The diary is concerned mostly with fashionable life in London, containing many lists of guests, descriptions of parties, masques, and "revels," details of evening dress and costumes, and sometimes sharp commentary on incidents such as waiting for her carriage for half an hour because her servants had been given "tickets for beer" by her hostess. De Crespigny sometimes quotes conversation extensively. The diary also details a trip to Brighton, where the writer was deeply offended at not being asked to dine at the Pavilion
Description:
Mary Champion de Crespigny (1750-1812) was married to the Admiralty official (later baronet) Claude William Champion de Crespigny. She entertained a fashionable Naval and court circle that included the Prince of Wales, and also published at least one novel, as well as a poem in tribute to Lord Collingwood (1810)., Phillipps MS 11956., Annotated on inside front cover: Journals in continuation of the year 1809., and Binding: marbled paper over cardboard, with title: Journals 1809 and 1810.
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain
Subject (Name):
De Crespigny, Claude Champion, Sir, d.1818. and De Crespigny, Mary.
Subject (Topic):
Upper class, Social life and customs, Women authors, and Brighton (England)
Includes diary in an unknown hand, 1789. Mentions a number of prominent people including Horace Walpole, Mlle. D'Eon, Mrs. Garrick, and others. Daily entries about her life and social contacts, records purchases of ribbons, rollers, glvoes, etc
Description:
Plates wanting., Signatures: [A]-N⁶., Inscribed on flyleaf: "Given me by the Honble. Col. Cosmos Gordon. Margate, Nov. ye. 21st 1788.", and In bibliographical file: two slips of paper, one with names of people mentioned and page references, and the other with a single name: Louisa Paoline Angelina Cosway (aet. 8). 1789-96.
Manuscript, in a single hand, of a letter from Wilkie asking Lady Holland to accept his gift of "two small and imperfect sketches, made from recollection, on my way back from Falmouth, of the two Portraits by Vandyke, of the Earl of Warwick and the Earl of Holland." He explains that the portraits will interest Lady Holland for "having been painted in Holland House." The letter is accompanied by the two watercolor sketches mentioned in the letter, which are signed and dated 1834
Description:
In English.
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain., England., and Great Britain
Subject (Name):
Holland, Elizabeth Vassall Fox, Lady, 1770-1845., Holland family., and Wilkie, David, Sir, 1785-1841.
Subject (Topic):
Art, Letters, Portrait painting, Watercolor painting, and Social life and customs
Manuscript, in a single hand with numerous corrections, of a collection of 15 letters describing life in England, translated into French, possibly from German. The letters discuss English lotteries; the proliferation of newspapers; the constitution and the difficulty of reconciling ideology with practice; Parliamentary elections; literary societies; and the nobility. One letter describes and deplores the cruelty of amusements such as hunting, cock-fighting, and "combats des gladiateurs"; another letter mocks an English law against the illegal wearing of buttons. A letter dated December 14, 1790 discusses the possibility of the abolition of the slave trade; the author declares it is the most talked-of subject of conversation and expresses his astonishment that the trade still exists and The letters are followed by a lengthy essay explaining the Women's March on Versailles on October 5-6, 1789. The volume is prefaced by a note by the translator, who criticizes the motives of many travel writers; says that he was drawn to this letter-writer for his curiosity and interest in humanity; and explains that the writer published two volumes, the first of letters written in Paris and Versailles during the revolution in 1789, and the second of letters in England
Description:
In French., Binding: full calf., and For further information, consult library staff.
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain, Great Britain., England, France, and Versailles (France)
Subject (Name):
Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834., Louis XVI, King of France, 1754-1793., and Necker, Jacques, 1732-1804.
