Letter from Robert Bald of Edinburgh to Joseph Hume MP, 27 Apr 1826. Excusing his silence 'but ... I have been uncommonly pressed with mineral surveying and reporting thereon arising in a great degree from the conflicting elements which arise betwixt master and servant. Coals rise in price to an exorbitant rate, and the great manufacturing interests of Glasgow & chief consumers of coal there agreed to have the districts surveyed as to the means of supplying the City with abundance of coal at a moderate rate, and to lay rail ways into the coals fields which were the best'. He encloses "two copies of the treatise I wrote regarding the coal trade of Scotland and the slavish system of bearing coals by women. I have been attacked and run down for doing so: this I care nothing about ...'. Autograph, with signature.
Bald , Robert , 1776-1861 , mining engineerNotebook compiled by Jonathan Baker containing mathematical problems and tables, dated 29 July 1765. The notebook was also used for entering his accounts between 1782 and 1796, with some later, more general, additions to 1800, mostly relating to his work as a cobbler, but also accounts of household expenses and rents received. The accounts mention places between Cirencester and Newnham.
Baker , Jonathan , fl 1765-1800 , cobblerLetter from Henry Carey Baird of H C Baird and Co, Philadelphia, USA to [Herbert Somerton] Foxwell, 4 Dec 1908. Enclosing a list of pamphlets by Mathew Carey [Baird's great uncle] and discussing the political economist Henry C Carey [Baird's uncle]. Typescript, signed by Baird.
Baird , Henry Carey , 1825-1912 , writer and publisherLetter from Philip James Bailey of 59 Netherwood Road, West Kensington Park, London to an unknown recipient, 21 Sep 1877. 'The publishers of my new edition [10th edition] of Festus are Longmans and Compy. I have nothing now in the hands of Mr Bell. You are quite welcome to extract the songs named.' Autograph, with signature.
Bailey , Philip James , 1816-1902 , poetLetter from Charles Babbage of Dorset Street, Manchester Square, [London] to an unknown recipient, 8 Nov 1850. Giving directions for meeting Babbage on Wednesday at 7 o'clock. Autograph, with signature. Last leaf only of a letter written on several sheets.
Babbage , Charles , 1792-1871 , mathematicianLetter from Charles Babbage of Dorset Street, Manchester Square, [London] to M Sylvain van de Weyer [Belgian ambassador in London], 29 May 1837. Presenting a copy of his book 'The Ninth Bridgewater Treatise'. Autograph, with signature.
Babbage , Charles , 1792-1871 , mathematicianAgreement, dated 23 Oct 1868, between Albert Rumball, Thomas Rumball, Joseph Rivolta, John Septimo Rivolta and Vincent Wanostrocth to share the expenses of a journey to be made to St Petersburg by Albert Rumball, and the profits should licences be obtained to form the 'Azoff [Azov] and Don Gas Company'. Signatures of parties and witnesses.
UnknownTranscripts of two authorizations given to Christian Frederick Post by William Denny, 'Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania and counties of Newcastle, Kent and Sussex on Delaware', originally written at Philadelphia, 1759.
- Licence to Post, as a deacon in the church of the Unitas Fratrum, to pass into Indian country 'to preach the gospel amongst any of the Indian nations in alliance with His Majesty...to whom he is hereby heartily recommended for a kind reception and good treatment', 5 Nov 1759.
- Letter of protection addressed to the governors and magistrates of the provinces through which Post may have occasion to pass, commending him as 'a person who has been of great service to his Majesty and these colonies', 4 Jun 1759.
Attornment by Sarah [Sare], widow of Jankyn Elys, at the request of Anneys, his younger daughter, to John Horder and Henry Stanleigh, on payment of 1d., of all lands and tenements which she held in inheritance for life as in dower. In the presence of Robert Sampson. Richard Harryes, John Guderych, James Smyth, Robert Whithorn, Richard Elyot, John Geffray, Robert Maisteres, John Cokerel and others. Dated at Babeton 'Thursday after Martinmas, 12 Richard II', or 12 November 1388.
Elys , Sarah , fl 1388 , widow of Jankyn ElysA school note book, 1668-96, used by various members of the Atkinson family. As well as notes on mainly classical studies the book contains accounts that appear to have been inccurred during the years of 1668-9 at Glasgow College.
