Scope and arrangement
· Manuscript copy of Byron's poem, "Epistle to Lady Augusta" : [composed in 1816; copy made ca. 1827] : (B 0148) : 8 p. (2 leaves) : in Leigh's hand; begins, "My Sister, my sweet sister -- if a name / Dearer and purer were -- it should be Thine..." With the ink annotation of the previous owner, the minor writer and translator Rose Lawrence. Along with a manuscript letter addressed to Lawrence by W. W. Currie (B'ANA 0733), also bearing an annotation by Lawrence, dated 27 Apr [1837?]. Filed under Byron.
· Holograph ownership inscription and signature in her copy of George Dallas's life of Sir Peter Parker : 2 Oct 1815 : (B'ANA 0723) : reads, "Augusta Leigh -- given to me by the dearest Friend / of Peter Parker -- George Campbell, Oct 2d 1815." Shelved as *Pforz BT (Leigh, A.) 01.
· Holograph annotations in bound collection of early editions of Byron : [no date] : (B'ANA 0725) : in light pencil; in Beppo (2nd ed.), p. 41: "Bessy Rawdon / Ly Willm Russell," identifiying Byron's inspiration behind the lady "[w]hose bloom could after dancing dare the dawn." In Hebrew Melodies (1st ed.), p. [3]: "Mrs. Wilmot," identifying the subject of "She Walks in Beauty," (Anne Beatrix Horton); p. 4: "written after seeing / at a party at Lansdowne / "in [aery?] brilliant darkness" / A Black Bugled Dress."; p. 9: "Newstead Abbey / 1814"; p. 11: "Newstead Abbey / 1814"; p. 13: "Newstead Abbey / 1814"; p. 37: "Written in the Hall at / Newstead Abbey / 1814" ; p. 41: "July 13 / 1815"; p. 45: "Jany 15th – 1815 / Halnaby.".
· Holograph ownership inscription and signature in her copy of Byron's Marino Faliero : 17 Apr 1821 : (B'ANA 0728) : reads, "Augusta Mary Leigh. April 17th 1821 -- from Mr. Murray." Selved as *Pforz BT (Leigh, A) 03.
· To Harriet, Lady Fellows, second wife of Sir Charles Fellows, traveller and archaeologist : 2 letters : -- 1 autograph letter signed : 24 Jun 1848 : (B'ANA 0088) : from St. James' Palace : on stationery with embossed floral decoration; begins, "I cannot delay till the '5-6th or 7th July', to thank my dear Lady Fellows for her kind recollection of me ..." -- 1 autograph letter signed : "Thursday" : (B'ANA 0089) : [no place] : begins, "I bethought myself of something after you left me ...".
· To Mr. Heath : 1 autograph letter signed : "Thursday Night" [watermark = 1835] : (B'ANA 0542) : [no place] : begins, "Your letter of the 5th reached me to day & I wish I could sit down with a lighter heart to reply to it ...".
· To James Holmes, miniature painter : 1 autograph letter signed : "Tuesday Evg." : (B'ANA 0180) : [no place] : begins, "Can you call on me tomorrow morning between 12 & 2 ..." Mounted in the album of Lord Byron Family & Friends. Shelved as *Pforz 558L 10.
· To Mrs. Knight : 5 letters : -- 1 autograph letter signed : 10 Sep 1840 : (B'ANA 0064) : from St. James Palace : begins, "It has occurred to me that it would gratify you to possess the enclosed Relic ..." -- 1 autograph letter signed : 10 Dec 1841 : (B'ANA 0065) : from S[aint] J[ames] Palace : begins, "No kindness ever equaled yours to me ..." -- 1 autograph letter signed : 22 Mar 1844 : (B'ANA 0066) : from St. James's Palace : begins, "I am afraid that on reading this letter, you will be reminded of the old saying 'give an inch – take an ell" ..." -- 1 autograph letter signed : 24 Jun [no year] : (B'ANA 0067) : from S[aint] J[ames's] Palace : begins, "I have had my pen in my hand, repeatedly, to write you, & then laid it down, wondering whether you wd think me very troublesome ..."-- 1 autograph letter signed : 25 Nov 1845 : (B'ANA 0068) : from St. James's Palace : begins, "The melancholy subject which was the immediate cause of your writing to me, was the only drawback to my gratification in receiving your letter ...".