Subject (Topic):
Cockfighting, Elections, Hunting, Lotteries, Slave trade, Newspapers, Nobility, Travelers' writings, French, Description and travel, History, Women, Intellectual life, Politics and government, and Social life and customs
Collection, in a single hand, of 61 letters from Henry Seymour-Conway to his brother, Lord Francis Seymour-Conway, in which he discusses military, political, and social news between 1744 and 1784. The collection contains discussion of his military service in the Netherlands in the 1740s, including a detailed description of battle against the French in a letter dated June 30, 1743; he also mentions his campaign in Germany during the Seven Years' War, including his altercation with Col. Beckwith, his irritation with a commission he has been given, and news of a peace treaty between Austria and Prussia. In 1744 he discusses the practicality of buying a regiment, asks his brother for help raising the money, and offers to sell his own South Sea stock. He writes several letters from Dublin Castle reporting on Irish politics, including some movements in the House of Lords regarding "papists." In England, he complains about prime minister George Grenville's uncivil and unjust treatment of him and defends his decision in the affair of the Britannic Legion and in the John Wilkes affair which led to his dismissal from court and military office in 1764. Conway also occasionally mentions American affairs, including one letter in 1766 which reports the repeal of the Stamp Act, and another in 1774 in which he expresses pleasure on hearing that violent measures in America had been rejected for the present. Numerous letters make reference to friends and family, including his wife Lady Ailesbury and Conway's close friend Horace Walpole, who offers financial assistance after Conway's dismissal; becomes ill in 1765; and visits Conway after Conway's retirement in 1784
Description:
Henry Seymour Conway (1719-1795) was an army general and politician. He fought in the War of the Austrian Succession; served in Ireland during the Jacobite Rebellion, and in Germany during the Seven Years' War. He was successively promoted to major general in 1756 and to lieutenant general in 1759. Sitting in the House of Commons from 1741 to 1774 and from 1775 to 1784, Conway became a leading member of the opposition, opposing the King's action against John Wilkes regarding general warrants in 1763. In 1765, he became secretary of state for the southern department in Lord Rockingham's ministry, where he promoted a policy of reconciliation towards the American colonies. He supported the repeal of the Stamp Act in 1766, and opposed the taxation policies of Chancellor of the Exchequer Charles Townshend. He criticized British prosecution of the war with the American colonies and played an important part in the House of Commons' resolution against continuing the war. In 1747, he married Caroline Bruce, countess of Ailesbury (1721-1803), and had one child, Anne Seymour Damer (1749-1828). His aunt Catherine was the wife of Sir Robert Walpole, and Conway maintained a lifelong friendship and correspondence with his cousin Horace Walpole., Francis Seymour-Conway, first marquess of Hertford (1718-1794) and older brother of Henry Seymour Conway, was a courtier and politician. He became a lord of the bedchamber in 1757 and was sworn to the privy council in 1763. He served as ambassador to France 1763-5, lord lieutenant of Ireland 1765-6, lord chamberlain 1766-1782 and again in 1783. He was also lord lieutenant of Warwickshire from 1757 until his death. From 1766-1782, he was a friend and confidant to George III. Hertford supported Lord North's administration and the war in America, in which three of his sons served, and voted against Shelburne's peace preliminaries in February 1783. He was also influential in Irish politics, owning extensive estates in County Antrim, and serving a term as lord lieutenant in 1765-6., In English., The manuscript is accompanied by typed transcription., Pasted into letter of Aug 22, 1744: printed and handwritten note about Cadivor ap Gwaethvord, Lord of Cardigan Iscoed., Laid in with letter of August 11, 1748: list of contents of manuscript., Laid in with letter of May 11, 1764: newspaper clipping from Gazetteer, dated May 9, 1764, concerning Conway's dismissal., Vol. 2 with original binding, now housed separately. Binding: half red morocco over marbled boards. Written on cover: The Conway Correspondence. Pasted inside front cover: bookplate with Order of the Garter. Laid in with the covers are a pencilled floor plan and a page from a journal listing the numbers of foot soldiers and naval ships and guns in Europe, North America, Africa, East and West Indies, and the Mediterranean., and Binding for volume 2 shelved separately. For further information, consult library staff.
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain., Great Britain, United States., Ireland, and United States
Subject (Name):
Conway, Henry Seymour, 1721-1795., Grenville, George, 1712-1770., Hertford, Francis Seymour-Conway, Marquess of, 1718-1794., Walpole, Horace, 1717-1797., Wilkes, John, 1725-1797., Great Britain. Parliament., and Ireland. Parliament.
