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Creator
Merryweather, Francis
Call number
Pforz MS
Physical description
14 items
Language
English
Preferred Citation
Papers relating to Lord Byron's dealings with Francis Merryweather, Carl H. Pforzheimer Collection of Shelley and His Circle, The New York Public Library
Repository
Carl H. Pforzheimer Collection of Shelley and His Circle
Access to materials
Restricted access. Request an in-person research appointment.

The Papers relating to Lord Byron's dealings with Francis Merryweather consists of correspondence and documents. The correspondence consists of one letter written from Merryweather to the General Police Headquarters of Venice and one letter written from one of Merryweather's children to Lord Byron. Among the documents are bills and receipts addressed to Lord Byron for goods he purchased from Merryweather in 1817 and 1818. The remaining documents, written in Italian, relate to Lord Byron's legal proceedings against Merryweather.

Biographical/historical information

Francis Merryweather was an English shopkeeper in Venice from whom Lord Byron had bought a number of goods, mostly alcoholic beverages and condiments. Toward the end of 1817, Merryweather was fined by Italian authorities for voilating import laws; Byron loaned Merryweather 600 lire to pay the fine. Later, angered by some "ingratitude" of Merryweather, Byron brought legal action against him for repayment of the loan, plus interest and court fees. For more on the Byron-Merryweather controversy see Shelley and his Circle, volume VII, pages 311-315.

Scope and arrangement

Administrative information

Processing information

Finding aid created by Timothy Gress in 2024 from an earlier listing created by Charles Carter.

Related Material

The Pforzheimer Collection holds a substantial collection of books, manuscripts, prints, and other related material by or about Byron and his friends, family, and associates. Other Byron material at NYPL can be found in the Berg Collection of English and American Literature and the Manuscripts and Archives Division.

Using the collection

Location

Carl H. Pforzheimer Collection of Shelley and His Circle
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018-2788
Third Floor, Room 319

Access to materials

Restricted access. Request an in-person research appointment.