Yeats (William Butler, poet, 1865-1939) Autograph Letter signed to ?Mr. Matterman, 1p., 8vo, 82 Merrion Square, Dublin, 15th January [1923], at the time of the Irish Civil War, I never wrote to thank you for your very kind entertainment of me in Leeds. I can only apologize and hope you will forgive this belated letter. I am writing amid the sounds of the most prolonged street fighting I have heard for weeks. I have heard what I think were mines & then a constant rattle of machine guns. One never gets used to it I think", fold, slightly browned.

⁂ The irish Civil War, fought in the wake of the inception of the Irish Free State, between supporters of the Anglo-Irish agreement and opponents who objected to Britain retaining the six counties of Ulster.