wants "#6000; & now am going to take my pig to market round all the publishers."

He asks Muriel if she has followed "the Curzon-Kitchener squabble," declaring himself to be "a partisan of Curzon as representing the civil power against the military," and is sorry for "poor dear Minto" who "will be a puppet in Kitchener's hands." Harry Milner has accepted the "important office" of "private secretary to Lord Derby. Everyone is astonished. But there is no accounting for tastes." He then wonders if Arthur Walsh, secretary to the Whitelaw Reids, will marry Nora.

Finally, he asks Muriel to recognise that his ability "to descend to gossip" shows that he is more "composed and reorganised" in his mind. He makes a waspish reference to Venice: "I expect that with Railway stations and electric lights & without its campanile, Venice is a very different place to what it was!" And insists that she write "and not neglect to put at the top of the first page your address in Florence & at Venice, so that I may write you some chatter back." Signing his letter, "Winston S.C." he adds a gossipy post-script with a sting in its tale: "That nice Barbara Lister ... is married to a perfectly detestable nincompoop. Isn't it sad. His name is Wilson! I hope he is no relation of yours."

Lot Essay

Frederick Smith (1872-1930) was Godfather to Churchill's son, and Churchill was also Godfather to his son. Churchill wrote of him in Great Contemporaries: "Our friendship was perfect. It was one of the most precious possessions ... It was never marred by the slightest personal difference or misunderstanding."

Lord Randolph Churchill was published by Macmillan at the beginning of 1906. Frank Harris acted as Churchill's literary agent and succeeded in obtaining an unexpectedly high payment for him of #8000.
The "Curzon-Kitchener squabble" concerned George Curzon, Marquis of Kedleston (1859-1925), as Viceroy of India, and Lord Kitchener, the Commander-in-Chief. Kitchener won the dispute with his Viceroy who resigned in August 1905 to be succeeded by Gilbert Elliot, Fourth Earl of Minto (1845-1914).

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