GEORGIAN

1p., 12mo. On aged and worn grey paper, with a corner torn away, affecting a couple of lines of text. Franked on reverse: 'Ashford July eleven 1829 | The Right Honble | The Lord Mayor | &c &c &c | Mansion House | London | E Knatchbull'. Knatchbull's small seal, depicting a dog, is present entire in black wax. He writes that he would have had 'much pleasure' in meeting him at Rochester, but that his 'House will be full of Company on the 24th'.

The engraved armorial bookplate is on a 9.5 x 7.5 cm. piece of paper. In good condition, lightly aged. Loosely attached to the flyleaf, which carries the calligraphic signature 'Hans Sloane | 1755.' (Sloane would have been sixteen at the time, and the writing is suitably juvenile.) The flyleaf is in fair condition, lightly aged and worn, and laid down on a piece of wove paper. Sloane (a kinsman of the great collector Sir Hans Sloane) is the subject of an excellent entry by Sir Lewis Namier in the History of Parliament.

On the front cover of an 8 x 13 cm. envelope. With intact small seal in red wax at back. Aged and worn. Reads: 'Coventry September thirty 1836 | William Hulton Esq | Leamington Priors | Eardley Wilmot'.

On 4.5 x 14 cm. strip of paper, cut from the conclusion of a letter. Laid down on a piece of cloth, with 8 x 6 cm. engraved portrait and slips with captions. In fair condition, lightly aged. Reads: 'I am | My dear Sir | Yours most truly | Ths Chalmers'. In another hand at top right: '"Dr. Chalmers"'.

Both items in good condition, lightly aged and worn. Bateson's letter is 3pp., 4to. On a bifolium, addressed on reverse of second leaf to 'Sir Robert Bateson Harvey Bart. | Langley Park | near Uxbridge Bucks | England'. Docketted on same page: 'Harvey Bateson | Barbadoes | Recd after his Death | Apl. 1805'. He conveys the news of his appointment, thanks his uncle, and reports: 'We are waiting in expectation of a Spanish War and as the Amelia sails will I dare say we shall make something'.

1p., 4to. On recto of first leaf of a bifolium, with autograph copy of Cockburn's reply on recto of second leaf. Addressed, with broken seal in red wax, on reverse of second leaf, to 'J. Cockburn <?> Esqr'. In fair condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. He has had 'a very pressing letter from the Exchequer concerning the appointment of Commissioners for the sale of the Land Tax', and not having heard from him, hope that he will accept the post, 'which I really wish you to do as you have been accustomed to that kind of Business & I know you can be of infinite service on this occasion.

1p., 4to. On bifolium. In good condtion, lightly aged. Addressed, with part of red wax seal, on reverse of second leaf, to 'Sir Robert Bateson Harvey Bt | Langley Park'. He is 'perfectly aware' of his 'having not the smallest pretention to apply' to Harvey, but is encouraged 'by the friendly support which you gave to Mr Macnaughten at the general election in the county of Antrim to beg a continuance of your support and assistance on the present occasion'. Previously represented Lisburn and Antrim in the 1770s. See Wikipedia for details of his political career (not revealing about 1806 though).

On 8 x 18 cm piece of paper cut from the end of a letter. In fair condition, lightly aged. Reads: 'And now my dear Mary Anne adieu With kind Regards to Mr T & love to yourself I remain ever | Your's sincerely & affectionately | H Willoughby | I shall leave directions With Mr Hyman to forward the Papers during my absence'.

On one side of 13 x 9 cm. piece of paper cut from letter. In good condition, on aged paper. The date 'Augt: 1816' is at bottom right, apparently in another hand. Reads: '<...> the men all examined - | <...> their being sent out in | <...> are sad set to keep on board | <...>pose we shall soon see | <...>il for the distribution of | <...>to keep my Cruizers out | <...>way her Bowsprit but | <...> few Days Lieutt. Jewry is | <...>man | Yours most faithfully | Edwd: Thornborough'.

On 1 x 4.5 cm. slip of paper, cut from a letter. In good condition, lightly aged. A good clear signature, neatly underlined, with the cross-stroke of the initial T looping down in calligraphic style. A few words of text from the letter on the reverse.

