Manuscript, in a single hand, of a collection of several hundred poems on primarily moral or spiritual subjects, many taken from printed works by such poets as John Dryden, William Shakespeare, Alexander Pope, Joseph Addison, Richard Steele, and Isaac Watts. Other entries include epitaphs and psalms. The volume also contains some of Hamby's own religious verses as well as verses by several of his Norfolk acquaintances. The work is prefaced by an introduction which declares that although a preface seems needless when the volume is meant for "one private person," the preface will be useful to those who will read the work after his decease. The preface provides an autobiography of Hamby, focusing on his development as a writer.
Description:
Autograph on flyleaf: S. S. Toms., Autograph on title page: M. Toms., Binding: contemporary full morocco with gilt and blind-stamped decoration. Title on spine: Manuscript Poetry., Marbled endpapers., and Pasted in: engraved portrait of Nathaniel Hamby, "de Wymondham in Com. Norfoliciae."
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain--Religious life and customs--18th century
Manuscript, in the hand of John Abbott, of some of the "accounts of Divine occurrences" written by his wife Ann. Topics include her first religious awakenings, temptations, and conversion; experiences of the Spirit at Quaker meetings; her struggles with the proper division between love of God and love of family and friends; and her occasional fondness for "fine dress." This is followed by a copy of a 1789 letter to a young man containing moral and business advice. Abbott concludes this section of the notebook with a description of the final illness and death, in 1791, of this "affectionate wife [and] tender mother." and The notebook concludes with "A Memorable Instance of Divine Guidance," which tells the story of "James Dickensen and Jane Fearn," who fled a house in fear of being murdered and eaten, only to discover "some years later" that their hosts were indeed murderers.
Description:
Binding: stiff blue wrappers., For information on the source of acquisition, consult the appropriate curator., Front cover annotated: "Manuscript book No. 182.", and Pasted in on last page: ALS from William Button to his "uncel," February 1855.
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain--Religious life and customs--18th century
Subject (Topic):
Christian life--18th century, Conduct of life--18th century, Quakers, Spiritual biography--England, and Women--Religious life--England
Poems by the Right Honourable John, Earle of Rochester
Image Count:
8
Abstract:
Manuscript on paper containing twenty-five poems, the complete text of the play "Lucinas Rape; or, the Tragedy of Vallentinian" with Sir Francis Fane's "Masque," and a prose address "To the Reader", purportedly by a William Lovesey, Vicar of Brampton.
Description:
Binding: half-russia, marbled boards., Bookplate: "The Reverend Sir George Lee, Baronet. Hartwell.", For information on the source of acquisition, consult the appropriate curator., Front endpaper annotated: "This manuscript was found at Hartwell, March, 1829. J. Lee." "bound Mr. Wilson, March, 1829.", and With: tipped-in engraved portrait of Rochester by R. White.
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain--Religious life and customs--18th century
Subject (Name):
Fane, Francis,--Sir,--d. 1689?
Subject (Topic):
English poetry--17th century and Verse satire, English
Manuscript, in a single hand, of a collection of 43 primarily sentimental, melancholy, and religious poems on such subjects as death and divine and human love. Titles of poems include Seraphick love; To melancholy; On death; On the day of judgment; On love; Love undiscovered; Friendship in absence; On beauty; and The vanity of man in the similitude of a bubble. The poems are by various authors, whose identities are indicated only by their initials.
Description:
Autograph on front cover: Anne Woolfe. Other pen trials also appear on front cover., Binding: paper. Written on front cover: A Collection of Poems., and For information on the source of acquisition, consult the appropriate curator.
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain--Religious life and customs--18th century
Subject (Topic):
Death--Poetry, English poetry--18th century, Love poetry, English, Religious poetry, English, and Sentimentalism in literature