Atkinson , family , fl 1668-96Letter from David Astor of 9 Cavendish Avenue, London to the Librarian, Acquisitions Section, University of London Library, 9 Oct 1981. Concerning the gift of a copy of Henry Ozelle Malone's PhD thesis Adam von Trott zu Solz: the Road to Conspiracy against Hitler(1980).
Astor , Francis David Langhorne , b 1912 , journalist x Astor , DavidIndenture quadripartite of 11 Feb 1761 by which George Lane, of Bramham Park, Yorkshire (West Riding), with the consent of Ralph Bourchier, 'doctor in physick', of Great Ormond Street in the parish of St.George the Martyr, London, and his daughter and heir Margaret Bourchier, assigned to the Hon William Chetwynd, of Dover Street, London, the manors or lordships of Benningborough [Beningbrough], Overton [Ovington], Barforth and Newton-upon-Ouse, all in the North Riding of Yorkshire, formerly the estate of John Bourchier, deceased, for the remainder of a term of 500 years. Signed and sealed by the four parties. Ralph Bourchier inherited the estates on the death of his great-niece Mildred, wife of the Hon Robert Lane, in 1760.
UnknownIncomplete copy of instructions to sheriffs of counties and mayors of corporate towns to fix tax assessments, dated 12 August, 1634. The sheriffs are to divide the whole charge laid upon the county into hundreds, lathes and other divisions, and those into parishes and towns, which are to be rated by houses and lands 'saveing that it is his Majestie's pleasure that where there shall happen to be any men of ability, by reason of gainfull trades, great stockes of money or personall estate, who perchance have either none or little land and consequently in an ordinary landscott, would pay nothing or very little such men be rated and assessed according to their worth and ability, and that the moneys that shall bee levyed upon such may be applied to the spareing and easing of such as being either of weake estate, or charged with many children or great debts are unable to beare soe great a chardge as the lands in their occupation might require in an usuall and ordinary proportion...'. The clergy are to be taxed and assessed in the same way as the rest of the king's subjects. Transcript of the signatures of 18 persons, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of Coventry, and the Earls of Arundel, Bridgewater and Dorset.
UnknownManuscript volume containing a translation from the Flemish of an account of the travels of Mr S van Döelvelt in Asia during 1674, including details of the government, religion and customs of the area. The manuscript is dated 4 Dec 1682.
UnknownManuscript volume containing a memorandum by John Ashley, [1745-1747], headed 'A Proposal to support the British Nation against the ambitious views of France. Humbly offered to the consideration of the Right Honourable Henry Pelham', and suggesting the substitution of a capitation tax on sugar and salt for duties on the products of West Indian plantations as a means of undermining French commercial competitiveness.
Ashley , John , d 1751 , Barbados planterCopies of articles written in the 18th century:
- 'The Natural History of Tea', beginning: 'Tea, which throws some people into vapours, affects their complexion...'. The article cites as authorities 'Dr. Waldsmith' [Johannes Waldschmid?], and 'Dr. Hermenane', and refers to directions for making tea 'on pp.123, 124, and 161 on the first volume of this magazine'.
- 'Historical and Medical Observations on Sugar', beginning: 'Sugar was originally the product of the East Indies'.
Transcript of a series of articles that appeared in the Athenaeum, 1842-1843, giving itineraries and descriptions of monuments that could be visited in day excursions by railway from London, the first headed 'The Bye Paths of England' and signed 'M' (Athenaeum, 1842, pp.634-5), the others headed 'Days' Excursions out of London' (Athenaeum, 1843, pp.715-7, 736-7, 754-6, 819-20, 882-4, 904-6).
UnknownIncomplete manuscript article on Thomas Lovell Beddoes containing '...a short review of the...works of Beddoes [other than Death's Jest Book] together with a selection from some of their finest passages'. It was written, by an author unknown, as a supplement to Thomas Forbes Kelsall's article on Beddoes in the Fortnightly Review of 1872, Vol 18, pp.51-75. Although intended for the same journal it appears not to have been published either there or elsewhere.
UnknownLetter from Matthew Arnold of Cobham, Surrey to John Churton Collins, 24 Oct 1886. Relating to the teaching of modern literature and modern languages at the universities. Autograph, with signature.
