In order to forward your views as regards the valuable department of
"Notes from Fly-Leaves" I have spent some leisure hours in _beating the
covers_ of a portion of my library. I send you the produce of my first
day's sport, which, you will observe, has been in the fields of poetry.
Make what use of it you think fit, selecting such notes only as you
think of sufficient interest for publication.
I. Note in the handwriting of Richard Farmer, in a copy of "Canidia, or
the Witches; a Rhapsody in five parts, by R.D." 4to. London, printed by
S. Roycroft for Robert Clavell, 1683.
"In Mr. Hutton's Catale P. 65. N. 1552. this strange composition is
ascribed to one Dixon. There was a Robert Dixon, an author about
the time, and D.D. (Woods's _Fasti_, v. ii. p. 103.), but it surely
must not be given to him! Qu.? This is the only copy I have seen,
1785."
[Lowndes has the work under the name of Robert Dixon, D.D.]
II. Note in the handwriting of James Bindley, in a copy of an English
translation of Milton's "Defensio pro Populo Anglicano," printed in the
year 1692.
"Translated into English by Richard Washington, Esq., of the Middle
Temple."
On another page, however, he has written,
"Mem. in a miscellany called 'Poems on Affairs of State,' 8vo. 5th
edit. 1703, at page 223 'In memory of _Joseph_ Washington, Esq.,
late of the Middle Temple, an elegy written by N. Tate, Servant to
their Majesties.' Though Mr. Warton calls him _Richard_, his name
was, I believe, as above, and the translator most likely of this
book.--J.B."
To this is added, in the handwriting of the late Mr. Ford, bookseller,
formerly of Manchester--
"The note on the opposite side, signed J.B., stands for James
Bindley, who may be considered as good authority for what is here
asserted. Some curious information will be found relative to the
original work in 'Diction. des Livres Condamnés,' &c., par Peignot.
tom. ii. p 319."
III. Note in the handwriting of Mr. Ford, in a copy of Fletcher's
"Purple Island,", &c. 1633.
"See the lines at the end by Francis Quarles, which are ingenious
and poetical. This curious and very rare volume I purchased out of
Longman's celebrated catalogue of old English poetry, called 'Bib.
Ang. Poet.,' where it will be found marked £2 12s. 6d., which is
what it cost me. Mr. Montgomery, the poet, styles this poem a
fantastical allegory describing the body and soul of man, but
containing many rich and picturesque passages (v. his 'Christian
Poem,' p. 163.) But there is a most excellent critique upon it in
the 'Retrosp. Rev.' for Nov. 1820 (v.p. 351.), but see also
Headley, who highly praises it. The name of Fletcher ranks high in
the list of our poets. He was born in 1584, and was the son of Dr.
Giles Fletcher, who was himself a poet; the brother of Giles
Fletcher, the author of 'Christ's Victory;' and the cousin of John
Fletcher, the celebrated dramatist."
IV. In a note on a copy of "Iter Boreale, with large additions of
several other poems, being an exact collection of all hitherto extant;
never before published together. The author R. Wild, D.D., printed for
the booksellers in London, 1668,"--the author is described as "of
Tatenill, near Burton supr Trent." The note is apparently of
contemporary date, or a little later.
This edition is not noticed by Lowndes, nor is another edition
(anonymous), of which I have a copy, the date of which is 1605 (printed
for R.J., and are to be sold in St. Paul's Churchyard). Of course this
date is a mistake, but query what is the real date? Probably 1665. The
volume concludes with the 70th page, being identical with the 72nd page
of the edition of 1668.
V. Note in the handwriting of Mr. Ford, in a copy of "Waller's Poems,"
1645 (after quoting "Rymer on Tragedy," pp. 2. and 79.):--
"The dedicatory epistle in this first and rare edition 'To my
Lady,' is omitted in all the subsequent editions, even in Fenton's
of 1729 (see Dibdin).--I find it _is_ inserted in Fenton's
edition among the speeches and letters; but he adds, in his
observations thereon, that it appears not to have been designed for
a public dedication, though why or wherefore he assigns no reason;
and he further adds, 'I never met with any tradition to what Lady
it was originally directed.' It certainly has as much the
appearance of having been intended for a dedication, _if we may
judge from internal evidence_, as such sort of things generally
have. This is the first genuine edition and very scarce. It is
priced in the 'Bib. Ang. Poet.'; at 2 gs. No. 851. The subsequent
editions are of no particular value, exception Fenton's elegant and
complete edition in 4to., which is worth about the same sum."
VI. Note in a handwriting of the 17th century, in a copy of Cawood's
edition of the "Ship of Fools," opposite to the dedication, which is
"Venerandissimo in Christo Patri ac Domino, domino Thomæ Cornissh,
Tenenensis pontifici, ac diocesis Badonensis Suffraganio
vigilantissimo," &c.
"Thomas Cornish, in 1421-2, was made Suffragan Bishop to Rich. Fox,
Bp of Bath and Wells, under ye title of 'Episcopus Tynensis,' by wh
I suppose is meant Tyne, ye last island belonging to ye republick
of Venice in ye Archipelago. See more of him in 'Athenæ Oxoniens,'
vol. i. p. 555."
VII. Note by T. Park, in a copy of the third edition of an "Essay on
Human Life," by the author of the "Essay on Man," 1736. (Printed for J.
Witford.)
"By Lord Pagett. 1st edn 1734. 4to. says Lord Orford. An edn in
8vo. was printed in 1736 'for Fletcher Gyles against Grays Inn in
Holbourn,' and was called (as this is) the _third_; but it gave no
delusive intimation in the title that Pope was the author, honestly
assigning it to the Right Hon. Lord Pagett. To the preface was
added a short postscript."
On another page he has written:
"This is perhaps the most successful imitation of Pope's ethic poem
which has been produced. Lord Paget has had the credit of composing
it."
In another handwriting there is written:
"From Mr. Newton, a valuable present, June 25. 1760."
Under which Mr. Park has added:
"Qu. from Newton to Cowper, whose handwriting resembles the above."
VIII. I have a little book entitled, "The Original History of Old Robin
Gray; with the adventures of Jenny and Sandy: a Scotch Tale;" n.d.
printed for H. Turpin. A prose narrative, apparently intended for
children, but which Mr. Haslewood has enriched with a number of
newspaper cuttings and other illustrations, and has added the following
note:--
"Auld Robin Gray; a ballad by the Right Honourable Lady Anne
Barnard, born Lady Anne Lindsay of Balcarras; Edin. printed by
James Ballantyne and Co. 1825, qto. This is the first authentic
edition of this beautiful Scottish ballad, and forms one of the
publications by Sir Walter Scott as a member of the Bannatyne Club.
The publication gives an interesting account of the authoress--of
the origin of the ballad--the ballad--continuation of Auld Robin
Gray, all from the same hand; it is to be regretted it is not
published for wider circulation. It will, it may be expected, find
a vent for the publick at some future period, and some of the
gatherings in this volume swell a note or two, if not a page.--See
'Cens. Lib.' vol. ix. p. 323. for another ballad called,
'Continuation of Auld Robin Gray.' Auld Robin gray's Ghaist begins
'Right sweetly sang the nightingale,' among my Scotch songs. The
sequel to Auld Robin Gray begins, 'Full five long years' in do."