Subject (Topic):
Military administration, Seven Years' War, 1756-1763, Stamp act, 1765, Court and courtiers, Foreign relations, Militia, Politics and government, and Social life and customs
"A country dance; eighteen couples in a strip design in the manner of the 'Long Minuet' (No. 7229), dance with awkward vigour; one of the most active ladies has a wooden leg. The first couple (left) face each other, the lady squinting violently. On the right a man turns eagerly from his elderly and offended partner to a young lady, whose partner also holds the hand of another lady, while an elderly man stands alone on the extreme right, holding his wig, and mopping his bald head. The elder men wear powdered hair with small pigtails, the younger ones have frizzed hair without powder, short or with small tails. Only one or two wear wigs. The women wear simple high-waisted gowns with elbow sleeves and long gloves; one wears a hat and long sleeves. All wear flat-heeled shoes, and have frizzed hair, short, or piled on the head; a few wear feathered bandeaux; one lady only has powdered hair. Some have strange hair ornaments: a fat and very decolletee lady with a lap-dog under her arm wears round her erect bush of hair a circlet from which project barbed zigzags, like lightning flashes. A youngish lady has on her head a bird with a barbed fang; an older one in spectacles wears a small windmill behind two drooping aigrettes. The neglected lady wears a tiny wheat-sheaf, her pretty rival a ship in full sail. Below the title: 'What an elegant Set-What a bustling of Rumps! What a Sweet Toe to Toe-ing of Slipers and Pumps! At the sight my Old Drumsticks are ready to Prance There is nothing I love so as seeing Folks Dance.'':--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title from caption etched below image on third sheet., Artist's signature from impression in the British Museum., Four lines of verse below title: What an elegant set, what a bustling of rumps! What a sweet toe to toe-ing of slipers [sic] and pumps! ..., One continuous design on five plates., Description based on imperfect impression; sheets trimmed within plate mark and artist's signature erased from lower left corner of first sheet., and BAC: British Art Center copy is the Abbey copy. Untrimmed. Artist's signature visible on lower left corner of first sheet. Hand-colored.
Publisher:
Published Aug. 15, 1811, by Robinson, 5 Margaret Street, Cavindish Square & Calnaghi, Cockspur Street
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain. and Great Britain
Subject (Topic):
Caricatures and cartoons, Social aspects, English wit and humor, Pictorial, Social life and customs, and Dance
Manuscript, in multiple hands, of 51 letters from Delany to her friend, Mary (Hamilton) Dickenson; several of them have been annotated by Dickenson. Some of the letters are in Delany's hand; others are in the hand of her niece Georgina Mary Anne Port and other secretaries. The letters contain primarily matters of routine correspondence, including invitations to tea; numerous references to Miss Hamilton's enviable proximity to the Queen and Delany's delight with the reception of a locket containing a lock of the Queen's hair; and inquiries and updates about the health of various acquaintances. Occasionally Delany sends her artwork to Miss Hamilton, and on June 22, 1785, she sends her congratulations on Miss Hamilton's marriage to John Dickenson. The collection also includes one letter to "Sally Sandford" asking her to entreat Delany's godson to visit Mrs. Dickenson
Description:
Mary Delany (1700-1788), courtier and artist, married Alexander Pendarves (1660-1725) in 1718. After his death in 1725, she lived in London, going to court functions, the opera, and the theater. She made many important friendships during this time, with whom she would carry on an extensive correspondence. In 1743, she married Patrick Delany (1685/6-1768) and moved to Dublin. When he died in May 1768, she returned to London, and in 1774 she began her so-called paper mosaics of flowers and plants; she had produced almost a thousand pages by 1784. She is also known for her correspondence with her family and her friends between 1725 and 1788, which was published by Lady Llanover in 1861-2., In English., Available on microfilm, Written on front cover: list of contents, which includes items no longer in the manuscript., Pasted into front cover: dealer's description of manuscript., and Binding: half calf over marbled boards.
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain
Subject (Name):
Delany, Mrs. 1700-1788. (Mary),, Delany, Mrs. 1700-1788 (Mary),, and Dickenson, Mary Hamilton, 1756-1816.
Subject (Topic):
Letters, Women authors, Court and courtiers, and Social life and customs
Manuscript, in a single hand, of a collection of poems, including numerous occasional verses addressed to friends, family members, and their children. Titles include "Ode to the Ship, in which Mr. F J. H. Wollaston sails," "A Lilliputian Ode, on my little Friend, Richard Burney, putting on Breeches," "Buxom Het, an excellent new song to an old Tune: a Soldier & a Sailor, a Tinker & a Tailor, etc., made on Mrs. Esther Burney," and "Occasional Prologue to the Good Natured Man, a Comedy; when acted by Ladies and Gentlemen for their diversion."
Description:
Incomplete index in back of manuscript., Laid in: poem, in same hand, titled "To my little friend Charles Wollaston, on his being put into Breeches.", and Binding: boards, vellum spine.
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain
Subject (Name):
Burney, Charles, 1757-1817., Burney family., Goldsmith, Oliver, 1730?-1774., and Wollaston, Francis John Hyde, 1762-1823.