Arnold , Matthew , 1822-1888 , poet and criticManuscript volume, 1683-1702, containing transcripts of orders, warrants and commissions relating to the offices of Paymaster-General of the Forces in Great Britain, Ireland and Flanders, and of the Secretary of War, the administration of musters, the Chelsea Royal Hospital, and the Ordnance Board with details of offices within it after 1683. There is also a printed copy of His Majesties orders for regulation of the musters, (Charles Bill, Henry Hills and Thomas Newcomb, London, 1687). There is a possibility that this manuscript was compiled by William Bromley.
UnknownArmorials relating to Hernan Perez de Guzman, Pedro de Graciadei and others, [1500-1600].
UnknownDraft proposals for altering the strengths of the regiments at Gibraltar and Minorca, in order to effect a saving of £99, 670, with marginal notes in a different hand (possibly that of Henry Pelham, Secretary at War 1724, and Paymaster of the Forces 1730) forming a draft address on the subject to the king. From internal evidence, the document appears to have been written between 1715 and 1733.
UnknownAristotle, Italy papers, 15th century, comprise fragments of a single leaf containing part of Leonardo Bruni's translation into Latin of Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, printed in Decem Librorum Moralium Aristotelis Tres Conversationes(Paris, 1535-1537).
UnknownManuscript volume containing a list of papers concerning the financial administration of Argenta in the province of Ferrara, Italy, 1624-1667, notably the farming of the revenues of the chamberlain of Argenta for a year from Jan 1667, and various exemptions from tolls. This manuscript is a copy of an extract made by the public notary Guieseppe Girollo Beccari from a printed book entitled Instrumento d'affitte sopra l'appalto delle dogane, macinato, augmento del sale, e delle can cellarie de Ferrara, e suo stato...(Ferrara 1667).
UnknownIndenture of apprenticeship, 27 Apr 1663, between Thomas Rickard, 'a poore child' of East Bergholt, Suffolk, and Thomas West, broadcloth weaver, mentioning the consent of John Maxley and Richard Mitchell (churchwardens), William Marlow, Robert Fen and John Piddington (overseers of the poor), and of two justices of the peace, to be enforced until Rickard reaches the age of twenty-four. Signed with the mark of Thomas West and sealed. A marginal note states 'Allowed by us Henry Parker'. Witnessed by John Ellyatt, clerk, and George Barnes.
UnknownIndenture of apprenticeship, 22 Aug 1780, between Samuel Thompson, son of William Thompson, sailmaker, of Liverpool, (with his father's consent), and Richard Heywood, banker, of Liverpool, for a term of 5 years at a wage of £15 a year, with William Thompson providing 'good and sufficient meat drink washing lodging and wearing apparel of all sorts' for his son. Signed and sealed by all parties, with James Greaves as witness.
UnknownCopy of an indenture of apprenticeship, 11 Feb, 1837, between Joseph Gordon Low, aged fourteen years, of the parish of St. John, Hampstead, (with the consent of his father, James Low, gardener, of Hampstead), and James Dowse, tailor, of Hampstead, for a term of 7 years. Consideration - £10 from the trustees of the Well Charity, Hampstead. Endorsed: 'Received of Mr. Toller the original indenture of apprenticeship this fifteenth day of August 1843'. Signed: 'Mary Ann Low'.
UnknownPrinted indenture of apprenticeship, completed in manuscript, 5 Oct 1798, between James Rudge, son of James Rudge of Gloucester, upholsterer, and George Holder of Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire, apothecary, for a term of 7 years, with Holder to provide meat, drink and bedding. The consideration is £10 paid by the Mayor and burgesses of Gloucester out of public charity money given by Mrs Jane Hunter, deceased. Signed and sealed by Holder and James Rudge, witnessed by William Birt. On the dorse is a note of the enrolment at the Tolsey in Gloucester, signed by Charles Howard, 11th Duke of Norfolk, mayor, and two others.
UnknownThe manuscript is entitled Memoranda on the State and Resources of Great Britain., 1751.
Antonie , familyLeaf, foliated LXX in a late 16th century hand, from an Antiphoner, containing part of the office for the Commemoration of St Paul (30 Jun). Written in Spain (or possibly Italy) in the late 16th century.
UnknownFragment of a leaf from an antiphoner, formerly a fly-leaf in a binding, containing part of the common of a martyr. The fragment was written in north-east France in the 13th or 14th century.
