Autograph Manuscripts of two translations by John Curling: Count Rostopchine's 'The Truth upon The Great Conflagration of Moscow 1813' and 'Observation on the Campaign in the Netherlands', with printed version of latter.

The two translations, in the same original red leather notebook, totalling 226pp., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper, in worn binding. The first translation in the volume is a fair copy, without corrections, of a work published in French in 1823 as 'La V?rit? sur l'Incendie de Moscou; par le Comte Rostopchine' (Paris: Ponthieu). Neither Curling's nor any other English translation appears to have been published. The second translation (the printed version of which is the first of the two pamphlets) is heavily corrected, with seven pages of additions loosely inserted. The first translation (77 pp.) has a manuscript title page reading 'The Truth upon The Great Conflagration of Moscow 1813. Translated from the French of Count Rostopchine Commandant of the Government of Moscow A.D. 1813, by John Curling, Hitchin 1856. Printed at Paris 1823.' The second translation (146pp.) has a manuscript title page reading 'Observations on The Campaign in the Netherlands. June 1815. Terminated by the battle of Waterloo. To which is added the Relation, of the Last Campaign of Buonaparte by An Eye-Witness translated from the French by John Curling. Truth is the eye of history, [...] a useless tale. Polybius, Book 1 Chapter 2nd'. At the end of the volume is the following note: 'Here is to follow the Relation by An Eye Witness translated from the French.' On the last two pages are two lists, beneath the heading 'Accessions to the Peerage & Baronetage from 1830, to 1859 both inclusive.' Curling's Tory sympathies are in evidence, with the first list showing 17 'Baronets Created do. do', and the second 'Baronets Created do do 134. !!!' Both of the printed pamphlets are scarce, with COPAC and WorldCat only yielding two copies of the first (one in Australia and the other in America) and one copy of the second (Edinburgh University Library). First pamphlet: 'Observations on the Campaign in the Netherlands, terminated by the Battle of Waterloo, June 18th, 1815. To which is added the relation of the last Campaign of Buonaparte. By an Eye-Witness. Translated from the French by John Curling.' 'Hitchin: Printed by C. Paternoster, Sun Street. 1858.' 87pp., 8vo. Stitched, publisher's blue cloth spine without wraps as issued. The text of the second translation in the notebook takes the pamphlet to p.81; the last six printed pages are those referred to in the notebook as 'to follow' (see above). In fair condition, somewhat aged. Second pamphlet: 'Observations on the Campaign in the Netherlands, June, 1815. By J*** C******'. 'Hitchin: Printed by C. & T. L. Paternoster.' No date. 26pp., 8vo. Inscribed by Curling on the title page to 'John Harrison Esqre', with the following autograph note beneath his printed initials: 'Intended as an Index to Captn Siburnes Work & Atlas.' An entirely different work from the first pamphlet. In fair condition, somewhat aged. Curling's entry in Burke's Landed Gentry recounts that he 'sailed in 1799 in the missionary ship Duff which was captured by the French privateer Le Grand Buonaparte, near Rio de Janeiro, but with the aid of the Consul at Lisbon, succeeded in returning to his own country'.