An Autograph Letter to his solicitor, on prison stationery.

(York Debtors' Prison letter.) POPPLE (Robert)

An Autograph Letter to his solicitor, on prison stationery.

Description: written in black ink on prison paper, a bifolium with the rules for prisoner correspondence on the front page, the two ruled internal pages for the content of the letter (written 'on the line only, and on no account to cross them'), the rear with the address of Popple's solicitor in Hull, folded for sending with the postmarks for both despatch and receipt on successive days, pp. [4], 4to, a little grubby to edges, some splitting at folds, in a couple of instances leading to small tears, but with no loss of text, good condition

Publication Details: 13th December 1865

Notes: An interesting document, sent from the Debtors' Prison at York Castle, where, before 1869, individuals could be imprisoned for commercial debt until it had been paid off – the fate befalling Robert Popple, a Yorkshire oil merchant. The substance of Popple's letter is with regard to his outstanding debts, the extent of which in relation to individual claimants he specifies, but principally discusses his anxiety over the fate of his Mill – asking his solicitor, Thomas Chester in Hull, to 'see Mr Wilson & ask him not to let the Mill pass out of his hands', explaining that various parts of th...moreAn interesting document, sent from the Debtors' Prison at York Castle, where, before 1869, individuals could be imprisoned for commercial debt until it had been paid off – the fate befalling Robert Popple, a Yorkshire oil merchant. The substance of Popple's letter is with regard to his outstanding debts, the extent of which in relation to individual claimants he specifies, but principally discusses his anxiety over the fate of his Mill – asking his solicitor, Thomas Chester in Hull, to 'see Mr Wilson & ask him not to let the Mill pass out of his hands', explaining that various parts of the land might be let in order to provide security. Popple is adamant that prospects are good – the Mill, he writes, 'would have left me over £200 this year with every prospect of more next year', keeping him 'respectably even during this American War' [i.e., the American Civil War], had it not been been for 'old debts which were pressing me down'.Of additional interest is the printed matter outlining the 'Rules for the Guidance of Prisoners and Their Friends': most refer to those incoming, requiring those corresponding with prisoners 'not to contain any irrelevant matter, as news of the day, [...] improper advice, [...] or unbecoming language', and of course restricts the sending of 'Clothes, or other articles'. HIDE