[EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY AUTHORS]. CIBBER, COLLEY. Autograph letter signed to "Mr. De Rutzen," n.p., 2 May n.y., one page, 8vo, soiled, a small hole affecting part of a word, adhered to integral blank leaf, regarding his children: "I am thankful for the Kindness display'd in your Epistle; but will have naught to do with the graceless boy, who has brought contempt upon me in my old age. For Charlotte I will do all that in me lies; but I fancied she was well establish'd in business...she is my daughter, and [maugre?] her shortcomings as a daughter, I will cheerfully bestow upon her Fifty Pounds yearly: this will at least save her from actual poverty..."--ROWE, ELIZABETH (1674-1737). Autograph letter signed ("Eliz Rowe") to "your Ladyship," n.p., 7 June n.y., 3 pages, 8vo, slight soiling, some tiny holes touching letters, an effusive epistle filled with religious cant (including 11 lines in verse); she mentions "mr watts reflexions on Deism" and refers to her own literary output: "...I have not in Form bid the muses adeiu [sic] but when you send me nothing of yours I lose all Emulation & my desire of Fame & immortality is extinct till either your letters or verses awake my Genius. I have made some little Essays at a Fairy Tale but is somewhat dull..."--PITT, CHRISTOPHER (1699-1748, poet and translator). Autograph manuscript of the poem "On ye Wedding," 67 lines, 2 1/2 pages, folio, with a few revision, incorporated in an autograph letter from Pitt to "The Rd Mr [undoubtedly Joseph] Spence, Fellow of New College, in Oxford," Blandford, 1 May [1736], a total of 3 pages, folio, numerous tears cutting across a number of words (but no text missing), address panel in Pitt's hand. The poem, apparently unpublished, begins: "When Rome had long enslav'd the Nations more By awfull Ignorance, then Arms Before..." In the letter Pitt writes: "...Rough and unpolish'd as it is [the poem], I send it you at present, and will intend to send you more correct copy of it...by every post, till you give order and stop my Hand; Such is my zeal to serve your Lorship [sic]; tho' I am absolutely of opinion, that I have blemish'd your plan, and don't beleive [sic] you'll use a line of it..." (the poem evidently concerns the projected marriage of Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales, father of George III, with Princess Augusta of Saxe Gotha in 1736); Autograph manuscript of 26 lines of verse beginning "When Pious Frauds and Holy Pride no more Cou'd Hold that Empire, which so long they bore...", one page, folio, with revisions, some soiling, in a slightly different handwriting from that of the previous manuscript-letter, labelled in right margin in a contemporary hand (of the bookseller Thomas Spence?): "On the Marriage of the Prince of Wales. by Chr. Pitt"--CHURCHILL, CHARLES. Autograph note signed to the bookseller John Almon, London, 9 October 1764, one page, oblong 8vo, foxed, a tear in blank area repaired, inlaid, an order to pay a sum of money to John Edwards, docketed by Edwards on verso--HARRIS, JAMES (1709-1780, linguist, author of Hermes, friend of Henry Fielding). Autograph letter signed to "Dear Sr.," Salisbury, 2 September 1761, 4 pages, small 4to, a fine literary letter, evidently to another writer, discussing his reading, etc.: "...There are four very large Folio Volumes just published at Rome by an Architect one Perinese [sic], containing most exact Plans, Elevations & Descriptions of all the remains of Antiquity in & near Rome. Tis a noble work, & esteemed the best executed of any of its kind..."; Autograph note signed, Sarum, 22 September 1767, one page, oblong 8vo, laid down, regarding bills--HUGHES, JOHN (1677-1720, POET). AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED TO WILLIAM COWPER, FIRST EARL COWPER, N.P., 5 AUGUST 1718, 4 PAGES, 4TO, GILT EDGES, REHINGED AND TIPPED TO LARGER SHEET, WITH ENGRAVED PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHY (8VO, BROADSIDE). NEARLY THREE PAGES OF THE LETTER CONSISTS OF THE TEXT OF THE POEM "THE GENIUS" BY LEONARD WELSTED (1688-1747) COPIED OUT BY HUGHES, WHO WRITES: "HAVING JUST NOW MET WITH THE INCLOS'D VERSES, WHICH HAVE BEEN BUT LATELY DISCOVERED, I THINK 'EM SO VERY GOOD, THAT I COULD NOT DENY MY SELF THE PLEASURE OF SENDING THEM TO YOUR LORDSHIP...I AM INFORM'D THEY ARE WRIT BY MR. WELSTED, A GENTLEMAN I HAVE HEARD MENTION'D BY SR. RICHARD STEELE, AS A PROMISING GENIUS; & WHO HAS WRIT SOME FEW SHORT POEMS BEFORE, BUT IS LITTLE KNOWN..."