The collection contains two volumes. Volume one is entitled, 'Aboriginal State' and volume two, 'Improved Modern State'.
Sin títuloManuscript volume containing a draft of a petition of the inhabitants of Russell Street, London, 'whose houses were burnt and blowne up and that lost their goods by the late fire that began in the Theatre Royal' to the Justices of the Peace at Hicks Hall, 1672. The document also contains a list of the men appointed to examine the petitioners, and a list of the petitioners and the value of their losses in goods and property.
Sin títuloManuscript transcription, [1650-1700], of a late medieval prose chronicle giving an account of the Battle of Ransbeek (1143), in which the lords of Grimbergen (Limberg?) were defeated by the guardians of Godfrey III, Duke of Lothier (also known as the Duke of Lorraine or Brabant). The manuscript is entitled 'Comment ceux de Brabant et de Grimburghe eurent moult forte at grande baittaille l'un contre l'autre aupres de Grimburghe en plain champ'.
Sin títuloManuscript volume containing a collection of treatises and sermons on the Blessed Virgin Mary, dating from the mid-fifteenth century, and comprising a treatise beginning 'Caritatis radix flos et fructus est eternitatis fundamentum'; Speculum Beatae Mariae Virginis by Conrad of Saxony; a sermon by Saint Augustine of Hippo on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary; a homily by Saint Anselm on the Feast of the Assumption; a sermon by Saint Augustine of Hippo for the Feast of Assumption; a note on the seven privileges of the Blessed Virgin Mary (possibly taken from the Speculum Beatae Mariae Virginis); and an incomplete copy of a sermon by Saint Ambrose on the Virgin Mary. The manuscript was written by various scribes in a mixture of book-hand and business-hand, probably in Germany.
Sin títuloManuscript volume containing a verse chronicle of the history of England from the legendary Brut up to 1272, [1440], most notably focusing on the barons' rebellion led by Simon de Montfort during the reign of King Henry III. The chronicle is written in rhymed couplets in a south-west Midland dialect, and was copied in a good semi-cursive hand by two, or possibly three, scribes. The chronicle is known in two versions, of which this is the shorter; in the longer version there is a reference to the darkness which fell on the surrounding country following the Battle of Evesham (Aug 1265), and this, as well as local knowledge of the area, has led to the author being traditionally named 'Robert of Gloucester'. On the verso of the second fly-leaf there is a 'Precepts in -ly' (moral or religious counsels) entitled 'A spesiall glasse to loke in daily', which is dated at Holy Rode on 14 Sep 1516. It was possibly written by Richard Whitford (1476-1542), who was chaplain to William Blount, 4th Baron Mountjoy, and later to Richard Fox, Bishop of Winchester, afterwards becoming a monk at Syon Monastery, Isleworth, until the Dissolution. It is unclear if Whitford also undertook the copying of the Richard of Gloucester chronicle. Folio 147 contains 25 lines of miscellaneous Latin, including a section relating to the prophecies of Merlin.
Sin títuloVulgate Bible, c1475-1500: The Psalms are omitted; and "Interpretationes nominum hebraicorum" is added at the end of the N.T.; the prologues and prefaces of St. Jerome are given. There are occasional marginal notes, partially or wholly erased.
Sin títuloContains the following legal items: ff 1-14. 'Ordinances made by the Lord Chancellor for the better and moore reguler administratyon of iustice in the Chancery to bee duly observed saving the prerogatives to the Court. Tempore Bacon cancellarii', 1619; ff 14b-16: 'Addiconall Rules for the better governinge of the Court of Chancery and the Greate Seale published in open Court 31 October', 1620; f 33: An ordinance of 26 June 18 James I [1620], concerning the incompetence of certain Commissioners; ff 34-38: William [Dr John Williams, Bishop of Lincoln] Lord Keeper's speech in Chancery the 1st daie of Michaelmas terme [6 Oct] 1621; ff 39-47: 'Ordinances made by the Right Honourable Thomas Lord Coventry lord keeper of the greate seale of England with the advice and assistance of the Right Honourable Sir Julius Ceser knight Master of the Rolls in the terme of St. Michaell ' ... in the xith yeare of the Raigne of ... kinge Charles [1635] for the Redresse of sundry Errors defaults and abuses in the high Court of Chancery'; ff 57-60: Baron Bromley his Charge att Wenlocke 9 September 1615.
