Ashley MS 3262

Journal of John and Maria Gisborne; 2 May-26 Sept. 1820. Autograph fair copy, with revisions and additions, written on both sides of twenty-nine leaves of a quarto vellum-bound notebook, and on one side only of two further leaves (ff. 9b and 39). The journal begins on f. 9b in John Gisborne's hand, and is continued from half-way down f. 21 to the end in Maria's hand. A portion of an undated letter from Maria to either John Gisborne or their son Henry, describing the behaviour of shepherds in different parts of Italy, has been inserted opposite f. 20, and its intended position in the text indicated with a cross. The journal covers Gisborne's journey from Leghorn back to London, a period of residence in London, and their journey back to Italy as far as Turin. It contains many references to William Godwin, John Keats, P. B. Shelley, Lord Byron, Claire Clairmont, Mary Shelley and S. T. Coleridge. Many of these references have been underlined in pencil by a later hand. Printed in Maria Gisborne and Edward E. Williams: Shelley's Friends; Their Journals and Letters, ed. Frederick L. Jones, 1957, pp. 19-49. Ashley Library Catalogue, ii, pp. 145-146. ff. 9b-39. The notebook also contains the following material:―

1. 'Journal of our Month's residence in Leghorn in Oct. 1827. ― continued from small Cahier', in the hand of John Gisborne; 8 Oct.-6 Nov. 1827. The journal begins where the preceding article ends (f. 39), runs to the end paste down (f. 73), and is continued from the front paste down (f. 1b) to the foot of f. 9. John Gisborne's journal was continued in other volumes, of which forty-one, covering the period from 12 April 1827 to 19 Nov. 1830, were sold by Puttick & Simpson on 28 May 1878 as lot 661, and were purchased by Ellis for 3 guineas. The present portion covers the Gisbornes' stay in Leghorn, their departure and journey to Rome, and the initial part of their stay there. The entry for 6 Nov. (ff. 67-73, 1b-9) consists chiefly of an ecstatic account of St. Peter's. The sole reference to Shelley (not named as such) (ff. 46b-47b) is printed in Maria Gisborne and Edward E. Williams: Shelley's Friends; Their Journals and Letters, pp. 49-50. ff. 39-73, 1b-9.

2. Pages 875-878 of The Nation and The Athenæum for 19 March 1921, containing an article, 'New Shelley Papers', and bearing an autograph note to T. J. Wise from F. [Page?], dated 31 March 1921. ff. iii-iv.

3. Pages 509-510 of The Academy for 8 June 1878, detailing 'A Shelley Sale', (i.e., the Puttick & Simpson sale of 28 May 1878) which included the Gisborne Journals. f. v.

4. Two fragments, apparently removed from the front vellum binding, and pasted on to an added leaf:―

a. A label, imperfe] our Journal [ ] Leghorn to London thro' Genoa'. f. vi.

b. Sale catalogue entry ct, in John Gisborne's hand, 'No. 8 Journal continued from 8th Oct, to 6th Nov. 1827', also in a smaller hand [Maria Gisborne's?]: '[relating to the MS. as a whole, possibly for the Puttick & Simpson sale of 28 May 1878. Printed. f. vii.

5. Note in an unknown hand, reiterating the information in the sale catalogue extract. f. viii.

Quarto; ff. viii+73.

includes:

• ff. 9b-39 Maria Gisborne, friend of Shelley; wife of J Gisborne: Journal of John and Maria Gisborne, by Maria Gisborne: 2 May-26 Sept. 1820.
• ff. 39-73, 1b-9 Leghorn, Italy: John Gisborne, poet: 'Journal of our Month's residence in Leghorn' by John Gisborne: 8 Oct.-6 Nov. 1827.