SIR THEODORE MARTIN - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 01/14/1887 - HFSID 73065

SIR THEODORE MARTIN
Poet Sir Theodore Martin, who wrote books on Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, wrote this letter to a priest in 1887. In it, he turns down an invitation to dinner because of excessive smoking at them.
Autograph letter signed "Theodore Marin". Black ink notations on matte in unknown hand.1 page, 4¼x7, 1 sheet folded, front and verso. Matted to 6½x8¾. London, England, Jan. 14, 1887. Addressed to the Rev. J. Studholme Browning. In full: "Dear Sir I rerget I cannot attend your next dinner. The to me odious practice of smoking prevents my going anywhere that people indulge in it. I suffered for at least ten days acutely after your last dinner - [illegible] of the Smoking, &nearly fainted before I got out of the room. Yours truly". Martin (1816-1909), born and educated in Scotland, practiced law in London but made his reputation as a translator of poetry from Danish, German (Goethe) and Latin (Horace). At Queen Victoria's request, he undertook a 5-volume biography of the late Prince Albert, published 1874-1880. He became a close confidant of the Queen, and later wrote a volume of reminiscences, Queen Victoria as I Knew Her, published privately in 1902 and publicly, with King Edward VII's permission, in 1908. Martin married Shakespearean actress Helena Faucit (1817-1898) in 1851. Lightly toned and soiled. Light stain and nicks at top edge. Edges of matte are irregular. Folded in half horizontally and once vertically and unfolded. Otherwise in fine condition.