Sin títuloManuscript volume containing several speeches made during the House of Commons debate on King Charles I's propositions for supply, 2 Apr 1628.
Sin títuloVolume mainly containing treatises on French financial administration, [1581-1610], namely a report by Maximilien de Béthune, Duc de Sully, Director of the Council of Finance, on the finances of France, [1607]; a paper on the Estates General of France, [1583]; a history of royal taxation in France up to the reign of King Henry III, ending with a statement of the revenue in 1581, [1581-1589]; and a paper giving instructions on the powers and authority of the officers of the French Chambre des Comptes (Chamber of Accounts), [1589-1610]. The manuscript also contains papers relating to diplomatic negotiations during the Thirty Years War, comprising a speech on a peace assembly at Cologne, Italy, [1636], and a letter from the Swedish Chancellor Count Axel Greve Oxenstierna to the English Ambassador, Sir Thomas Roe, on the alliance between England and Sweden, 1638.
Sin títuloManuscript volume containing a tract relating to usury by a Mr Sanderson, and a reply by Mr [John] Cotton, 1626. Reginald Rye, Goldsmith's Librarian of the University of London, stated that the former may have been written by Sir William Sanderson.
Sin títuloManuscript volume written by Pierre Vordoni entitled 'Essai sur le rétablissement du crédit public et sur l'amortissement de la dette de l'état', 1820, giving his observations on the financial problems of European states and the need to reduce national debt and re-establish public credit. The manuscript is written in parallel text in French and German.
Sin títuloManuscript volume containing tables giving a statement of English excise revenue from Michaelmas 1662 to 1730. The earlier tables are in summary form, but from 1693 to 1730 a full account is given.
Sin títuloManuscript letter, dated 22 February, 1643, containing an Order of the Committee of Revenue to Thomas Fauconbridge, Receiver of Crown Revenues, to pay 'the poore Pewterers or Hammer men' of London the sum of £100, due to them by virtue of an Act of Parliament. The letter is signed by members of the Committee for Revenue, including Sir Henry Vane, Sir Henry Mildmay, Francis Rous, William Ashhurst, Thomas Hoyle and Dennis Bond. With a receipt dated 27 February 1643, bearing 56 signatures or marks and the signature of Robert Leeson, Warden of the Worshipful Company of Pewteres.
Sin títuloThe collection contains account books recording purchases made by Captain Patrick Lawson in London, Madras and Canton. Also contains memoranda and accounts regarding the administration of his estate on behalf of his creditors from 1777 to 1799.
Sin títuloWritten on the blank leaves of a copy of Parker's Ephemeris for 1713. Notes from 1713-16 including the results of the poll in the elections for the County and Boroughs of Kent in September 1713 and February 1714. Also includes particulars of Sir Edward Filmer's expenditure on provisions for the latter election.
Sin títuloManuscript volume containing tables giving a statement of [English] excise revenue from Michaelmas 1662 to [Jun 1763]. There is a possibility that this manuscript was created by John Bindley, a Commissioner of the Excise Office.
Sin títuloManuscript orders made by the Hamburg Company, 26 Jan 1668, to prevent 'employing unfreemen to buy and shipp off woolen' .
Sin títuloManuscript volume containing 'The Public and private life of Squallina, enriched with various anecdotes of distinguished persons, compiled by an intimate acquaintance of all', dated to the 19th century.