UnknownThree vellum leaves, formerly paste-downs in the binding of of Omnia Opera by Angelo Ambrogini, called Poliziano (Venice, 1498), which was rebound in the twentieth century (Ref: Incunabula 1498 Strongroom), details as follows:
- Leaf from a noted Missal, of Hereford Use, with part of the epistle, gradual, gospel, offertory, secret, communion and post-communion of the 3rd Sunday after Epiphany, and the introit, epistle, gospel and secret of the 4th Sunday. The antiphons 'Timebunt gentes', 'Dextem domini' and 'Mirabantur omnes' have their musical notation. The fragment was written in Hereford, England, in the late 12th century. It is inscibed and extensively annotated by Maurice Birchinshaw (d 1564), and inscibed by Nathaniel Evans in the 17th century. It was later used as a cover for a manorial extent, and inscibed in a 16th-17th century hand 'A court of [surve]igh for the mannour of Much Markl (i.e. Much Marcle, Herefordshire], 35 of Eliz [1592/3]', and 'Extent of survey de Man. de Mark[le]'.
- Bi-folium from an Antiphoner, with responds and versicles for the following feasts: St Mary Magdalene (22 Jul), St Peter ad vincula (1 Aug), St Laurence (10 Aug), Assumption of the Virgin (15 Aug) and Octave of the Assumption (22 Aug>). The fragment was written in the late 13th century.
Papers of Noel Gilroy Annan, Baron Annan relating to his work as Chairman of the Committee on the Future of Broadcasting, 1974-1977.
Annan , Noel Gilroy , 1916-2000 , Baron Annan , academic and historianManuscript 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'.
UnknownManuscript volume, [1729], containing an monthly account of the differences in exchange between London and Amsterdam from Mar 1697 to Dec 1728.
UnknownProgrammes for services at Christ the King; newsletters; orders of services, 1981-1986.
Anglican Chaplaincy to the Universities and Polytechnics in LondonDraft minutes of the weekly meetings of the proprietors of Anderson, New and Co., held at the Compting House, Redcross St., Bristol, from 2 Jul 1798 to 11 Mar 1799. The proprietors were James New junior, Samuel New junior, Francis Bull, S. James, William Walker and Charles Anderson. The drafts record their decisions in some detail, concerning the purchase of land at Netham Mill and Blacksworth, the building of warehouses, and the purchase of raw material and machinery. At the foot of each sheet is written 'Ent[ere]d', followed usually by the initials 'J.N.'
Anderson, New and Co , brass manufacturersCertificate of Ancient Order of Foresters membership for Edward Papsworth of the Widows and Orphans branch (court number 1840), Jun 1863.
Ancient Order of ForestersProposed Act to impose restrictions on what women could wear.
Coney , William , fl 1859 , publisherPapers concerning American theatre and opera scrapbooks, 1875-1892, comprise to scrapbooks containing programmes of plays, concerts and operas performed in the USA, with particular reference to New York and the Metropolitan Opera House, from 1875 to 1892. MS1088/2 includes postcards of members of singers performing in the Metropolitan Opera 1890 to 1891 season, posing in some of their operatic roles. The volumes contained two loose inserts, which have now become MS1088/3 and MS1088/4.
UnknownAnnual reports, circulars, memoranda, and government publications concerning the activities of the Alvey Programme, [1975]-1993.
Alvey ProgrammeTumulto del dia 28 de Abril, del Ano 1699: representacion del Conde de Oropesa (al Rey); y la Respuesta, o Glossa, sobre la representacion del Conde.
UnknownCorrespondence and papers, c1900, relating to the University of London.
Allchin , Sir , William Henry , 1846-1911 , Knight , physicianThe collection contains Margaret Alford's personal account books that cover the period 1897 to 1927.
Alford , Margaret , fl 1890-1927 , lecturer in LatinLetter from J F Alexander of 4 St James' Square, Manchester to [Richard Marsden] Pankhurst LLD, 14 Nov 1888. Explaining that Pankhurst's 'name was ... placed on the list of delegates to the Education Conference on November 20th and 21st to represent the Subscribers in the district...'.
Written in another hand and signed by Alexander.
