Further to a request from Sydney Chapman for extracts on Alfred HARRIS in "Pen and Pencil Pictures", the email address given failed, and my email has been returned as undeliverable. On reflection the content may be of interest to subscribers on the list, and worth posting for all to read - We seem to have two Alfred HARRIS's in the index, so I'll run throught the references to the elder first of all. Page 85 - This is in a chapter about the Bradford Mechanics' Institute. It simply mentions the first board of management which would have been formed about the end of 1831. It just names Mr. Alfred HARRIS as the Treasurer. Page 89 - Again only a brief mention in a piece about the Church Literary Institute. Mr. Alfred HARRIS was one of two Vice-Presidents. Page 91 Alfred clearly had his hand in a number of pies. The Philosophical Society was formed on 12th April 1839, and Alfred is appointed Treasurer. Page 92. This is a mention of Alfred junr. not the other. A meeting was held on December 23rd 1864 with the object of re-establishing the Philosophical Society and it only names Alfred Harris junr. as being present. Page 106. This is part of a chapter about the Schools. First of all it deals with the Quakers' School which began in 1816, but needed a larger building in 1831. The Site of this was 'a generous gift of Mr. Charles HARRIS. Then in the next paragraph dealing with Parochial-schools it says that Dr. Scoresby's report names Mr. Alfred HARRIS as Treasurer. Page 158 We are now on to the old banks. which section begins with the Old Bradford Bank built by Mr. Edmund PECKOVER, the uncle of Charles HARRIS. When Edmund died, he was succeeded by his eldest brother Joseph as head of the Bank, and about the same time Mr. Henry HARRIS joined the bank. When Joseph retired in 1823 the firm was joined by Mr. Alfred HARRIS, when it took the name of C.H. & A. HARRIS & Co.. In 1840 Charles retired and the firm was renamed to H.A. and W.M. HARRIS. Another change took place in 1850 when Mr. Alfred HARRIS junior now of Lunefield, Kirkby Lonsdale, was admitted a partner, and the firm became HARRIS & Co, which title it retained till it became a joint stock company in 1864. Page 159 Now we are told something of the family. - "The three brothers, Charles, Henry and Alfred HARRIS, and their sister, Miss HARRIS, were members of an old Quaker family in the south of England. With the exception of Mr. Alfred who became attached to the church of England, they all died as they had lived, in close membership with the Society of Friends. It will not, however be as bankers merely or even Quakers that these brothers will be best remembered. They were true philanthropists in their day and generation, and as such their names will be ever fragrant. It were needless to mention the many charitable intitutions that tasted the sweetness of their benevolence. Their deeds of kindness were done quietly and without ostentation, and it would ill become us to parade them now. It is enough to know that their liberality was generous and instinted, and that it was extended to every good and deserving cause." (looks like the author got a bit carried away there:-) with fragrance and sweetness!! Page 193. Now we are into politics. Three candidates contested the 1859 election, viz., Mr. WICKHAM, Mr. Titus SALT, and Mr. Alfred HARRIS. - "Mr. Alfred HARRIS, the Conservative candidate, had not hitherto brought himself into prominence by taking a public interest in politics. His was a retiring and unobtrusive nature, and the surprise to many was not so much that such a candidate should have been selected, as that so modest and unassuming a gentleman should have consented to bear the brunt of an election contest. Mr. HARRIS was held in great esteem by his townsmen both for his private worth and his great benevolence, but it was not difficult to perceive that Mr.SALT was the more popular candidate of the two. On the show of hands being taken at the nomination, the majority were in favour of Mr. WICKHAM and Mr. SALT. A poll was therefore demanded for Mr.HARRIS, which was to take place on the following day." Then follows a long piece about Mr. Salt winning, victory celebrations etc. Page 194 lists all of the election expenses for the three candidates. Page 198. Here we have a summary of all the elections from 1832 to 1886. In 1859, Alfred HARRIS got 1,222 votes. The references to Mr. RUSKIN are much briefer, and nowhere are they linked to Mr. HARRIS. Page 27. John RUSKIN is only mentioned here as admiring a sculpture. Page 87. In a long piece about the Bradford Mechanics' Institute, it lists some lecturers, and this includes John RUSKIN. Regards Malcolm Hutton (Away for a few days next week) --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.476 / Virus Database: 273 - Release Date: 24/04/2003