Henry William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne (1779 – 1848) was the British Whig politician who served as the Home Secretary and twice as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

His first premiership ended when he was dismissed by King William IV in 1834, the last British prime minister to be dismissed by a monarch. Five months later, he was re-appointed and served for six more years, into the reign of Queen Victoria.

Melbourne is best known for helping Victoria settle into her role as Queen, acting almost as her private secretary, and the political scandals that resulted from it, most notably the Bedchamber Crisis.

Melbourne is often recorded as an aloof and lofty man but, during his tenure as PM, his government's Acts were a reduction in the number of capital offences, reforms of local government, and the reform of the Poor laws. This restricted the terms on which the poor were allowed relief and established compulsory admission to workhouses for the impoverished.

The somewhat aloof nature of Melbourne is, perhaps, reflected by the fact that he usually wrote his correspondence - even to his friends - using the third person style!

The city of Melbourne (Australia), Mount Melbourne (Antarctica)

FROM MY PRIVATE COLLECTION, HERE IS A HAND-WRITTEN, SIGNED, PLACED AND DATED NOTE FROM THE MELBOURNE TO ONE OF HIS MP's.

The notes measures approx 4.5-inches by 5.5-inches and remains in excellent condition.

Melbourne wrote and signed (using the impersonal "Lamb") the note in ink.

Melbourne placed and dated :

"Downing St May 15 1839"

Melbourne's completion is permanent.

Melbourne's completion is crystal clear.

THE NOTE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE UNSIGNED 8x10-INCH PAPERSTOCK PHOTO OF MELBOURNE THAT IS SHOWN IN THE LISTING.

As always - no nonsense - I GUARANTEE THE AUTHENTICITY OF THIS AND EVERY SIGNATURE IN MY COLLECTION FOR LIFE or your money back and I put that in writing too!