An Original Handwritten and Signed Letter by Viceroy of India Sir John Lawrence to Sir Henry James Sumner Maine. Dated 1867. A long letter discussing Lawrence extending his term as Viceroy of India and other matters. John Laird Mair Lawrence, 1st Baron Lawrence, 1811-1879, known as Sir John Lawrence, Bt. was an English-born Ulsterman who became a prominent British Imperial statesman and served as the Viceroy of India from 1864 to 1869. 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 230mm x 185mm. Condition is good. Light folding crease.