Manuscript on paper (unidentified watermarks in gutter) of a hunting diary of Ferdinando de' Medici (1549-1609), Cardinal, and Grand Duke of Tuscany; this portion of the manuscript covers the period 15 October 1579 to 21 March 1585
Description:
In Italian., Written in a sprawling cursive script., and Binding: Nineteenth century. Dark green, hard-grained goatskin, gold-tooled, by the same binder as MS 90. Front cover of original limp vellum binding bound in at front of manuscript, with contemporary inscription: "Libro della Caccia che si fe (?)/ Illustrissimo et Reverendissimo Signor Cardinale d'/ Medici mio Signore e padrone".
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut, New Haven., and Tuscany (Italy)
Subject (Name):
Ferdinando I, Grand-Duke of Tuscany, 1549-1609.
Subject (Topic):
Hunting, Italian literature, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Social life and customs
Manuscript, in a single hand, of a book of instruction for the author's daughter. Although the volume contains information on parts of speech, explanations of the meanings of words in the English language, basic mathematics such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, systems of government, and numerous prayers and meditations, the bulk of the volume is given to instruction on letter-writing and astronomy. The manuscript contains guidelines for how to address a queen, a duchess, or someone of one's own station; how to end letters; and how to write a "billet"; as well as form letters of thanks, consolation, recommendation, "congratulation for the recovery of health," and "to a lady newly come to London." The section on astronomy includes 7 diagrams and includes information on the positions of the planets, the phases of the moon, and eclipses
Description:
Stanhope, Philip, second earl of Chesterfield (1633-1714), courtier and politician, was the eldest son of Henry Stanhope (d. 1634), and his wife Katherine (bap. 1609, d. 1667). He was involved in numerous duels, fleeing the country after having killed Francis Wolley, the son of a Hammersmith doctor, in a duel on 17 January 1660. Chesterfield was appointed on 24 February 1662 as lord chamberlain to Queen Catherine of Braganza, and on 13 June 1667 was made the colonel of a foot regiment, but it was disbanded following the treaty of Breda. That year he married his third wife, Lady Elizabeth Dormer (1653-1677). They had two sons and two daughters, one of whom was Lady Mary Stanhope, for whom the manuscript was written. He continued to be active in politics, supporting his tory son-in-law Thomas Coke in Derbyshire elections in 1701-2., Lady Mary (Stanhope) Coke, eldest daughter of Philip Stanhope, 2nd Earl of Chesterfield, married Thomas Coke of Melbourne, Derbyshire., In English., Note on verso of front endpaper: See 'a Prayer after the confession of sins.' and 'a Prayer for the Dead." both at the end of this M.S. 1814., Inscription on verso of front endpaper: Cecil Henry Southwell the gift of his dear Papa., Written on flyleaf: notes written by Thomas, 3rd Baron Southwell concerning the genealogy of the Stanhope family, including a biography of Lady Mary (Stanhope) Coke and her daughter, Mary Baroness Southwell. He mentions that Lady Mary (Stanhope) Coke was his great-grandmother., Written on verso of flyleaf: note by Mary Southwell dated 1756 explaining the manuscript was used to instruct her mother in "what was proper for a young Lady to know," and bequeathing the volume to her granddaughter Frances upon her death., Bookplate of Viscount Thomas Southwell, 3rd Baron Southwell., Marbled endpapers., and Binding: full calf; gilt decoration. Printed on spine: 1st Earl of Chesterfield to his D. L. M. Coke.
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain
Subject (Name):
Aristotle., Chesterfield, Philip Stanhope, Earl of, 1633-1713., Cicero, Marcus Tullius., Coke, Mary Stanhope, Lady, 1664-1703., Homer., Southwell family., and Southwell, Thomas Southwell, Baron, 1721-1780.
