Scope and arrangement
· Holograph verses, "If, Lady, thou art fair, take heed, I pray," signed : 5 Sep 1800 : (MISC 3934) : 1 page (single sheet) : from Lichfield : begins, "If, Lady, thou art fair, take heed, I pray, / That more than charms exterior round thee play!" Published appearances of the verses carry the title, "To the lady, whether single or married, who shall charitably purchase this trifle." Mounted in the Agatha Hogsbottom autograph album, opposite a mounted engraved portrait of Seward by Woolnoth after Romney. Shelved with oversized manuscript volumes.
· To William Hayley, poet and biographer : 5 letters : -- 1 autograph letter signed : 17 Feb 1785 : (MISC 0244) : 4 pages (double sheet) : from Lichf[iel]d : begins, "It has been with no common degree of reluctance that I have suffer'd a letter of yours to remain near 3 weeks unanswered ..."; with red wax seal with cameo portrait of a lady. -- 1 autograph letter signed : 10 Apr 1785 : (MISC 0245) : 4 pages (double sheet) : from Lichf[iel]d : begins, "Health, who used to be an indulgent friend to me, is become rigorous in her exactions. She no longer permits me to divide the chief portion of my scanty liesure between reading, composition, & the yet dearer employment of pouring out my spirit to distant friends ..."; with red wax seal with two birds perched on a grapevine and the motto, "RIEN DE SI DOVX." -- 1 autograph letter signed : 14 May 1785 : (MISC 0246) : 4 pages (double sheet) : from Lichf[iel]d : begins, "Most kindly & gratefully do I thank you, my dear Bard, that you took so early an opportunity of relieving, as far as it was in your power, my painful anxiety for you rhealth & safety ..."; including some lines of verse; with red wax seal with cameo portrait of a lady. -- 1 autograph letter signed : 21 Oct 1785 : (MISC 0247) : 10 ¹/₂ pages (3 double sheets) : from Lichf[iel]d : begins, "I am truly sorry to learn, from your letter to Giovanni, that you are still a feverish invalid ..." -- 1 autograph letter signed : 3 Mar 1803 : (MISC 0248) : 10 pages (3 double sheets) : from Lichfield : begins, "You have sent me an highly estimable & very costly present ..."; with red wax seal.
· To Lucy Hardinge, née Long, wife of George Hardinge, judge and writer : 31 Dec 1787 : (MISC 3666) : 3 pages (double sheet) : from Lichfield : begins, "Ah! Madam, believe me nothing was farther from my intention than to awaken in a disposition so amiable sensations that must be unpleasant ..."; with a panel cut out in second leaf just above the signature, apparently excising the closing salutation.
· To Elizabeth Seward, née Hunter (her mother) : 1 autograph letter signed : 1 Jul 1777 : (MISC 0243) : 4 pages (double sheet) : from Rowley : begins, "I am here, my dearest Mother, with my charming friend Mrs. Colman at her naitive place ...".