1877 Duke Richmond 4p ALS Letter Selwin‑Ibbetson - Cattle Plague Foreign Import For Sale

Goodwood, Chichester — April 9, 1877. Autograph letter signed “Richmond & Gordon” (Charles Henry Gordon‑Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond) to Henry John Selwin‑Ibbetson MP, concerning the imminent House of Commons Committee on Cattle Plague and the politically sensitive question of foreign cattle importation.

Full Transcription:

Goodwood, Chichester.Answered Ap/10.April 9, 1877.

My dear Ibbetson

You probably are aware that a Comm. of the Ho. Com. is about to be appointed to go into the question of Cattle plague and the necessity for admitting Foreign Animals for the supply of food to the people.

I have been very anxious that you should be Chairman of the Commee for if you will allow me to say so, I have a great opinion of your sound judgement and good sense, and I feel sure you would manage to keep the Commee in order and also take care that the inquiry was kept in proper channel. I have already mentioned my views to both Northcote and Cross as being purely a Ho. Com arrangement, and have not liked to communicate with you directly.

As I understand the Commee will shortly be appointed I think I may now do so, without impropriety.

I shall be most happy to converse with you and go into all the details.

I am afraid all our agricultural friends are very unreasonable and not the least so one of your Constituents a Mr. Spencer who has called me every name but a gentleman.

I shall be in London on Thursday next.

Yours very trulyRichmond & Gordon

This letter sits squarely within the post‑rinderpest political struggle. Although the catastrophic 1865–67 outbreak had ended, fears of re‑introduction remained intense. Britain was importing over 200,000 foreign cattle annually, many from regions with recent disease activity.

The Royal Commission on Cattle had issued recommendations, but agricultural protectionists (including Richmond) wanted stricter controls or outright restrictions. The House of Commons Committee referred to here was the next stage in turning those recommendations into legislation.

Richmond’s lobbying of Ibbetson reflects:

• Conservative Party divisions between free‑trade and agricultural wings

• pressure from rural constituencies

• fears of renewed cattle plague

• economic anxiety over foreign livestock undercutting British farmers

The mention of Spencer’s anger is typical of the rural agitation of the period.

A strong political letter linking four major Conservative figures during Disraeli’s second ministry. Excellent agricultural‑policy content, with direct reference to the Commons committee machinery and the aftermath of the rinderpest crisis.

Condition as photos. All items can be returned for a full refund if found to be not as described.

Richmond & Gordon — Charles Henry Gordon‑Lennox (1818–1903), 6th Duke of Richmond, Lennox & Gordon. A leading Conservative figure and one of the strongest aristocratic voices on agricultural protectionism, foreign cattle restrictions, and post‑rinderpest disease control.

Henry John Selwin‑Ibbetson (1824–1902) — Conservative MP for West Essex and Under‑Secretary of State for the Home Department in 1877. A trusted procedural figure, ideal for chairing a sensitive Commons committee.

Sir Stafford Northcote (1818–1887) — Chancellor of the Exchequer, consulted by Richmond due to the economic implications of foreign cattle importation.

Sir Richard Assheton Cross (1823–1914) — Home Secretary, responsible for animal‑disease legislation and quarantine enforcement.

“Mr. Spencer” — an unidentified agricultural constituent of Ibbetson in West Essex; almost certainly a local farmer angered by the foreign‑cattle class="MsoNormal">One of c.2,500+ items once from the collection or dealer stock of Winifred A Myers (Autographs) Ltd, St Martins Lane, London, evidenced by the quantity of Myers pre-printed envelopes and paper folders and the general ‘presentation’ of the items, many having Myers identification notes in pencil.

Winifred Alice Myers (1909 - 1985) served as ABA (Antiquarian Booksellers Assoc) president, 1950-1952. See the ABA website for an extended article on Myers. Myers left her business, in 1985, to Ruth Shepherd, who traded from home until 2004.

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