86 A LOST PAPER ON HUGH PETER. 



In this prefatory chapter to the last edition of the Cu- 

 riosities of Literature, dated 1848, but only issued in 

 1858, ~the Right Honorable Benjamin Disraeli, speaking 

 of his father, says, "the last labor of his literary life was 

 to vindicate the character of Hugh Peters." 



My attention was called to these facts at Oxford, in an 

 interview with which I was favored, in April, 1886, with 

 the Rev. C. W. Boase, a fellow of Exeter College and a 

 brother of the author. I afterwards availed myself of such 

 means as lay in my power, from time to time, to trace out 

 and, if possible, to secure for printing in our Historical 

 Collections, so valuable a contribution to the local annals 

 of Salem. But these efforts were without results until 

 Mr. Lewis Fry, a member of Parliament for Bristol, vis- 

 ited the Essex Institute in October, 1888, and, interesting 

 himself in the remains of the meeting-house in which Pe- 

 ters ministered, enlisted with ardor in the search. To him 

 I am wholly indebted for such negative success, appar- 

 ently the only result possible, as has at last been reached 

 and I put on record these interesting communications in 

 order to show that no effort has been spared, either on Mr. 

 Fry's part or on mine, which could have led to the unearth- 

 ing and publication of this unique production. Mr. Fry 

 addressed himself directly to the Right Honorable Mon- 

 tague William Lowry-Corry, C. B., Lord Rowton, for- 

 merly private Secretary to the Earl of Beaconsfield and 

 now his literary executor, with the following result. 



GOLDNEY HOUSE, CLIFTON HlLL, BRISTOL. 



15<* Aug., 1889. 

 DEAR MR. RANTOUL : 



You may remember that when we had the pleasure of seeing you 

 last autumn you asked me whether I could ascertain from the late 

 Lord Beaconsfleld's literary executor whether Isaac D'Israeli's paper 

 in vindication of Hugh Peters were in existence and whether I could 

 get the original or a copy for your Historical Society. J did not at the 