Subject (Topic):
Children, Drama, English literature, English poetry, Occasional verse, and Social life and customs
"Notorious rakes and gamblers ride or run furiously towards rays descending from a sun in the upper left corner of the design inscribed 'Chance'; its centre, a segment of which is visible, is composed of the letters on an 'E.O.' (roulette) table (cf. British Museum Satires No. 5928). The foremost pair are the Duke of Clarence and the Prince of Wales; the Duke, slightly ahead, wears a chamber-pot on his head marked with an anchor (cf. British Museum Satires No. 7909) and sits behind Mrs. Jordan, who cries, "Push away! that's your sort!" He cries, "Straight Sailing! that's your sort!" Both the horses have human heads; that of the Duke says, "I'm the Sort for Leading; that of the Prince is Fox." The Prince's hat with feathers and the motto 'Ich dien' flies from his head, two women sit behind him; the one holding his waist (? Mrs. Crouch) says, "No Jealous Fitz - that's your sort!" The other, seated behind her, holds the end of the Prince's shirt, she has a large fox's brush and is probably Mrs. Armistead; she says, "Well done Charley! That's your sort!" The Prince says, "I'm the sort for a Widow - she's done over!" Mrs. Fitzherbert has fallen from the horse into a stream and holds out her arms towards the Prince. From the water emerges a post inscribed 'Styx', a bridge or culvert beside it is 'Hazard'. Behind this group the Duke of York runs forward, wearing a hat made of playing-cards surmounted by a teetotum inscribed 'ABC....' In his right hand he holds out a dice-box inscribed 'Oat - ' shaking from it two dice inscribed 'la' and 'nds' (he had recently bought Oatlands); in his left is a tennis racquet. He wears regimentals; the ribbon across his shoulder is formed of playing-cards; at his back is a knapsack full of 'Tennis Balls' (cf. British Museum Satires No. 7903) which resemble guineas. He says, "I'm the sort! for running out!" For his gaming see British Museum Satires No. 7301 (5), &c. Just behind him ride three bloods with cropped hair, wearing the high hats, long breeches, and coats with shawl collars hanging away from the neck which such young men affected (see British Museum Satires No. 8040, &c). The one nearest the spectator rides a horse with a bandage over his eyes inscribed 'Lottery Hack'; he looks up, regardless of the fact that he is riding into a pit, and points with his long whip to a castle resting on clouds inscribed 'Illegal Insurance' (cf. British Museum Satires No. 7750); he says, "That's your sort - I'm in for it - I shall do the deep Ones!" The other two shout, "Go it! Dam'me! that 's your sort!" and "Dam Trade! Life and a Racer! that 's your sort." Behind this group is a couple on a galloping horse: a stout jovial woman wearing breeches rides astride, waving her whip, behind her sits an anxious-looking elderly citizen, wearing petticoats. He says, "We're the wrong side of Temple Bar, my dear, we are only the sort to be laughed at"; she answers, "Peace good Mr Jerry Candle-wick, its life! and Life and the Breeches! thats the sort." By their horse's head is a signpost inscribed 'Rotten Row', with a pointing hand inscribed 'Hoyle' (on Whist), the vertical post inscribed 'Crim. con.' The last rider is a stout woman, probably Mrs. Hobart (noted for her faro-table, see British Museum Satires No. 8167), on a rocking-horse inscribed 'Faro'; she carries on her arm a wicker cage containing pigeons and says, "Unplucked Pidgeons! that's the sort." In the foreground on the extreme right an elderly Jew sits on a bank watching the mad race with a smile; he says, "50 per Cent! dats de sort! if dey ride to de Devil, dey leave coot Security behind, Ah! Security! dot's de sort." Near him is a card house; at his feet is the Knave of Clubs. In the front of the design and near the Duke of York are other playing cards (left to right): four aces, the two of diamonds, King of Hearts, and (?) Queen of Diamonds, the last two having some resemblance to George III and Queen Charlotte."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title from text in image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., and Sheet trimmed to plate mark.