· To Susanna, Lady Peel, second wife of Sir Robert Peel, first baronet (1750-1830), calico printer and politician : 1 autograph letter third person : 11 Dec 1815 : (B'ANA 0104) : from 13 Piccadilly Terrace : on behalf of Lady Byron, announcing the birth of Ada Byron; begins, "Lady Byron has desired Mrs. Leigh will inform Ly. Peele that she was safely delivered of a fine girl yesterday ..." The address panel bears the autograph franking signature of Lord Byron (B 0181).
· To Jane Porter, novelist : 1 autograph letter signed : 11 Feb 1834 : (B'ANA 0577) : from London : begins, "I cannot tell you how much & variously I am gratified by your kind letter ..."; a long letter, composed of folded leaves sewn together; with the post-marked letter cover addressed in the hand of [George Augustus Henry?] Cavendish, with his franking signature. The letter cover bears Leigh's green wax seal, which reads, "Augusta.".
· To Miss Sands, at 13 Sloane Street : 1 autograph letter (fragment) signed : 19 Nov 1833 : (B'ANA 0663) : from S[aint] J[ames'] P[alace] : begins, "...or whether you know any to whom you cd apply to help me ..." Mounted in the Agatha Hogsbottom autograph album. Shelved with oversized manuscript volumes.
· To George Stephen, lawyer and slavery abolitionist : 1 autograph letter (fragment) signed : [19 Feb 1829] : (B'ANA 0656) : [no place] : begins, "... another friend who is [very?] kindly active as well ...".
· To Edward John Trelawny, writer and adventurer : 1 autograph letter signed : "Tuesday" [watermark = 1827] : (B'ANA 0648) : [no place] : begins, "I have been on the point of writing to you every day..."; making arrangelments to meet him when her husband is absent, and assuring him: "I am always glad to see you as one of the Friends of My dear Brother to whom I can speak of him -- from whom I can hear of him ...".
· To John Wright, publisher and editor : 1 autograph letter signed : [13 Nov 1832] : (B'ANA 0182) : from S[aint] J[ames'] Palace : begins, "I hope you will forgive me for troubling you with this note -- the reason of which is that I have received from a Friend a MS which I want to have copied before it can be submitted to any Publisher ..." Mounted in the album of Lord Byron Family & Friends. Shelved as *Pforz 558L 10.
· To unidentified recipients : 4 letters : -- 1 autograph letter signed, to "Sir" : 14 Nov 1828 : (B'ANA 0532) : from St. James's Palace : begins, "In reply to the letter whcih you have been so good as to send me thro' Mr. Wilmot Horton ..." -- 1 autograph letter signed, to "Dear Sir" : [5 May 1829] : (B'ANA 0055) : from S[aint] J[ames'] Palace : begins, "I [regret?] to [?] you – but anxiety about my Daughter & anxiety about things here compel me to ask you when it is likely I will be wanted." -- 1 autograph letter (fragment) signed : [no date] : (B'ANA 0094) : [no place] : relating to a Byron manuscript; includes, "at last I have sent [you?] a Verse or Stanza of an 'Arnaout Song' -- which you will find published in the end of 2d Canto of Childe Harold -- It is the original MSS copy ..." -- 1 autograph letter signed, to "My dear Miss [Greene?] : "Sunday Night" [1844] : (B'ANA 0095) : [no place] : begins, "I cannot bear to refuse you ..."; including, "I have just received the sad news of the death of one of my Grand Daughters -- a dear little girl of sixteen!" The granddaughter mentioned is Agnes Charlotte Sophia Ada Trevanion (1828-1844), daughter of Augusta's eldest daughter Georgina (cf. M. Elwin's Lord Byron's Family, p. [242]). -- 1 autograph letter signed, to "My dear Miss R" : "Tuesday" : (B'ANA 0128) : [no place] : begins, "An idea has just come across me -- I know the Bishop of Peterborough (Dr Davys Preceptor to the Queen) ...".