JESUS

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once. The recipient is not identified. Addressed to ‘My dear Sir’ and signed ‘Herbert Thurston’. He begins by thanking him for ‘the nice things you say’, and continues: ‘I fear I have no defence as regards Samuel Butler. I knew that he had written on the Sonnets and that some people thought highly of his book but I have never seen it. The fact was that I was provoked into talking up the question by some friends who have recently become obsessed by the Oxford theory.

See the entry for this ‘charismatic preacher and flamboyant individual’ (referred to several times in Kilvert’s diary) in the Oxford DNB, which states that, having been dispossessed out of his property and forced to dissolve his monastery in Norwich, in 1869 he was able, with the support of a wealthy benefactor, to purchase a property at Capel-y-ffin in the Black Mountains, south Wales, where he built Llanthony Abbey. 2pp, 12mo. On bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged. Folded once for postage. The letter is headed ‘Jesus Only.’ It begins: ‘My dear daughter in Jesus.

4pp., 4to. Bifolium. Signed at end: 'Edward Seymour | Jesus Coll. | March. 1815.' In fair condition, lightly aged. Holograph manuscript of the poem 'Wallace', in 78 lines, Iambic pentameters. Preceded by the following note: 'Lines written for the Chancellor's medal for English Poetry, in the University of Cambridge. In consequence of illness they were never completed.' Apparently unpublished.

15pp., 12mo. Disbound without covers. In good condition, on aged paper. On the reverse of the title (p.2) is a dedicatory poem 'To Cunninghame Graham', beginning 'Perfervid Scot! of hero sires, who calmly spurns the sordid scorn | Of ingrates who proclaim thee mad, [...]'. Scarce.

14pp., 4to. In exercise book with green printed wraps. Good, on lightly-aged and worn paper. The first page carries the title 'The Element', with the words 'Peter Levi S.J. | Nov. '57-Jan. '58' in the top right-hand corner. With occasional light corrections. The second poem ('Out of shaking') has the directions: 'No title & no commas', and the last but one ('Unfinished Elegy'), which is the longest at 4pp., is annotated: 'There ought to be three parts or possibly four.

[114]pp., obl.8vo, printed blue wraps, worn at spine, loss of strip at edge, some damage to back wrap, contents good. See image on my website, richardfordmanuscripts.com (or request it). COPAC lists only one copy, at BL (who have the Mark and John as well).

12mo: [iv] + 35 pp. In original green cloth printed wraps. Text clear and complete. On aged high-acidity paper, and with four staple holes throughout. Creasing to front wrap and slight loss at head of title (not affecting text). In the 'Editor's Preface' (p.iii, dated 'V. TCHERTKOFF.

Poet and editor (see DNB). One page, 4to, traces of blue paper on which item formerly laid down, condition mainly good, text clear and complete as follows: "Motto for the Bible/ Behold the Book, whose leaves display / Jesus the life, the truth, the way; / Read it with diligence [in the prayer?]; / Search it.- and You shall find Him there."

Catholic theologian, author of 'Natural Theology' (1891). All three letters are on 16mo bifoliates. The first two are 3 pages, and the last is 2 pages. All in good condition, but all with some discolouration and closed tears, and with pin marks in one corner. All three letters concern James Martineau's 'Study of Religion' (1888). In the first letter he praises 'Dr. Martineau's great work', from which he has taken notes. 'I admire the loftiness of his mind and the elegance of his style.' He apologises for the fact that there is no reference to him in his book.