--NEWTON, JOHN (1725-1827, clergyman and friend of William Cowper). Autograph letter signed to the Rev. William Ward in Norfolk, n.p., 25 January 1797, 3 pages, 8vo, seal tear in blank area of second leaf, about finding a new position for Ward--STUART, JAMES (1713-1788, painter and architect, known as "Athenian Stuart"). Autograph letter signed to the engraver Charles [John] Smith, High Wycombe, 10 December n.y., 2 pages, 8vo, integral blank leaf, regarding two engravings Stuart wishes made (one intended for a frontispiece)--THOMSON, WILLIAM (1746-1817, miscellaneous writer). Autograph letter signed (third person) "To the proprietors of Dodsleys Annual Registered continued," n.p., n.d. [not before 1808], 4 pages, 8vo, a critique of the recent Edinburgh Register and a discussion of editorial and publishing matters--[WALPOLE HORACE]. Third person autograph note in the hand of Thomas Kirgate (the Strawberry Hill Press printer), [Strawberry Hill], n.d., one page, oblong 18mo, on card: "Mr. Walpole has the pleasure of sending Mrs. [David] Garrick Mr. Stratford's Poem [apparently not noted in Hazen], for which She was so good as to subscribe; and he is ashamed to trouble her with two others, for Mrs. Bouverie and Miss [Hannah] More, Mr. Walpole not knowing how to convey them to those Ladies"--WARTON, THOMAS, the younger (1728-1790, poet-laureate). Two autograph letters signed to different recipients, Oxford and n.p., 5 February 1785 and 7 August 1789, together 2 pages, small 4to, some defects, the first a short letter regarding John Milton's will, the second a brief social letter to a Rev. Price; together 14 letters, notes, and manuscripts, and 1 ephemeron. All with typed transcripts. (Milne) (15)

Details

[EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY AUTHORS]. CIBBER, COLLEY. Autograph letter signed to "Mr. De Rutzen," n.p., 2 May n.y., one page, 8vo, soiled, a small hole affecting part of a word, adhered to integral blank leaf, regarding his children: "I am thankful for the Kindness display'd in your Epistle; but will have naught to do with the graceless boy, who has brought contempt upon me in my old age. For Charlotte I will do all that in me lies; but I fancied she was well establish'd in business...she is my daughter, and [maugre?] her shortcomings as a daughter, I will cheerfully bestow upon her Fifty Pounds yearly: this will at least save her from actual poverty..."--ROWE, ELIZABETH (1674-1737). Autograph letter signed ("Eliz Rowe") to "your Ladyship," n.p., 7 June n.y., 3 pages, 8vo, slight soiling, some tiny holes touching letters, an effusive epistle filled with religious cant (including 11 lines in verse); she mentions "mr watts reflexions on Deism" and refers to her own literary output: "...I have not in Form bid the muses adeiu [sic] but when you send me nothing of yours I lose all Emulation & my desire of Fame & immortality is extinct till either your letters or verses awake my Genius. I have made some little Essays at a Fairy Tale but is somewhat dull..."--PITT, CHRISTOPHER (1699-1748, poet and translator). Autograph manuscript of the poem "On ye Wedding," 67 lines, 2 1/2 pages, folio, with a few revision, incorporated in an autograph letter from Pitt to "The Rd Mr [undoubtedly Joseph] Spence, Fellow of New College, in Oxford," Blandford, 1 May [1736], a total of 3 pages, folio, numerous tears cutting across a number of words (but no text missing), address panel in Pitt's hand. The poem, apparently unpublished, begins: "When Rome had long enslav'd the Nations more By awfull Ignorance, then Arms Before..." In the letter Pitt writes: "...Rough and unpolish'd as it is [the poem], I send it you at present, and will intend to send you more correct copy of it...by every post, till you give order and stop my Hand; Such is