This collection (2 linear feet) is made up of outgoing letters written by Scottish politician Henry Peter Brougham, printed copies of two of Brougham's parliamentary speeches, and notes and documents related to British law.
The collection is comprised primarily of Brougham's outgoing correspondence to recipients such as John W. Croker, Lord [John] Murray, and Lord [John] Russell, dated 1807-1865 (bulk 1824-1864). Brougham discussed political issues and politicians, often related to the actions of Parliament. Some of his letters pertain to the country's relationships with Scotland, Ireland, Canada, and France, and to specific legislation, including the repeal of the Corn Laws. Many of the letters concern the actions of Robert Peel and to Parliamentary party politics, and a few concern the relationship between historical legislation and contemporary political issues. Some of the correspondence is more personal in nature, occasionally concerning magazines such as the Edinburgh Review; a small number of items are in French. The first seven volumes of the collection contain occasional newspaper clippings and articles in English and French.
The collection contains a bound copy of Brougham's speech on the "Present State of the Law," presented before the House of Commons on February 7, 1828; the copy, one of 30, is inscribed to M. A. Taylor. The speech concerns the state of the English and Welsh court system, the administration of justice in Great Britain, specific laws, and trial procedures, among other subjects. A second, shorter speech delivered before the House of Lords pertains to education reform (May 23, 1835).
Other materials include approximately 100 pages of annotated articles and related notes regarding many different legal topics, a document prepared for the defendants in a trespassing case brought before the Yorkshire Summer Assizes (July 31, 1824), and proposed routes for travelling through France (ca. 1832?).
Henry Peter Brougham was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on September 19, 1778, the son of Henry Brougham (1742-1810) and Eleanor Syme (1750-1839). He studied law at the University of Edinburgh and practiced in Scotland before joining Lincoln's Inn in London in 1803; a few years later, he was called to the English bar, and he established a strong reputation and legal practice, serving as Queen Caroline's counsel for a time. Brougham was an early contributor to the Edinburgh Review and greatly influenced its style, content, and political leanings. Brougham's strong political views led to his desire for a political career, and he served several terms in Parliament between 1810 and 1830, during which he aligned himself with the radical wing of the Whig Party. From 1830-1834, he served as Lord Chancellor. He remained involved in British politics after his tenure, though he held no further public office. Brougham, who became the Baron Brougham and Vaux in 1830, married Mary Ann Spalding, a widow, on April 1, 1819; they had one child who died in infancy and a second daughter, Eleanor Louise (1822-1839). Henry Brougham died on May 7, 1868.
