Wellington Pamphlets
This collection consists of pamphlets presented to the first Duke of Wellington, and is a valuable source for contemporary views on the political, social and economic questions facing Great Britain during the first forty years of the nineteenth century.
The emphasis is on political reform but other subjects covered include the reform of the banking and taxation system, the problem of agricultural distress, the Poor Law system and the controversy over the repeal of the Corn Laws. The issues of Catholic Emancipation and Church reform are also well-represented and pamphlets on the abolition of slavery in the British West Indies complement those held in the Oates Collection. There are also pamphlets relating to charities such as the Bath Penitentiary and Lock Hospital and the London Vaccine Institution.
Two sections of pamphlets on France deal with the restoration of the monarchy, the Assembly and financial questions 1814-1818 and with the Revolution of 1830. There are also pamphlets on the Portuguese and Spanish constitutional problems of the 1820s, relations with Holland and Belgium and titles relating to the East India Company.
Extent: 3,155 pamphlets dating from the late 18th century to the mid-19th century.
Location and Access
The Wellington Pamphlets are part of Special Collections on level 4 of the Hartley Library and items are fetched for use in the Archives and Rare Books Search Room.
The Search Room is open Tuesday-Thursday 10.00-16.00. Visits are by prior appointment and all visitors will be required to book their visit and to order their material by 12 noon 1 working day (weekdays) in advance. There is information on how to book an appointment at Visiting Special Collections.
Catalogue
Library Search includes records for all Wellington Pamphlets. It enables you to search the Library's printed books, journals and electronic resources at the same time. Access to e-resources is limited to staff and students of the University.
To limit a search to the Wellington Pamphlets, enter your search terms followed by B8: Wellington
By using Advanced Search, you can undertake a more targeted search by selecting search indexes from drop-down lists and by pre-setting filters for format and date.
See Wellington Pamphlets for a list of titles.
Enquiries
For general enquiries about the Wellington Pamphlets contact: Jenny Ruthven email: archives@soton.ac.uk or tel. 023 80593335
Search Room Bookings: email: archive@soton.ac.uk or tel. 023 80592721
Address: Special Collections, Hartley Library, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ
Reprographics Service
You can request digital photographs of rare books, subject to the age and condition of the item.
See Reprographics Service for a list of the types of copy available and charges.
Collection History
The first Duke of Wellington began his army career as an ensign in 1787, eventually becoming a field marshal in 1813.
After his victory at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, Wellington was made Commander-in-Chief of the allied armies of occupation in France and joint plenipotentiary to the Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1818. Following his return to England in 1818, he held a number of official positions and political offices, and was Prime Minister in 1828–1830 and again in 1834.
The pamphlets which form the collection deal mainly with the issues confronting Wellington during his political career. The Wellington Pamphlets were deposited at the University Library by the eighth Duke of Wellington in 1975, followed in 1983 by the Wellington Papers.
Rare Books (Well Pamph. 404)
Access to some collections is restricted to members of the University.
