Holograph of a diary kept by 14-year-old Dorothy Walpole, who records primarily routine social activities, both her own and those of family members, especially her mother, father, sister Rachel, and brother Horace, such as visits to and from friends; trips every Monday and Friday to the dancing academy; visits by the music master; and breakfasts, teas, and dinners with acquaintances; attendance at balls. She visits with Jane, Charlotte, and Fanny Pepys in London; on another occasion, she accompanies her mother to the Pantheon where she buys worsteds and patterns. She records the gifts she receives for Christmas; and, at the end of the volume, her travels through Italy, where she describes the quality of her lodgings in various towns; views paintings and churches; and declares Parma "the most horrible place I ever was in." Elsewhere, she records several verses, including an epitaph and a poem on mortality called The common lot; as well as a prose narrative of the life of St. Dorothy
Description:
Lady Dorothy Fanny Nevill (née Walpole) (1826-1913), hostess, horticulturist, and writer, was the youngest daughter of Horatio Walpole, third earl of Orford, and his wife, Mary, daughter of William Augustus Fawkener. In 1847, she married her cousin Reginald Henry Nevill (1807-1878); their 23-acre garden at Dangstein, in west Sussex, soon became well-known in horticultural circles, particularly for its collection of exotic plants and silkworms. She was the author of five books: Mannington and the Walpoles, Earls of Orford (1894), a book on silkworms, and three autobiographical volumes: The Reminiscences of Lady Dorothy Nevill (1906), Leaves from the Notebooks of Lady Dorothy Nevill (1907), and Under Five Reigns (1910)., In English., On title page: Journal begun May 1st 1840 Friday., On verso of title page: My Journal book. Dorothy Fanny Walpole. May 1st 1840 Friday., Pasted inside front cover: advertisement for W. Creswick, Paper Maker, 5 John Street, Oxford Street., and Binding: green half calf over marbled boards.
Lease with engraved heading written for Dirgue Billers Olmius, 2nd Baron Waltham, to William Williams, comedian, for a period of 99 years at the rent of 5 shillings on condition that within a year Williams erects upon it a theatre for comedians. The theatre at Weymouth became one of the venues frequented by companies of strolling players. On the verso are 18th century endorsements including the surrender of the lease to Robert Lumley Kingston 20 March 1771
Description:
In English., Written on vellum with red wax seal and blue embossed stamp affixed., and For further information, consult library staff.
Subject (Geographic):
England.
Subject (Name):
Williams, William (Comedian) and Kingston, Robert Lumley.
ALS from W.J. Chute to his friend Grimston, relating the news he had heard about his friend's travels through Europe with their friend C. Collyer and expressing the hopes that they might meet up in the near future and his eagerness to leave Angers; he relates news about their friend Cunliffe and inquires about other friends Mr. Hooker and Vernon, and describes a lavish ball held at Angers. He concludes with his thoughts on the Keppel trial
Description:
In English. and For further information consult library staff.
Subject (Geographic):
Angers (France)
Subject (Name):
Chute, William, 1757-1824., Keppel, Augustus Keppel, Viscount, 1725-1786., and Palliser, Hugh, Sir, 1723-1796.
An autograph letter signed from an itinerant actress Eleonora Garrell in a travelling theatre troupe, dated 13 December 1764 from the White Lion Inn in Halifax. An affectionate, teasing letter in which the writer reports on her employment with the "Scotch Company" and their meeting with a rival company "Mr. Whitley" in Leeds where they are both banned. She reports that she will be joining another company "Mr. Woodcock's" and reports about her ill-health
Description:
Surname may be Garrell?, In English., and For further information consult library staff.
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain.
Subject (Name):
Farrell, Eleonora. and Whitley, James Augustus, ca. 1724-1781.
ALS from Francis Blandy to William Toovey relating to legal instructions and referring to a certain person who "has been getting at [the] knowledge of the affair in order to lessen your allowance." Also with an 18th century newspaper clipping advertising a publication about Mary Blandy's affair with Mr. Cranstaun, her crime, and execution, dated 1752
Description:
In English. and For further information, consult library staff.
Autographed letter signed from Joseph Farington to John Boydell written from Houghton Hall the seat of Sir Robert Walpole, Earl of Orford where he spent three years making drawings of the paintings for Boydell's Collection of prints after the most capital paintings in England (2 vols., 1782). He reports on the progress of his work in general and in particular his work with "the Paul Brills".
Description:
In English. and For further information, consult library staff.
Subject (Name):
Boydell, John, 1720-1804., Houghton Hall (England), and Walpole, Robert, Earl of Orford, 1676-1745
Autograph letter in the third person from Edward Edwards to Richard Bull. Edwards "begs [Bull's] acceptance of the inclosed portrait", presumably the etched portrait of Thomas Kirgate that is mounted beside this letter
Description:
In English., Tipped in at page 240 of Richard Bull's copiously extra-illustrated copy of: Walpole, H. A description of the villa of Mr. Horace Walpole. Strawberry Hill : Printed by Thomas Kirgate, 1784. See Hazen, A.T. Bibliography of the Strawberry Hill Press (1973 ed.), no. 30, copy 13., and For further information, consult library staff.
An autographed letter signed (partially rubbed off) discussing family matters and financial concerns to his relative the Hon. Thomas Symonds at his seat at Pengethly in Herefordshire. Written on the verso of Vertue's engraving of "The west prospect of St. Martin's Church in the Fields, Westminster." Formerly folded to letter size, with address and wax seal back, opposite text. With the engraved dedication erased and replaced in ink with a personalized note to "Dr. Thomas Symonds"; with other alterations to engraved text and replaced with ms. notes
Description:
In English., Written on the back of the print is an autographed letter signed by George Vertue to the Hon. Thomas Symonds, at his seat at Pengethly, near Ross in Herefordshire, and dated 15 September 1744., and For further information, consult library staff.
Subject (Name):
Vertue, George, 1684-1756. and Symonds, Thomas, Dr.
Signed letter in Horace Walpole's hand thanking Richard Bull for lending him books which he now returns. Walpole comments favorably on drawings by Maria Sibylla Merian that were among the items lent
Description:
In English., Formerly page 1 of an album containing 402 pages, bound in red morocco leather with single gilt ruled line; spine stamped in gold "Drawings." Now disassembled and matted separately: Bull, R. Scrapbook of drawings. [England], [not after 1806]., Matted to 49 x 37 cm., and Original case shelved separately.
Subject (Name):
Bull, Richard, 1725-1806. and Merian, Maria Sibylla, 1647-1717.