Alexander , J F , fl 1888 , Secretary of the Society for the Liberation of Religion from State Patronage and Control, Manchester and District BranchAlbum inscribed 'To Blanche in loving memory of Nettie', 30 Sep 1900. The front cover is stamped with the initials J.C.B. and B.M.B. in the upper left and lower right corners respectively. Blue, pink or white pages with poems, watercolours and sketches; one oil painting on cardboard inserted (f.56). The dates range from 1899 to 1915, the majority of entries being of 1900-1905.
UnknownThe majority of this material consists of papers relating to the Akers family business interests in the West Indies, although there is a small amount of more personal material listed under MS999/8. Much of the material was created during the lifetime of the first Aretas Akers, but the annotations found on the majority of the documents demonstrate that the material has been subsequently used and re-used to bring order to the family's financial affairs and to fulfill the demands of Aretas Akers' will.
Akers , Aretas , 1734-1785 Akers , Aretas , 1759-1816 Akers , Edmund Fleming , 1757-1821 Akers familyThe collection, 1835-1850, contains letters and printed papers, notices and unpublished printed material, which Airy received during his time as a member of the Senate of the University of London. The Airy correspondence has a special importance because much of the early archival material of the University of London was destroyed and so often the only record of its activities is in the Senate and Committee Minutes. Airy was particularly interested in the constitution of the University, the developments of the mathematics syllabus, the syllabuses for certificates in hydrography and civil engineering and the introduction of the religious examination.
Airy , Sir , George Biddell , 1801-1892 , Knight , astronomer and mathematicianManuscript copies of papers relating to the Aire and Calder Navigation Company's proposed Leeds and Selby Canal, [1714-1772], as follows.
- Memorandum, [1771], upon the monopoly enjoyed and the exorbitant charges imposed by the farmer of the Aire and Calder Navigation, and the danger of the proprietors' wish to reroute the navigation away from Knottingley, Yorkshire, '...[which] proceeding would depopulate the... town reduce the property of individuals therein below it's present value and... totally deprive the same of all the natural advantages of it's situation...'. (Single sheet. 13" x 7¾").
- Memorandum of a meeting held on Monday, 30 December, 1771, at Bluits Inn, York, under the chairmanship of Charles Ingram, 9th Viscount Irwin, held to oppose the plans of the Aire and Calder Navigation to alter the route of the navigation by Act of Parliament. A list is given of the more notable attenders at the meeting. A plan of intended alterations was produced by Messrs. Wilson, Birt and Smeaton, but not considered, grievances of objectors to the plan were heard, and a subscription entered into to prevent 'the course of the rivers Aire and Calder from being altered by the present undertakers...and... [to concert] the proper means for reducing and ascertaining the tolls and duties on the said rivers...'. Adjournment to 28 January, [1772]. (Single sheet. 19½" x 14").
- Subscription list dated 30 December 1771 [referred to above] composed of thirteen names, headed by that of Lord Irvine. (Single sheet. 7" x 8").
- Articles of agreement of 9 July, 1714, made between (1) William Milner, of Leeds, and John Smith, of Heath, Yorkshire, on behalf of themselves and the other undertakers of the navigation on the rivers Aire and Calder, (2) Robert, Marquis of Lindsey, Lord Great Chamberlain and Privy Councillor, and (3) Arthur Ingram and Thomas Atkinson, both of Knottingley, on behalf of themselves and other inhabitants of that town. To settle disputes touching the erection of a lock and dam at Chapel Haddlesey (1) will, on or before 29 September, 1715, make one or more new large cuts or sluices with a turnpike in the middle of the dam at Chapel Haddlesey in the river Aire at least 15 yards wide...and maintain them at their own costs. They will also deepen by one foot the drain running out of Haddlesey Ings into the river Aire, and will erect a good and substantial bridge with two leaves over the Aire near the ferry by Chapel Haddlesey Marsh as good and substantial as Beal Bridge lately built on the said river, and make a good and sufficient causeway to Chapel Haddlesey. There are other clauses relating to tolls, flooding, etc. Bond in £2000 by (1) to (2) to observe and perform all covenants conditions, etc. (2 leaves. 15½" x 10").
Printed 'Abstract of the Agricultural Returns' for 1892 and 1893 'for the information of occupiers of land' sent from the Board of Agriculture in London to Henry C. Butler of Bramshott, Liphook, Hampshire, and postmarked Haslemere (Surrey) and Liphook (Hampshire), 26 Jan 1894.
Board of Agriculture