Sin títuloManuscript petition of William Courten, grandson and heir of Sir William Courten, the administrators and executors of Courten's estate (Sir Richard Mauleverer, Sir Erasmus de la Fountaine, Sir John Ayton, Maurice Thompson, Walter Deureux, Thomas Coppin and William Lloyd) and the rest of Courten's creditors, requesting compensation for the loss of Courten's estates in Barbados. The petitioners beg the king to compel the merchants who have unlawfully dispossessed Sir William Courten of his plantations in the Barbados to make redress to his creditors. Endorsed 'Peticion of Sr Richard Mauleverer & others abt the Barbados'; also, in another hand, 'Rec'd 13th Sept. 1671'.
Sin títuloManuscript volume containing tables giving a statement of the [English] excise revenue from Michaelmas 1662 to [Jul 1875]. There is a possibility that this manuscript was created by Sir Grey Cooper, Secretary to the Treasury.
Sin títuloCollection of material relating to the dramatist Henry Arthur Jones (1851-1929), collected by M.H.Spielmann, including: Five letters from Henry Arthur Jones to the Morning Post newspaper concerning the reconstruction of the theatre (1919); correspondence with James Stanley Little (1922-1929); correspondence between Jones and M.H.Spielmann (1919-1929); correspondence between Doris Thorne (nee Arthur Jones) and M.H.Spielmann (1929-1939); publications and proofs of works by H.A.Jones (1897-1921); press cuttings concerning miscellaneous topics connected to H.A.Jones, including reviews of books and plays and cuttings concerning his disputes with George Bernard Shaw and H.G.Wells (1887-1950).
Sin títuloManuscript notes on the Japanese exchanges and markets made for Professor Herbert Somerton Foxwell by Juichi Soyeda, a Japanese banker, in 1885-1886.
Sin títuloManuscript notebook, [1764], containing an introductory section on philosophy and three sections on logic, the third being unfinished. Two engravings, printed in France, are inserted in the text, and the manuscript is probably French in origin. The partly obliterated date of 1764 occurs at the end of section 3.
Sin títuloThe boxes contain notebooks and papers, 1895-1947, mainly on the history of science and technology, with special reference to China.
Sin títuloA history, c1826, and copies of three Royal Licences permitting it to enlarge its stock. Both the history and the licenses are in the same hand.
Sin títuloManuscript volume, 1669-1670, containing 'miscellanies' relating to Ireland, namely 'The establishment beginning Michaelmas 1669', including lists of salaries for civil officers, pensions and annuities, military payments, salaries for military officers and soldiers, the names of officers of regiments of horse and foot on 25 Dec 1670, provincial, noble and clerical subsidies, and a list of Parliamentary seats; 'A table for reducing plantation acres into English and ascertaining the King's rent in the severall provinces of Ireland according to the explanatory act', [1669]; an abstract of the demise made by King Charles II to John Foorth and Partners of the revenue of Ireland, 12 Jul 1669. There is an index, added by Sir David William Smith, 1st Baronet, in 1828.
Sin títuloA roll with printed oaths of allegiance and supremacy with signatures and addresses of the Land Tax Commissioners of the City of London for 1779.
Sin títuloManuscript volume written by Edward Burnell entitled 'Epitome ecclesiastice historie Nicephori calisti'. The Epitome, in its imperfect state, extends as far as the time of Justinian, Emperor of the East. The manuscript is illustrated throughout with many marginal pen-drawings of the persons and events dealt with. At the head of the title-page is an inaccurate attempt to reproduce the arms of Philip and Mary, King and Queen of England. The ecclesiastical arms at the foot of the page (repeated on folio 80) have not been identified.
Sin títuloTranscript of a Resolution of the London Court of Common Council, held on Thursday 27th May, 1725, concerning the Court's control of the Common Seal, namely 'That for the future the Common Seal of this City shall not be affixed to any Grant where [by] the Estate or Revenue of this City may be Charged, without th[e] Consent of this Court first had for that purpose'.
