Manuscript, in a single hand, of a collection primarily of arithmetic problems and conversion tables interspersed with a large number of verses, both satirical and sentimental, on such subjects as marriage, the sexes, love, and friendship. The collection includes directions for addition, subtraction, multiplcation, and division; tables of weights and measures; and directions for calculating the number of minutes in years. Many of the poems are occasional, including two addressed to Mrs. Christian Kerr on her birthday and two to Mr Kerr of Chatto on his 71st birthday. The volume also contains several further entries concerning the Kerrs' neighborhood, including a copy of "a circular advertisement for the Douffs in Kelso district, the consecration of the yew at Sunlaws." The collection also contains brief journal entries on significant events, including a murder, a burnt house, and memoranda on wages paid and Dos-a-dos, the volume contains more arithmetic problems; financial accounts; household inventories; lists of books in her possession; and a list of expenses concerning her legal "affair with Hardon beginning 1727."
Description:
Christian Kerr, Lady of Chatto and Sunlaws, was the daughter of William Kerr of Chatto and Sunlaws, and inherited her father's estates in preference to her brother. She married her cousin, Charles Kerr, but left no children. In 1759, she entailed the estates of Chatto and Sunlaws on William Scott of Thirlestain., In English., Laid in: copy of a letter, in the same hand, concerning business and family matters., The manuscript contains several crude drawings, especially of faces., On back flyleaf: "William Kerr," "Mrs. Christian Kerr Her Arithmetick Boock.", Author's name on decorated flyleaf. Her name also appears on p. 83, again decorated., and Binding: full parchment; leather ties. Handwritten financial account written on back cover.
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain., England, Great Britain, Great Britain, and Kelso (Scotland)
Subject (Name):
Chatto and Sunlaws, Christian Kerr, Lady. and Kerr family.
Subject (Topic):
Accounts, Arithmetic, Study and teaching, English poetry, Households, Inventories, Occasional verse, English, Private libraries, Sentimentalism in literature, Verse satire, English, Women authors, Intellectual life, and Social life and customs
Title devised by cataloger., Imprint at foot of sheet on page [2]., Form completed in ink, manuscript docket title on verso; receipt made out to "J. Messer", dated 1799, and records payment of a bill for £6 7s. 2d. Blind stamped in the center., and For further information, consult library staff.
Publisher:
Printed by J. Smeeton, 148, St. Martin's Lane, Charing Cross
Title devised by cataloger., Imprint at foot of sheet on page [2]., Form completed in ink, manuscript docket title on verso; receipt made out to "James Messer", dated 1800, and records payment of a bill for £6 7s. 2d. Blind stamped in the center., and For further information, consult library staff.
Title devised by cataloger., Imprint at foot of sheet on page [2]., Form completed in ink, manuscript docket title on verso; receipt made out to "James Messer", dated 1803, and records payment of a bill for £8 17s. 2d. Blind stamped in the center., and For further information, consult library staff.
