GLADSTONE, William Ewart (1809-1898). Prime Minister 1868, 1880-85, 1886, 1892-94.
Autograph Letter Signed ("W E Gladstone") as President of the Board of Trade in Peel's Tory Government, to Sir E. Disborne [evidently an Ambassador, as Gladstone has written the initials "H.E.", for "His Excellency", before his name].
2 pages 8vo,
An interesting query.
"Can you apprise me either accurately or with such approximation to accuracy as may be relied on for practical purposes, what proportion of the sugar of Java is necessarily consigned to Holland [the colonial power], and how much is available to meet the general demand of the world directly from the place of growth?"
At the Board of Trade Gladstone, still in his thirties, was deeply involved in Tariff Reform and gained an unrivalled insight into the workings of industry and commerce.