The two items in fair condition, with light signs of age and wear, and both laid down on part of a page from an album. ONE: 24 May 1788. 1p., landscape 12mo. Written in the third person: 'Lord William Seymour Presents his Compliments to Mr. Pitman Will be much Obliged to him for the lent [sic] of His Curtis's Flora Londinensis. Ld. Wwm will take great Care of them -'. TWO: 11 August 1788. 1p., landscape 12mo. Addressed on reverse to: 'Mr Pitman | Linnen [sic] Draper | Devizes'. He is obliged to him 'for a Sight of Barbut's English Fossils.

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed, with broken seal in red wax, on reverse of second leaf, to 'Mrs. Smyth.' Addressed at head of letter to 'My dear friend.' He begins by thanking her for 'a huge slice of Cumberland pie', which he is certain 'will prove excellent'. The letter continues with references to 'Mr. Archer' and 'Mrs Grainger', the latter being 'at present in sorrow, for the death of her eldest sister at Sheffield'. In a contemporary hand beneath the signature: 'From Nicholas Carlisle Esq. | Sec. for many years of the Soc.

1p., 4to. In good condition, on aged paper. He is desired to thank Westmacott 'for the offer of your picture of Cromwell for exhibition, and at the same time to inform you, that the arrangements, for the present season, are already completed'. He ends with the tact for which he was renowned, expressing the hope that he will have 'the pleasure of seeing you at the private [last word underlined] view on tuesday next'. The recipient is presumably C. M.

12pp., 4to. Unbound. In fair condition, aged, worn, and with light damp-staining. An interesting document in the context of Whig politics and Freemasonry in Scotland. One of a number of acrimonious pamphlets exchanged between the two men. On 22 February 1808, a few days before the writing of the present pamphlet, Mitchell had distributed a handbill stating: 'I hereby declare to the world, that, Mr James Gibson, Writer to the Signet, of York Place, is a dastardly ruffian and infamous coward'.

On 3 x 9.5 cm strip of laid paper. In fair condition, with light signs of age. In another hand on the reverse: '1791 | Governor of Gibraltar'. Presumably cut from a letter in response to a request for an autograph.

1p., 12mo. In good condition, with light signs of age a some dabs of glue from mounting on blank reverse. The letter has an unusual calligraphic layout. The message reads: 'My Dear Sir | When I last lent you my plate after The Parthenon Frieze I expected it returned at furthest in two weeks it now eight weeks I would be obliged if you could let me have it by the Bearer I hahve the Honor to be with respect yours truly | John Henning senr | To | S. C. Hall Esqr'. At foot, in a contemporary hand, signed 'J.

On 1.5 x 6.5 cm. strip of paper. In good condition, with light signs of age. Presumably cut from a letter in response to a request for an autograph.

1p., 8vo. (roughly 27.5 x 18.5 cm). On a piece of watermarked laid paper. The present item is the original handbill reproduced on pp.41-44 of 'The Bath Contest: Being a Collection of all the Papers, Advertisements, &c. Published Before and Since The Death of Mr. Derrick, By the Candidates For the Office of Master of Ceremonies, And their Friends, Digested in Regular Order' (Bath: Archer and Cruttwell, 1769). It is scarce: no other copy being traced, either on OCLC WorldCat or on COPAC. A frail survival, on aged, worn and creased paper, with loss at head and to left-hand margin.

1p., landscape 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged, with central spike hole. Addressed on reverse to 'Mr Nourse | Bookseller | in the Strand.' He is sending '10 Copies of Geometry', and asks him to send 'the Book of Algebra and Mr. Walmsley's Book by the Bearers'.

3pp., 4to. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly aged-paper, with small piece torn from second leaf. Addressed, with postmark, on reverse of second leaf, to 'Robt. Woodhouse Esqr. A.M. | Plumian Professor of Astronomy & Experimental Philosophy, | Cambridge'. He writes: 'I have just made out the following demonstration of the Binomial Theorem, & as it is very short, & quite elementary, I shall be extremely obliged if you will condescent [sic] to honour me with your opinion of it before I make it public.' A full two pages of calculations, in a smallish hand, follow.