my zeal to serve your Lorship [sic]; tho' I am absolutely of opinion, that I have blemish'd your plan, and don't beleive [sic] you'll use a line of it..." (the poem evidently concerns the projected marriage of Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales, father of George III, with Princess Augusta of Saxe Gotha in 1736); Autograph manuscript of 26 lines of verse beginning "When Pious Frauds and Holy Pride no more Cou'd Hold that Empire, which so long they bore...", one page, folio, with revisions, some soiling, in a slightly different handwriting from that of the previous manuscript-letter, labelled in right margin in a contemporary hand (of the bookseller Thomas Spence?): "On the Marriage of the Prince of Wales. by Chr. Pitt"--CHURCHILL, CHARLES. Autograph note signed to the bookseller John Almon, London, 9 October 1764, one page, oblong 8vo, foxed, a tear in blank area repaired, inlaid, an order to pay a sum of money to John Edwards, docketed by Edwards on verso--HARRIS, JAMES (1709-1780, linguist, author of Hermes, friend of Henry Fielding). Autograph letter signed to "Dear Sr.," Salisbury, 2 September 1761, 4 pages, small 4to, a fine literary letter, evidently to another writer, discussing his reading, etc.: "...There are four very large Folio Volumes just published at Rome by an Architect one Perinese [sic], containing most exact Plans, Elevations & Descriptions of all the remains of Antiquity in & near Rome. Tis a noble work, & esteemed the best executed of any of its kind..."; Autograph note signed, Sarum, 22 September 1767, one page, oblong 8vo, laid down, regarding bills--HUGHES, JOHN (1677-1720, POET). AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED TO WILLIAM COWPER, FIRST EARL COWPER, N.P., 5 AUGUST 1718, 4 PAGES, 4TO, GILT EDGES, REHINGED AND TIPPED TO LARGER SHEET, WITH ENGRAVED PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHY (8VO, BROADSIDE). NEARLY THREE PAGES OF THE LETTER CONSISTS OF THE TEXT OF THE POEM "THE GENIUS" BY LEONARD WELSTED (1688-1747) COPIED OUT BY HUGHES, WHO WRITES: "HAVING JUST NOW MET WITH THE INCLOS'D VERSES, WHICH HAVE BEEN BUT LATELY DISCOVERED, I THINK 'EM SO VERY GOOD, THAT I COULD NOT DENY MY SELF THE PLEASURE OF SENDING THEM TO YOUR LORDSHIP...I AM INFORM'D THEY ARE WRIT BY MR. WELSTED, A GENTLEMAN I HAVE HEARD MENTION'D BY SR. RICHARD STEELE, AS A PROMISING GENIUS; & WHO HAS WRIT SOME FEW SHORT POEMS BEFORE, BUT IS LITTLE KNOWN..."--NEWTON, JOHN (1725-1827, clergyman and friend of William Cowper). Autograph letter signed to the Rev. William Ward in Norfolk, n.p., 25 January 1797, 3 pages, 8vo, seal tear in blank area of second leaf, about finding a new position for Ward--STUART, JAMES (1713-1788, painter and architect, known as "Athenian Stuart"). Autograph letter signed to the engraver Charles [John] Smith, High Wycombe, 10 December n.y., 2 pages, 8vo, integral blank leaf, regarding two engravings Stuart wishes made (one intended for a frontispiece)--THOMSON, WILLIAM (1746-1817, miscellaneous writer). Autograph letter signed (third person) "To the proprietors of Dodsleys Annual Registered continued," n.p., n.d. [not before 1808], 4 pages, 8vo, a critique of the recent Edinburgh Register and a discussion of editorial and publishing matters--[WALPOLE HORACE]. Third person autograph note in the hand of Thomas Kirgate (the Strawberry Hill Press printer), [Strawberry Hill], n.d., one page, oblong 18mo, on card: "Mr. Walpole has the pleasure of sending Mrs. [David] Garrick Mr. Stratford's Poem [apparently not noted in Hazen], for which She was so good as to subscribe; and he is ashamed to trouble her with two others, for Mrs. Bouverie and Miss [Hannah] More, Mr. Walpole not knowing how to convey them to those Ladies"--WARTON, THOMAS, the younger (1728-1790, poet-laureate). Two autograph letters signed to different recipients, Oxford and n.p., 5 February 1785 and 7 August 1789, together 2 pages, small 4to, some defects, the first a short letter regarding John Milton's will, the second a brief social letter to a Rev. Price; together 14 letters, notes, and manuscripts, and 1 ephemeron. All with typed transcripts. (Milne) (15)