Publisher:
Pubd. by W. Dent
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain. and Great Britain
Subject (Name):
William IV, King of Great Britain, 1765-1837, George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830, Jordan, Dorothy, 1761-1816, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Fox, Elizabeth, 1750-1842, Fitzherbert, Maria Anne, 1756-1837, Frederick Augustus, Prince, Duke of York and Albany, 1763-1827, Buckinghamshire, Albinia Hobart, Countess of, 1738-1816, and Crouch, Anna Maria, 1763-1805
Subject (Topic):
Gambling, Social life and customs, Horses, and Playing cards
Scrapbook kept by Anne Scafe, containing clippings from London newspapers and magazines, with some clippings from regional and Scottish publications as well as manuscripts and letters from the Spencer and Devonshire family members, including a letter from Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire; from Lady Sarah Lyttelton announcing her marriage; a manuscript poem written by "Caroline Lamb's page" with a watercolor portrait, dated 1807 at Holywell House; a letter recounting the visit of the Grand Duke Nicholas to Chatsworth in December 1816; an account of the death of Lady Charlotte Finch. Many of the clippings center around the announcements of births, marriages, deaths, and the settlement of the estates of these two families and their circle as well as announcements of their social engagements, political activities, scandals, etc. The clippings include references to Horace Walpole; the theatrical world; new inventions; style; foreign travel; domestic and foreign politics, especially the revolution in France and reports on the French royal family and later the Bonaparte family. Also included are autographs of prominent British nobility, including the King, and foreign dignitaries and royalty, In addition to the clippings, the scrapbook includes a variety of ephermal items given to Scafe by members of the extended family such as as well as ephemeral items from their travels, political, and social activities; calling cards and letters of introduction given to Sir William Ponsonby by members of the Russian aristocracy in 1805 and similar items from his trip to Spain in 1809; autographs of foreign royalty; invitations to the funeral of William Pitt a memorial to Lord Nelson, and the trial of Lord Viscount Melville (1805)., Scafe also includes clippings and ephemera of a more general nature: humorous anecdotes, reports on curious events, jokes, odd behaviors; epitaphs, poems, epigrams; advertisements for employment as well advertisements by tradespeople; announcements and broadsides of events such as lottery drawings; several promissary notes; and etchings, Scafe includes two lengthy test: one from The Morning Post's account of the writing of "Modern characters by Shakespear" (published later the same year); and, a transcription of "The butterfy's ball and The grasshopper's feast"., and An engraving entitled "Sunday's amusement" is mounted on a leaf tipped in opposite the front paste-down, a note in pencil indicating that it was formerly pasted over the material on the lining of the front cover (but moved by bookbinder G. Bissell in 1966). Depicted in this satirical print is a family (man, woman, and boy) riding to the left in a carriage in the countryside, a mile marker seen in the lower right; verses are etched on either side of title, beginning "The wealthy cit grown rich by trade ...". Pasted on the following leaf, which is tipped in before the front free endpaper, are trimmed portions of various plates, including plate III (page 805) from Gentleman's magazine, v. 59 (September 1789), which depicts coins and other antiquarian items. Several additional prints are pasted on the verso of the front free endpaper, including four plates (plates 1, 3, 6, and 16) from "The talking bird: or, Dame Trudge and her parrot" which show an old woman's pet parrot being mischievous in various situations; the first plate has the title "The talking bird" at top and the imprint "Publish'd August 20, 1806, by J. Harris, corner of St. Pauls Church Yard, London" at bottom
Description:
Anne Scafe, maidservant of Georgiana Spencer Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire (1757-1806)., Signed by "A. Scafe" on last leaf with a note stating that the volume had been given to her by "the Marquis of Hartingdon", i.e., William George Spencer Cavendish (1790-1858), 6th duke of Devonshire, who also signed and dated the first leaf: "Hartington 1803.", and For further information, consult library staff.
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain and France
Subject (Name):
George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820., Bessborough, Henrietta Frances Spencer Ponsonby, Countess of, 1761-1821., Lamb, Caroline, Lady, 1785-1828., Finch, Charlotte, Lady, 1725-1813., Cavendish, Georgiana Spencer, Duchess of Devonshire, 1757-1806., Devonshire, Margaret Georgiana Poyntz, Duchess of, 1736-1814., Devonshire, William Spencer Cavendish, Duke of, 1790-1858., Lyttelton, William Henry Lyttelton, Baron, 1782-1837., Lyttelton, Sarah Spencer, Lady, 1787-1870., Melville, Robert Saunders Dundas, Viscount, 1771-1851., Nelson, Horatio Nelson, Viscount, 1758-1805., Ponsonby, Frederick Cavendish, 1783-1838., Ponsonby, William, Sir, 1772-1815., Scafe, Anne., Bonaparte family., and Roscoe, William, 1753-1831.
Subject (Topic):
Nobility, Social life and customs, and Politics and government