Sin títuloCopy of a Court Roll made at the Court Baron of Sir John Brokett (Brockett), Lord of the Manor of Westington, containing a Surrender of copyhold by Richard Adams, customary tenant, of a tenement with croft adjacent containing one acre, another close containing about three acres, also three acres of arable land lying in Fynceley Churche Fylde, to the use of John Adams, his elder son. Also contains the Admission of John Adams for an annual rent of 7s.9d.
Sin títuloBill of expenses incurred in the execution of a fine levied by Mr Stratford and Mr Hawkins against Ketford Brayne and his wife, presented at Easter, [16]73 by Mr. Ayleway (?). 22 items are listed, amounting to £7.10s., including one of 4s. 'for the Judges hand to passe the fyne', and expenses for a journey to Mr John Cox at Gloucester.
Sin títuloA license, 1637, granting Gilbert Wells access to his father's properties.
Special Licence to Gilbert Wells, esquire, son and heir of Thomas Wells, esquire, deceased, a former tenant-in-chief holding by knight service, to enter into all the manors, messuages, lands, tenements etc in England, Wales and the Marches which were his father's.
Sin títuloA volume, 1933-1934, of poetry, in German, by Rainer Maria Rilke, translated by James Blair Leishman. It includes manuscript recommendations by Leishman and comments by Professor Geoffrey Tillotson.
Sin títuloBook of accounts from 1679-1760 of the gross and net produce of customs and yearly payments into the receipt of the Exchequer. A pencil note on the end of the papers reads, 'V. interesting and valuable. Specially drawn up by the Officers of the Crown for the private use of successive Chancellors of the Exchequer. Commences 1679, ends 1760, in all 81 years.'
Sin títuloManuscript 'Notes relatives à la station de la cote d'Afrique. Gorée. July 1820', partly written by Alphonse Louis Théodore Moges, Comte de Moges, and comprising an account of the French colony of Senegal, with special reference to Gorée Island and Albréda, their products, inhabitants and trade. Particular attention is given to the slave trade, and means of suppressing it are suggested. The author makes his observations after a two-year sojourn in the area begun, therefore, soon after Gorée had been restored to France in 1816. He passes antagonistic comments on the English and their trade. The first two paragraphs and the corrections throughout are in the hand of the signatory, Alphonse de Moges; the remainder of the manuscript is in another hand.
Sin títuloTwo manuscript lists of prices of grain, meal and flour, as sold in the corn-market in Kingston upon Hull, for 29 Feb and 7 Mar, 1780. Signed by Joseph Monday. The lists conclude a series of printed price lists in which prices have been supplied in manuscript dating from 19 Jan 1759 to 22 Feb 1780. Signatures include Robert Oxtaby, James Oxtaby, his son, Thomas Coulston and Joseph Monday.
Sin títuloA certificate, 1890, of Frank Wallis Galton's admission to the freedom of the City of London.
Sin títuloA bill, late 17th century, for services rendered and items supplied by a saddler.
Sin títuloDraft of a bill 'for the more effectual prevention of the use of false and deficient measures', 1815, with proposals including Justices of the Peace to appoint persons to examine the measures within their districts; a penalty of 5-20s on conviction; proper measures according to the standard made by the Exchequer to be purchased out of the general rate and deposited with the clerks of the peace; some form of conviction to be given. The draft is endorsed '9 March 1815. Copy to Mr [Samuel] Whitbread [M.P. for Bedford] per post'.
Sin títuloVolume of printed material relating to the Friendly Society of Journeymen Bookbinders of London and Westminster, including two manuscript items, namely Articles of the Society 'finally agreed to at Mitchell's Rooms, Portsmouth Street, March 24th 1820'; and a letter from James Carss, the Society's Secretary, to John Shaw, concerning the audit of the Society's accounts, [1832].
