[Selection of Hester Lynch Piozzi's annotations in the Spectator]

Piozzi’s annotations range from brief notes on the text of the essays to lengthy anecdotes; quotations from and comments on other English authors; and social and historical observations. There are eight references to Samuel Johnson, and several to the Prince of Wales; other historical figures mentioned include the Duke of Marlborough and Lord Nelson. Historical observations include the disappearance of road signposts; changes in the staging of Shakespeare’s plays; variations in women’s fashions and in attitudes toward women authors. Piozzi also includes personal reminiscences and corrections to the text.