- Call number
- Pforz Ms
- Physical description
- 1 volume (18 leaves)
- Preferred Citation
- Welsh commonplace book, 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.
No compiler could be identified, but the content strongly suggests someone from Wales, likely connected to the clergy. Semi-stiff paste-paper covered notebook containing mostly poems, the bulk clearly copied from contemporary publications, a few possibly original. Written from both ends, the first half contains: "To Cornelia," from the Gentleman's Magazine of 1780; "The Rev.d John Walters [of Jesus College, Oxford] to his Son on reading his Poem, entitled the Bodleian Library," [24 lines, possibly unpublished]; "In his fair niche each Worthy now surveys," [9 lines, possibly unpublished]; "On Pennalt Fawr [sic]," by Woodford Rice; "Written on Parry's playing upon the Welsh Harp," [by Anne Penny]; "Addressed to Thomas Gray, Esq. Professor of History in the University of Cambridge," [by Anne Penny]. The second half contains: "The Harp of Æolus," [anonymous; printed in multiple contemporary publications]; "On Musick," by William Woty; "A Thought on Death," by "Colin" [printed in multiple contemporary publications]; "A few words in favor of Romances," [extracted from a review of Thomas Leland's Longsword, Earl of Salisbury]; Quotations from Eyles Irwin; "Be to her faults a little blind," by Matthew Prior; Extract from George Horne's commentary on Psalms; "A Poetical Epistle to the Rev Mr. Watson," by George Horne; and a transcription, "In Trefriw Church, near Llanwrst is the following inscription." On the inside cover of the first half are written various notes in English and Welsh and some calculations; on the inside cover of the second half is a list of books lent out ("Lent Mr. David Jones, Curate of Bettws, Abergele (Febr.y 5th 1793) Orton's Letters to a Young Clergyman"; "Mr. Hughes of Elgwys Fach, Burke on the French Revolution, Leavington's 2 vols.," etc.), the last dated 1793.
Key terms
Names
- Horne, George, 1730-1792
- Penny, Anne, active 18th century
- Prior, Matthew, 1664-1721
- Rice, Woodford, -1784
- Walters, John, 1721-1797
- Woty, William, 1731?-1791
Subjects
- English poetry -- 18th century -- Manuscripts -- Specimens
- Welsh poetry -- 18th century -- Manuscripts -- Specimens
Material types
Using the collection
Location
Carl H. Pforzheimer Collection of Shelley and His CircleStephen A. Schwarzman Building
Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018-2788
Third Floor, Room 319