Add MS 78515

EVELYN PAPERS. Vol. CCCXLVIII. John Evelyn (1620-1706), `Memoires for my Grand-son'; 1704-[1705]. Autograph. Advice, `undigested as for Method' (f. 35), on provision for children, the maintenance and equipment of a household and estate, conduct of life, reading and recreations, etc., of a country gentleman, presented by Evelyn to his grandson and heir, afterwards Sir John Evelyn, 1st Bart.; followed by `Promiscuous Advices' in the form of numbered moral and religious precepts and aphorisms, and including (ff. 32-33) a list of his own manuscripts and writings, many of which remain in the archive. Neatly written in a very small hand, with margins ruled in pencil and Evelyn's pagination `1-31’. Edited and published by Geoffrey Keynes (Oxford, 1926). The manuscript is dated 1704 on the title-page, but was written in sections, with some blank spaces left, at least until the grandson's marriage in September 1705 (f. 34). The indistinct handwriting of the later sections indicates Evelyn's decline; he died early in 1706, aged 85; see also his comment, `When I began . . . I intended to have written more legibly and in better method. But, prevented by my weaknesse, Infirmitys & want of Leisure, I am faine to leave it as it is' (f. 35). Beal EvJ 126. Formerly Evelyn MS 132.

ff. iii + 44. Contemporary binding of red morocco, gilt-tooled; rebacked. 125 x 80mm.