PRIME MINISTER ARCHIBALD P. "5TH EARL OF ROSEBERY" PRIMROSE (GREAT BRITAIN) - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 03/25/1909 - HFSID 44043

ARCHIBALD P. PRIMROSE, 5TH EARL OF ROSEBERY
The successful British society leader and statesman sends letter of inquiry, signs his sentiments and name in black ink
Typed letter signed: "Sincerely/ R" in black ink. 4½x7 folded, 9x7 flat. Written on personal "38 Berkely Square" letterhead. March 25, 1909. London, England. In full: "My dear Lord:- Pray excuse my dictating this letter, as I am under server pressure. I am much honoured by the invitation of the Warden of Trinity College, Glenalmond, and I have an interest in that school for many reasons: so that I should greatly like to do what he wishes. But the end of July is a long, way off, and it is impossible to say what calls there may be on my time at that date. Moreover, I have found out by experience that most of the scrapes of life are brought about by not having a clear understanding beforehand of what is expected! And so I should like to know more about the speech that is required. Is it an after luncheon speech? Is the luncheon one of the boys or of the elders? And what is the usual length of the speech? Forgive, my dear Bishop, this long story, but you have brought it upon yourself". Archibald P. Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery (1847-1929) was a British liberal statesman who pinnacled as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1894-1895. After displaying his remarkable intellect and debating abilities at Eton and later Oxford, Rosebery listed his three goals in life: to win the Epsom Derby, to marry an heiress, and to become Prime Minister, and he managed to succeed in all three. Although many of his horses won at least one of each for the five English Classic Races, it was his horse Ladas who famously won the 1894 Epsom Derby, followed by Sir Visto in 1895 and Cicero in 1905. Rosebery married Hannah de Rothschild, the only child of Jewish banker Baron Mayer de Rothschild, considered to be the greatest English heiress of her day. Rosebery entered into Parliament's House of Lords and became known for his favoring strong national defense and imperialism, abroad and social reform at home, being solidly anti-socialist. He was elected Prime Minister in 1894, during which he is remembered as first coining the term Commonwealth of Nations during a trip to Australia, a term which helped the British Empire evolve as such. However, the continued dissention in his Cabinet led to Rosebery losing interest in running the government and he resigned in 1895. Toned. Slightly worn and soiled. Normal mailing fold. Adhesive stains on verso. Corners rounded. Otherwise, fine condition.