| Description | Letters, mostly from Harriet Martineau addressed to Mr Graves, but also including two letters from Maria Martineau to Graves and one from Jane Martineau which are written on their aunt's behalf. In addition, there is a manuscript copy of a single letter from Graves to Harriet Martineau. There are also copies of two other letters to and from Harriet Martineau which appear to have been sent as enclosures with letters to Graves.
The letters of Harriet Martineau, where the address is given, are written from her house the Knoll in Ambleside; the letters to Graves, where they include addressed envelopes, are sent largely to Dove Nest, Windermere; one is addressed to Bowness; and three are sent to addresses in Dublin in 1864 and 1867. The letter he wrote to Harriet Martineau was sent from Windermere Parsonage. It would appear that this correspondence began on Harriet Martineau's arrival in Ambleside in 1845 and that, therefore, the undated letters can be dated to 1845 or later. Some can be dated more closely on the internal evidence. |
| Administrative History | Robert Perceval Graves (1810-1893) was a chaplain and author. He was the son of John Crosbie Graves and Helena, daughter of Rev. Charles Perceval. He wrote 'Life of Sir William Rowan Hamilton: including selections from his poems, correspondence, and miscellaneous writings' in three volumes, 1882-1891; 'Recollections of Wordsworth and the Lake Country', 1869; and numerous sermons. One of his brothers, Charles, was Bishop of Limerick and a mathematician. |