Subject (Topic):
Astronomy, Letter writing, Nobility, Social life and customs, Women, Conduct of life, and Education
Manuscript, in a single hand, of a description of the author's tour through France and Italy in 1770, traveling with his master Robert Fellowes and Thomas Durrant, and recording his interactions with the inhabitants, curious sights, local hygienic practices, and traveling conditions. At one point he writes that he fell 14 times from his horse, while in Aquapendente he witnesses a postboy beating the horses "in a most unmerciful manner." In Bologna, he records news of banditti "which infested this part of the Country consisting of upwards of 40 men." He also climbs Mount Vesuvius "about two years since there was a dreadful eruption," where he walks on rough lava and ashes "in many places knee deep." Elsewhere, he notes the practice in Italy of hanging ladies' negligees out of coach windows and the presence of lice on the Italian nobility; and expresses his regret at the lack of diversions during this season of the year, as he should have been "very glad to have been here at the time of the Carnival when all kinds of diversions are allowed, such as Plays, Operas, Maskings, Horseraces &c." and At the conclusion of the manuscript, the author describes his return to England in excellent health and his gratitude to his "indulgent master" Mr. Durrant; addresses the manuscript to his father; and signs it "J Deeker London March 12th 1770." Bound in throughout the manuscript are 13 maps, colored in red and green representing stages of the author's journey, and 11 pen and wash drawings of such scenes as Trajan's pillar at Rome; Remains of three taverns where St Paul met his friends; and the Palace of the duke of Tuscany at Florence. A wash drawing entitled "Mons. D-r [Deeker] riding post", probably copied from Henry William Bunbury's print "Courier francois", is also bound in.
Description:
James Deeker was one of the first aeronauts in England. His hot-air balloon ascent in Norwich in June, 1785, was witnessed by Horace's nephew, George, the 3rd Earl of Orford., In English., Index of places visited at end of manuscript, as well as a mileage chart and a "List of Painters &c." which lists artists' names and brief biographies., On flyleaves, two pages in pencil recording "Interesting Remarks" and their page numbers., Autograph in pencil on flyleaf: ER Pratt. April 1812., Bookplate of Roger Pratt. Written in pencil on bookplate: Ryston Hall. Norfolk., and Binding: full reverse calf. Marbled endpapers. Stamped on spine: Deeker's Journal. Written on spine: 1770.
Subject (Geographic):
Europe., Europe, France, Italy, and Vesuvius (Italy)
Subject (Name):
Deeker, James.
Subject (Topic):
Grand tours (Education), Tourism, Travelers' writings, English, Ruins, Social life and customs, and Description and travel
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
Two scrapbooks containing a collection of mostly 18th century engravings and etchings, some of which are purported to have belonged to Horace Walpole, organized thematically. With four original drawings, including a watercolor and wash drawing of the Neapolitan painter Luca Jordano signed by J.B. Catenaro, an unsigned portrait in red crayon of Cornelius Jansen, a pencil portrait of an unknown woman, and another small pencil drawing of a landscape. The first volume contains etchings and engravings of English villages and rural scenes including the farm house and printing house at Strawberry Hill and two vignettes of Strawberry Hill; topographical scenes in Surrey and Twickenham; etchings of Roman scenes; portraits of eminent historical and contemporary political figures and The second volume begins with a series of 192 small French engravings of women, which document the hair styles and hat fashions in the 17th and 18th centuries, all engraved by Dupin or Desrais. A second series of the 48 engravings from Wenceslaus Hollar's Theatrum mulierum depict the costumes of 17th century women (mostly) in Europe. These prints are followed by 29 small engravings by C. Heath of prominent British politicians and writers of the 18th century. The final pages include several portraits of contemporary British and French figures as well as the plates drawn and engraved by Henry Moses for A series of twenty-nine designs of modern costume published in London by E. and C. M'Lean in 1823
Description:
In English and French. and Recovered in cloth with marble boards.
Subject (Geographic):
Europe, Great Britain, Europe., Great Britain., and England
Subject (Name):
Damer, Anne Seymour, 1748 or 1749-1828., Giordano, Luca, 1634-1705, and Janssen van Ceulen, Cornelius, 1593-1661.
