Letter from Sir Neville Chamberlain to General Sir Peter Lumsden 1883

A manuscript letter in his own hand written on three sides of a small sheet of folded writing paper embossed Lordswood, Southampton, dated 29th November 1883, and signed Neville Chamberlain. His letter notes some attempt in the Morning Post to discredit Lumsden’s appointment to the Council of India, which he attributes to those who held opposing views on Afghanistan. The blank final page shows evidence of having been pasted to an old album page. This is sold with another letter on Lordswood paper indistinctly signed. dated 12 Jan. 1903, advising Lumsden that his old friend is approaching his end and that he has asked that Lumsden  be given some remembrance by his executors in token of his affectionate remembrance of the many years you were together in India. mar3/1   SOLD 18th March 2023

General, later Field Marshal Sir Neville Chamberlain  [1830-1902] had a distinguished Indian career and probably first met Lumsden before the Mutiny when he was commanding the Punjab Frontier Force. He was a staunch supporter of Lawrence’s views on Afghanistan.

Provenance: From a large archive of the General’s papers passed down through descendants of his brother, General Sir Harry Lumsden. Lumsden himself had no children.