[Rev. Charles Edward Kennaway, Vicar of Chipping Campden and Canon of Gloucester Cathedral.] Autograph Letter Signed to 'Sabrina', ruminating on youth and age, with inscribed copy of his book 'Poems of the Rev. C. E. Kennaway, M.A.'

The son of Sir John Kennaway of the East India Company, Kennaway was well-connected. In 1819 Poet Laureate Robert Southey provided him with a letter of introduction to Walter Scott. ONE: 'Poems of Rev. C. E. Kennaway, M.A.' (1846). xv + 216pp, 12mo. Black leather binding, with stamp of Nisbet & Co, 21 Berners Street, London, on front free endpaper.in gilt, stamped with the words 'Bagster's Binding'; all edges gilt. Internally a good tight copy on lightly-aged paper; in worn binding, especially at the spine and hinges. Bookplate of Sarah Godley. The book has a dedication to 'Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, Bart., M.P.', followed by three-page introduction. 79 poems, arranged in five sections: 'On Religious Subjects', 'On Home Subjects', 'Of a General Character', 'Sonnets' and 'Epitaphs'. Laid down on a flyleaf is a slip of paper with an autograph note: 'To Sarina | from her own and her Parents' affect[ionat]e friend | the author | C: E. K Oct. 30 | 1868'. TWO: Autograph Letter Signed from 'Chs E Kennaway' to 'My dear Sarina'. 'Campden Vic[arag]e | Oct 30/68'. 4pp, 12mo. Bifolium. Tipped-in before the flyleaf of Item One. In good condition, lightly aged. He begins by stating that he is sending 'the Autograph with 1000 apologies – Pray accept them all.' The mood now darkens: 'I find it daily more difficult to write from sheer weakness. You my dear young Friend can hardly understand this. May it be long before you can. Youth ought to be joyous & strong, except when, and [?] not infrequently, a gracious God sees that it is better that it should be weak and tired.' He continues with pious sentiments, and then in remembrances to her parents. He will embark on the 'pleasurable task' of writing to her mother when, 'like those of the Baron of Mowbray whom we both used to hear sung of in our younger days, “my arms are bright & my heart is light”'. Regarding 'the dear B[isho]p of Oxford', he is appalled to learn that 'a daughter of such a Man & Prelate' should 'forsake the Church of her fathers!!' Postscript: 'Did you see the account of the opening of my new Chapel at the Hamlet of Camden?'