S&SWM PR papers L1184

Ansd. Mar /95 | 2 photographs sent

Feb 24/95 | Offa House | St Nicholas Road | Upper Tooting, S.W.

Sir

I am glad to learn from Capt Fox-Pitt that you regard not unfavourably my project of a series of portraits of "Dorset Worthies". As regards yourself - in vol 3 of the "Excavations. which you so kindly sent me, there is what strikes me as an admirable portrait (tho, I must confess I am not so familiar with the face of the original as I could wish to be) To use this, I should require your special permission: which would, I assume, carry with it Messrs Downeys. But Capt Fox-Pitt tells me that you have grown a beard: so that, probably, some fresh photograph - which I should gladly have taken - might be better. It is a point upon which I ask you to decide.

In any case, pardon my saying, no expense would be entailed upon you.

I enclose a preliminary list of those I hope to include, & shall be glad to hear your opinion thereon. It is only a rough one for I have been made prisoner here by Influenza & have not access to "Hutchins." There are other eminent [insert] people, [end insert] residents in or connected with the history of the country whom it might be desirable to include e.g. Lord Eldon Sir Chris Hatton Fuller (who was rector of Broad Windsor) Judge Jeffreys, D of Monmouth Sir Walter Raleigh (Sherborne) [insert] Sir Christopher Wren [end insert] etc etc. What is your opinion?

Should prints or pictures at Rushmore afford assistance might I venture to hope they would be forthcoming [insert] available [end insert]?

I remain Sir
Your obt serv
J.J. Foster

Genl Pitt-Rivers

Enclosure

Tentative list of some Dorset Worthies

Antiquaries
D'Ewes Sir Symonds
Durden John
Hutchins Rev: John
Pitt Rivers Genl
Warne Chas.
Willis, Browne

Artists
Beech Thomas
Hussey Giles
Thornhill Sir James

Authors
Barnes Rev Dr
Creech Thos.
Hardy Thos.
Prior Mat qy born near Wimborne?

Churchmen & Divines
Cardinal Morton
Archbp Lindsay
Archbp Stafford
Archbp Wake
Bp Shillingfleet
James Revd J. Angell

Philanthropists
Coram, Captain
Shaftesbury, Earl of

Science, men of
Bell Professor
Sydenham Dr

Soldier & Sailors
Bingham Sir Richd
Fox Sir Stephen
Hardy, Adml Sir Thos
Page Henry ("Arripay")
Somers Sir George

Statemen
Ashley-Cooper Anthony 1st E of
Forster
Russell John 1 E of Bedford
Ryves Sir T

Unclassified
Bankes Lady qy Dorset born?
Churchill Sir W father of D of Marlborough
Digby, Sir Kenelm

Joshua James Foster does appear to have produced a series of 325 portraits and biographies of Dorset Worthies, including Thomas Hardy: 'FOSTER, J.J.: Wessex Worthies (Dorset). With some account of others connected with the history of the County, and numerous portraits and illustrations. With an introductory note by THOMAS HARDY. Dickinsons 1920. See here for more information about J.J. Foster, he was honorary secretary of the Folklore Society until 1892 and had been born in Dorchester, Dorset. Note that there is a follow-up letter from Foster at L1189, where he makes it clear that he had wondered if Pitt-Rivers has portraits of other Dorset worthies.

Transcribed by AP as part of the Rethinking Pitt-Rivers project June 2011