The Society was instituted to promote 'a good understanding harmony & unanimity amongst the Journeymen Bookbinders of London & its vicinity, & to prevent any encroachments in their rights & privileges'. The articles here listed to which members subscribed concern the organization of the society, the duties of officers, the conduct of members.
Manuscript report entitled 'A State of the Coynage in Barcelona', [1714], with a note that 'This paper was attested upon oath before the Commissioners of Accounts the 14th day of May 1714 by Mr. [John] Mead'. The remainder of the volume comprises a printed copy of the answer of James Stanhope, 1st Earl Stanhope, to allegations concerning his financial administration as Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in Catalonia during 1708, and contains manuscript annotations in Stanhope's hand.
Sin títuloManuscript copy of a response by Henry Howard, 12th Earl of Suffolk and 5th Earl of Berkshire, to the representations of the Dutch envoy, the Comte de Welderen, and entitled 'Réponse de Mylord Suffolk, par ordre du Roi, aux représentations du Comte de Welderen, Envoyé Extraordinaire de Leurs Hautes Puis[san]ces, les Etats-Généraux des Provinces-Unies'. Dated at St. James, 19 Oct 1778'.
Sin títuloContains details concerning the bank's constitution and rates, c1683.
Sin títuloManuscript volume containing a record of housekeeping expenses, 1766-1848. The account book contains annual expenses from 1766-1768, weekly expenses from Jan 1769-Aug 1787, mostly for food and washing clothes, and weekly household expenses from Aug 1837 to Nov 1847 with details of servants' wages from Nov 1837 to Nov 1848. The expenses for Aug 1837 are headed '10 Avenue Road, Regent's Park'. Includes a list headed 'Books in Library in Margaret's Room', dated 7 Sep 1837; the works are mainly religious. Some pages have been used for notes and jottings.
Sin títuloManuscript items relating to the proposed London and Birmingham Railway, 1830-1833, as follows.
- Copy of an estimate by John Sinclair, civil engineer of Hartshill, Atherstone, of a railway between Coventry and Birmingham, dated 21 March 1832. (2 leaves. 12¾" x 8").
- Notes on the projected route of the London and Birmingham Railway, from a plan 'deposited with the Clerk of the Peace', 1830. (4 leaves. 9" x 8").
- List of cuttings, tunnels and other works on the railway line between London and Birmingham, [1830]. (2 leaves. 10" x 7¾").
Manuscript tract on taxation entitled 'Observations sur l'impôt territorial en nature proposé à l'assemblée des notables', written by Donat Vosgien at Épinal in 1787.
Sin títuloMemorandum, dated 1760 and probably by James Douglas, 14th Earl of Morton, on a pamphlet [by the Reverend Thomas Hepburn, Minister of Bursay] entitled A letter to a gentleman from his friend in Orkney containing the true causes of the poverty of that country, [dated 4 March 1757], which had defended Morton against charges of illegally increasing rents and other duties brought against him by the lairds of Orkney. The writer had advised against publication, but the pamphlet was in fact published in 1760.
Sin títuloA typescript, c1908, entitled La Renaissance de la Tragédie et les Spectacles de Plein-air en France. Alterations and additions in the author's own hand.
Sin títuloContains manuscript drafts, typescripts, transcripts and notes, proof sheets and other printed material of many works by Anne Ritchie including essays, autobiographical writings and short stories, c1864-1918.
Sin títuloBook of Hours of Roman use, written in north-east France or Flanders, with calendar, hours of the Holy Cross, of the Holy Ghost, mass and hours of the Blessed Virgin Mary, seven penitential psalms, litany of the saints and the office of the dead. Though the manuscript is illuminated throughout, there are two full-page miniatures: folio 67v shows the crucified Christ in majesty at the last judgment, and folio 80v the performance of the office of the dead by three priests and five black-robed religious around a catafalque. The manuscript can be dated to the second half of the 15th century.
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