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 on paper, in a single hand, of various texts pertaining to theological inquiry. Contents include a series of letters between "W.S" and "T.P" debating the issue of free will; arguments for the baptism of infants; letters from "W.S" criticizing "G.S.," a "Taylor, & ye most debauch'd villain in ye Countrey, & now turn'd Preacher;" a debate concerning how to keep the Sabbath after having sailed to America, accompanied by a diagram illustrating how ships sailing eastward may gain a day; a dialogue between Montezuma, Cortez, a Jesuit and an Indian priest, which is extremely similar to a scene in John Dryden's Indian Emperor; and a "Dialogue between ye Angel Gabriel & Adam in Paradise, concerning free will & Predestination" in blank verse, roughly parallel to a scene in Dryden's State of Innocence.
Description:
Binding: full sheep. and Portions of text in cipher on p. 79-80, 96, 97, and 100.
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain--Religious life and customs
Subject (Name):
Dryden, John,--1631-1700 and Stanton, William,--1673-
Subject (Topic):
English poetry--17th century, Infant baptism--Controversial literature, Religious literature, English, Theology--England, and Theology--Examinations, questions, etc
