An Original Handwritten Letter and Envelope Signed by George Nathaniel Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston to Bernard Holland. Dated 1898. Bernard Henry Holland 1856-1926 was a barrister, civil servant and writer. A long letter discussing the virtues and appointment of Walter Lawrence as his future Private Secretary to Curzon. George Nathaniel Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston, 1859-1925, was a British Conservative statesman who served as Viceroy of India from 1899 to 1905, during which he created the territory of Eastern Bengal and Assam. Despite his successes as both Viceroy of India and Foreign Secretary, Curzon was in 1923 denied the office of Prime Minister. Bonar Law and several other Conservative Party leaders preferred Stanley Baldwin rather than Curzon for Prime Minister.. Sir Henry James Sumner Maine 1822-1888, was a British Whig comparative jurist and historian. He is famous for the thesis outlined in his book Ancient Law that law and society developed "from status to contract." According to the thesis, in the ancient world individuals were tightly bound by status to traditional groups, while in the modern one, in which individuals are viewed as autonomous agents, they are free to make contracts and form associations with whomever they choose. Because of this thesis, Maine can be seen as one of the forefathers of modern legal anthropology, legal history and sociology of law. Size is 200mm x 125mm. Condition is good. Light folding crease.