Subject (Topic):
Costume, History, Hairstyles, Authors, English, Politicians, Fashion, Clothing and dress, and Social life and customs
Two scrapbooks containing a collection of mostly 18th century engravings and etchings, some of which are purported to have belonged to Horace Walpole, organized thematically. With four original drawings, including a watercolor and wash drawing of the Neapolitan painter Luca Jordano signed by J.B. Catenaro, an unsigned portrait in red crayon of Cornelius Jansen, a pencil portrait of an unknown woman, and another small pencil drawing of a landscape. The first volume contains etchings and engravings of English villages and rural scenes including the farm house and printing house at Strawberry Hill and two vignettes of Strawberry Hill; topographical scenes in Surrey and Twickenham; etchings of Roman scenes; portraits of eminent historical and contemporary political figures and The second volume begins with a series of 192 small French engravings of women, which document the hair styles and hat fashions in the 17th and 18th centuries, all engraved by Dupin or Desrais. A second series of the 48 engravings from Wenceslaus Hollar's Theatrum mulierum depict the costumes of 17th century women (mostly) in Europe. These prints are followed by 29 small engravings by C. Heath of prominent British politicians and writers of the 18th century. The final pages include several portraits of contemporary British and French figures as well as the plates drawn and engraved by Henry Moses for A series of twenty-nine designs of modern costume published in London by E. and C. M'Lean in 1823
Description:
In English and French. and Recovered in cloth with marble boards.
Subject (Geographic):
Europe, Great Britain, Europe., Great Britain., and England
Subject (Name):
Damer, Anne Seymour, 1748 or 1749-1828., Giordano, Luca, 1634-1705, and Janssen van Ceulen, Cornelius, 1593-1661.
Subject (Topic):
Costume, History, Hairstyles, Authors, English, Politicians, Fashion, Clothing and dress, and Social life and customs
Manuscript, in a single hand, of a description of summer tours, in the author's phaeton, through England, Wales, and Scotland, both alone and accompanied by family members. Each journey begins and ends in Wanstead; along the way, the author records the quality of the roads; houses he visits; and the names of significant inhabitants. In Llangollen, he admires the library of Miss Ponsonby and Miss Butler; in Aberystwyth, he describes the sea and the bathing procedures of women there. In Edinburgh, he writes approvingly of a Presbyterian service he attends but complains of the dark taverns, "and the Stair Cases are nasty & very dark when perhaps your room is 3 or 4 stories high." He visits several factories in Birmingham, including Mr Bolton's, whose factory produces ormolu, silver plate, boxes, and buttons; and Mr Clay's, "who has a Patent for making paper pannels for Coaches tea boards &c." The volume also includes several charts listing mileages from Wanstead to the author's various destinations
Description:
George Bowles (1732-1817) of Wanstead Grove, Essex, and Burford House, Salop, was High Sheriff of Essex in 1785. He died unmarried and left Wanstead Grove to his niece, Anne Rushout, whose bookplate is pasted into the volume., In English., Pasted in on flyleaf: envelope front addressed to "The Lady Rushout"; with Windsor postal stamp; 1-penny postage; and a drawing of a black figure playing tennis., Bookplate of Honorable Anne Rushout., Marbled endpapers., and Binding: full calf. Printed on spine: Travels.
Subject (Geographic):
Aberystwyth (Wales), Birmingham (England), Edinburgh (Scotland), and Great Britain
Subject (Name):
Bowles, George, 1732-1817.
Subject (Topic):
Gentry, Conduct of life, Travelers' writings, English, Description and travel, and Social life and customs
Manuscript, in Walpole's and others' hands, of a collection of several dozen scraps of notes, verse fragments, sketches, and drawings, collected from Walpole's papers. The notes are primarily epigrammatic or anecdotal, on such topics as printing books; British monarchs; Waldegrave's time as ambassador at Paris; Lady Mary Coke's affectations; and Sir W. Draper's gambling. The collection also includes several riddles and verses. Some of the notes have been transcribed, on the same page, by Wilmarth Sheldon Lewis and The manuscript also contains 29 drawings, including pencil sketches of Strawberry Hill some done by Walpole and others possibly by John Chute; a pen-and-wash drawing of a scene from The Castle of Otranto accompanied by a note of thanks from Mrs Susanna (Highmore) Duncombe; a pen drawing of the actor William Kemp copied from the frontispiece of a book; numerous busts; a detailed pastoral landscape scene in pencil, possibly by Agnes Berry; pencil sketches of a pig, cow, and dog; pen sketches by Sir John Fenn; and a woodcut title page to a book of John Skelton's works, dated 1523
Alternative Title:
Walpoliana mss and drawings
Description:
In English., Laid in: scrap of paper with faded ink writing, possibly Walpole's., Marbled endpapers., Binding: full calf; gilt decoration. In gilt on spine: Walpoliana mss and drawings., and For further information, consult library staff.