Add MS 71584-71585

Autograph drafts, and fair copies with revisions. This working-notebook, originally comprised in a single folio volume, was in use mainly during the final decade of Combe's life, while he was living under the rules of the King's Bench Prison in Southwark. The contents consist largely of literary journalism, and include much of the letterpress that he wrote in verse and prose to accompany coloured plates and engraved views, often issued in monthly parts. Almost complete drafts survive here of The Dance of Life (1817) and The History of Johnny Quae Genus (1822) written in verse to designs by Thomas Rowlandson and published by Rudolph Ackermann. Other Ackerman ventures are represented by sections of The History of the Abbey Church of St. Peter's, Westminster (1812), A History of the University of Oxford (1814), The History of the Colleges of Winchester, Eton, and Westminster . . . (1816-1817), and the second and third Tour of Dr Syntax (1820 and 1821). The text that he wrote to accompany James Pattison Cockburn's Pompeii, illustrated with picturesque views (1827) survives here. Also included are drafts of letters and petitions, etc., written partly on behalf of others (71584, ff. 15v, 20v-24v, 93v, 125v, 146v-149v, 167v, 173v; and 71585, ff. 1, 87v-160v and, vol rev., 86v-60v, passim). At various points Combe has jotted down a partial list of his writings (71584, f. 161v), a series of financial accounts running from 14 July 1821 to 27 April 1822 (71585, ff. 54v-102, and, vol. rev., 104v-138; and 71584, ff. 17v-27v, passim), and a few crude sketches and diagrams (e.g. 71584, ff. 42, 48, 66, 73, 132). For the most part the texts were entered not serially but in piecemeal fashion, while some items in Add. 71585 were copied in with the volume reversed. Many of these items are not listed in the bibliography appended to the study by Harlan A. Hamilton, Doctor Syntax: A Silhouette of William Combe, Esq. (1742-1823), 1969, pp. 303-334, who consulted the notebook when it was still in private hands. Tipped in at the front of 71584 are: (a) a typewritten copy of the account and bibliography of Combe contributed by Henry Richard Tedder, F.S.A., to the Dictionary of National Biography, 1887 (ff. 1-10); (b) a bifolium contermarked 1824 and carrying a summary list of the main texts in the manuscript (ff. 12, 13); and (c) a summary description written when the two parts were still 'one thick folio volume' (f. 11). Pencilled inside the front flyleaf of both volumes is the dealer's stock-number 'V23 94/975'. Owned, circa 1969, by the bookseller John F. Fleming of New York. Purchased from Marlborough Rare Books, March 1995.

Paper: ff. ii+173 and i+160. Folio. Two volumes. Originally a single volume formed of a single stock of paper countermarked 'Portal & Co. / 1808'. Possibly imperfect at the beginning, the first surviving leaf (71584 f. 14) being torn away at the head. Binding of full dark red morocco, gilt tooled, with false bands and gilt doublures, and signed by 'Lloyd of London' (i.e., probably Robert Lloyd, fl. circa 1897-1901).

The contents include drafts, etc., for the following published works, arranged by date of publication:

1. 71584, ff. 14-17 (rectos only). A History of the Abbey Church of St. Peter's, Westminster (first published in sixteen monthly parts, 1812).

2. 71584, ff. 18-89 (mostly rectos) passim; and see Add. 71585, f. 154). A History of the University of Oxford (1814).

3. 71584, ff. 92-131 passim; and see 71585, f. 155. The History of the Colleges of Winchester, Eton, and Westminster . . . (first published in twelve monthly parts, 1816-1817). Also included are the Charterhouse, Christ's Hospital, St Paul's and Merchant Taylors Schools.

4. 71584, ff. 132-173v passim, and 71585, ff. 1-15 passim. The Dance of Life (first published in eight monthly parts, 1817).

5. 71585, ff. 15v-37v. The Second Tour of Doctor Syntax, in search of consolation (first published in eight monthly parts, 1820), Cantos XXVII, XXXI and XXXII.

6. 71585, ff. 33, 40v-50, 53v. A History of Madeira (1821).

7. 71585, ff. 37v-40, 41. The Third Tour of Doctor Syntax, in search of a wife, (first published in parts, 1821), Canto XXXVII.

8. 71585, ff. 50v-94 passim, 102, and, vol. rev., 138-103v, 97v, 83 passim; and 71584, ff. 14v-71v passim. The History of Johnny Quae Genus (first published in eight monthly parts, 1821-1822), Cantos I-V; and Cantos VI-VIII.

9. 71585, ff. 94v-90v, vol. rev. James Pattison Cockburn, Pompeii, illustrated with picturesque views (1827). The Preface, p. 5, states that the 'description of the Plates is preceded by a History of Vesuvius, written by the late W. Coombe Esq., giving an account of its various eruptions to 1794 . . .'. For drafts of further, unpublished, passages see 71585, ff. 95-98v, 103, 104, 114v, and, vol. rev., ff. 102v-99.

Also included are:

9. 71584, f. 45v, and 71585, f. 127v. Prospectus for Observations on Ackermann's Patent Moveable Axles (1819), with undated letter to 'your R[oyal] H[ighness]', probably the Duke of Sussex, soliciting support for the same. Drafts.

10. 71584, f. 24v. Proposal for publishing [James Pattison Cockburn], Swiss Scenery from Drawings by Major Cockburn (1819-1820).