1p., landscape 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged, with central spike hole. Addressed on reverse 'For Mr: Wilks, printer, in Chancery Lane'. Having received a letter from 'Dr: Mackay' he gives instructions regarding copies of the fifth volume of the book, 'which he proposes to be sent to Newcastle and Inverness, and other places in Scotland'. If Wilks has not received copies from the bindery, he should 'take the said six copies back from Mr: Maseres's chambers'. He also asks for a copy to be sent to Dr Aikin.

9pp., folio. On five leaves of aged and worn paper. Heavily reworked, with numerous deletions and additions. Headed 'The Confessions of A [amended from 'The'] Suspicious Gentleman. | by Lord Nugent'. The present short story was first published in 'The Musical Bijou' for 1830, and was reprinted in 'The Polar Star' (abridged) and 'New York Mirror', before being collected in an anthology by Nugent and his Wife, 'Legends of the Library at Lilies, by the Lord and Lady there' (London: Longman, 1832), pp.51-91.

The full title reads: 'The Spirit of the Doctor; comprising Many Interesting Poems; selected from the original manuscript of the Late Mr. James Watson, Formerly Librarian of the Portico, in Manchester; and commonly called Doctor Watson. [Four-line quotation in Latin from Terence.] To which is prefixed A Lithographic Portrait of the Doctor; with a short memoir of his life: And various Anecdotes relative to Him - After, and to which are subjoined The Humors of Trim, [Two-line quotation from Sterne].;151pp [xxxvi + 51 + 64]., 8vo. Lithographic portrait of author as frontispiece.

1p., 4to. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, laid down on a leaf removed from an album. The letter begins by directing the recipient to 'place the head stone upon the figure if you intend to place it before the rest of the figure is erected'. If the recipient's 'previous arrangements did not contemplate putting the whole figure together' he asks him not to do as he has directed. Chantrey is 'desirous that the figure should be in the best possible condition to be looked at' before the next Wednesday morning.

1p., 12mo. On bifolium, addressed on reverse of second leaf to '- Ward Esqr. -'. In fair condition, on aged paper. The note reads: 'My dear Sir, | Presuming an old acquaintance, I request the favour of your presenting the enclosed to the Committee'.

1p., 16mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, on aged and lightly-creased paper. Anotated in pencil 'From Mr. Morier' and 'Castellamare | 1830'. Addressed to 'Dear Roberts'. Begins: 'If you are a good fellow do come and dine with us today at 3. I know it is short notice, but our table holds only a certain number.' Also asks him to join a party to visit Pompeii the following Friday, which also includes 'Parkes who dines here'.

On one side of an 11.5 x 15 cm piece of paper. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, but trimmed at foot, cropping the lower part of signature and year. He is 'concern'd to hear' of his brother's illness, and would have visited him, had he not himself been labouring under a 'fit of ye cold since my retun to ye Country'. He intends to go to Llanfochell at the end of the week, and to send one of his curates to 'make Good yr. service I intended you in my own person'.

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. Another hand - presumably that of the recipient - has written the word 'Printer' at the head of the page, and docketted the reverse 'Maginn | with Lockharts Greek Bubble' (the anonymous poem 'The Greek Bubble', published in 1826, is in fact said to be the work of J. Thompson). The letter reads: 'Dear Sir | Inclosed is a review of a poem by a friend of mine, who I believe is an acquaintance of yours. If you could make room for it tomorrow, you would much oblige me. Arrange the review yr. own way.

15pp., 8vo. Unbound pamphlet. Aged and worn. In manuscript at head of title-page: 'Dr Ainsworth from the Author'. In a short preface Soden explains that several members of the Association have asked him for a copy of his address, and that, although he does nto think it worthy, he has 'therefore had a small impression printed for private circulation only, in order to save the trouble of transcribing, [...]'. Scarce: only three copies on COPAC (BL, Bristol and Aberdeen).

64pp., 8vo. In fair condition, on lightly and worn paper, in worn contemporary half calf binding with front cover detached. The cover carries the gilt stamp of the Society of Writers to the Signet, and the front pastedown carries a shelfmark label. There is no other evidence of library provenance. Thomas is not named on the title-page, but he is the author of the dedication to Samuel Shore of Meersbrook, Derbyshire. Scarce: no copy in the British Library, and only four on COPAC.