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LevelFile
Finding Number (Click this to view full catalogue structure)NC3/9
TitleCopies of letters to the Reverend F. B. Matthews
Extent22 items
Date1896-1904
DescriptionTranscripts of letters from Neville Chamberlain to Reverend F. B. Matthews [Rector of Andros Island]. Some of the transcripts are marked with ellipses suggesting that parts of the letters are omitted.

The original letters were lent to Anne Chamberlain by Cyril Matthews [son of Rev. F. B. Matthews], and these were transcribed by or for her.

An unnumbered note is also included at the start of the file which includes a list of the letters.

The file contains the following items:
/1: Extract of letter from Reverend F. B. Matthews to Archdeacon Wakefield. See NC3/7/24 for the original letter.
/2: Illness of Mrs Matthews. 17 January 1896.
/3: Decision to abandon the plantation at Mastic Point following failure of the sisal business. 31 July 1896.
/4: Chamberlain's visit to Mastic Point; a present to Matthews' club; robbery of Chamberlain's shop; Knowles being severely drunk and being 'a degraded spectacle...half out of his mind'. 12 December 1896.
/5: People being upset on Chamberlain leaving Mastic Point for the last time. 16 March 1897.
/6: Felix McNeill; Chamberlain's work as Director of Elliot's Metal Works; celebrations for the Queen's Jubilee; Joseph Chamberlain's reception for colonial premiers. 19 July 1897.
/7: Houses at Mastic Point; loan to Matthews; urges Matthews' to not move to the Gold Coast as he proposed. The transcript is labelled 'No date, probably about 1897?'.
/8: 'How far away the Bahamas seem already!'; people in the Bahamas. 9 December 1897.
/9: Financial matters; Matthews not wishing to give up his work in the Bahamas. 25 November 1898.
/10: Joseph and Neville Chamberlain's donations to fund for replacements to churches in the Bahamas destroyed following a hurricane. 17 September 1899.
/11: Transcript of part of letter regarding Chamberlain's holiday in Italy; and says he does not 'intend to make a profession' out of politics despite requests received that he should stand for Parliament. A note by Anne Chamberlain states that the letter must be dated to 1900.
/12: Invitation for Matthews to visit Highbury. 4 June 1900.
/13: Document regarding site of church at Mastic Point. 14 June 1900.
/14: Chamberlain hoping that Matthews leaves the Bahamas; Chamberlain's current work and that he has not 'quite found [his] 'mission' yet'; 'bout' between von Bulow and Joseph Chamberlain; the war. 25 January 1902.
/15: Matthews' financial difficulties. 6 August 1902.
/16: Matthews' financial difficulties. 19 October 1902.
/17: Chamberlain's disappointment at Matthews' request for financial assistance; hope that Matthews' leaves Andros to go to Nassau. 31 December 1902.
/18: Chamberlain's illness with gout; plan to visit Italy; Joseph Chamberlain 'starting this great controversy [his tariff reform campaign] which he believes is vital to our future as an Empire'; doubts over whether the Unionist Party will win the General Election. 31 August 1903.
/19: Matthews' request for old magazines; Matthews' discovery in a cave; Chamberlain's holiday in Italy; Joseph Chamberlain's tariff reform campaign. 11 February 1904.
/20: Old magazines sent to Matthews; James Sands. 17 June 1904.
/21: Chamberlain's illness with gout; his holiday in Scotland; his forthcoming holiday in India. 3 October 1904.
Access StatusOpen
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