Letter from Sidney Colvin, London, to Mrs. Henley, 1911 September 29 : autograph manuscript signed.

Concerning the disposition of Henley's letters and manuscripts; contradicting the judgment of the Lord Justice with respect to W.E. Henley's papers and recommending that she destroy many of them; saying "Had I my will, I should for instance destroy a good many R.L.S. letters that have been through my hands, - either as too trivial, or too intimate & unveiled, for the eyes of strangers either now or hereafter, or as reflecting on persons in a way which the writer never dreamed of allowing to be known by any one but his correspondent. And I expect that were I dealing with those written to your husband I should feel the same desire. Above all I should dislike the idea of future commentators coming rooting out things for publication which the writer's own representatives had not chosen to publish. Any advice I might give would be coloured by this general preference for destroying everything that is not manifestly worthy & suitable for preservation;" adding "I am very glad to know that you have had such pleasant dealings with Holmes as to the bust & picture. I was afraid, as I mentioned to you, that it would be impossible for the same public gallery to receive them both, and I am clear that the Nat. Portrait Gall. is the right place for the one & the Tate for the other. - I am glad also that the widow and stepson in America met your wishes about your husband's letters in such a friendly way."