Folger MS W.a.271

Title Poetry
Archive Folger Shakespeare Library
Call Number Folger MS W.a.271
Complete Yes
Description

Louisa Grey, ca. 1780s.

Some items specified as not for circulation. 

150 poems.

Many poems about women, love; some epitaphs.

Format Quarto size but wove paper
Book Size 26cm x 21cm
Filled Page Count 198 pages
Item Count 152
Poem Count 150
Periods
First Line Index No
Digitized No
Region
Additional Genres Prose - miscellaneous, Prose anecdote
Print Sources
Major Themes

Major themes prominent among the manuscript contents in alphabetical order.

Minor Themes

Other themes of interest among the manuscript contents in alphabetical order.

Links
Bibliography
Citation

Folger MS W.a.271.” Manuscript Verse Miscellanies, 1700–1820, edited by Betty A. Schellenberg, Simon Fraser University, https://mvm.dhil.lib.sfu.ca/manuscript/264. Accessed .

Created 2019-09-04 1:13:45 PM
Updated 2023-07-25 11:11:42 AM
First Line Context Print Source
I am monarch of all I survey

pp. 87–89

Local title: Verses, supposed to be written by Alexander Selkirk, during his solitary Abode in the Island of Juan Fernandez.

Attributed author: Cowper.

Adaptation: n/a

Other variants: n/a

Other: n/a

Unknown
If this fair rose offend thy sight

p. 6. 

Local title: Spoken extempore to a Lady who ask’d what the World was like; Sent with a White Rose to a Lady of the Lancastrian party by a Gentleman of the House of York.

Attributed author: Gentleman of the House of York.

Adaptation: n/a

Other variants: 4-line variant. 

Other: n/a

Unknown
Lock'd in the arms of balmy sleep

pp. 95–99.

Local title: Verses, written by the late Bishop Lowth at fourteen Years of Age on being awaken'd by a violent Storm of Thunder and Lightening.

Attributed author: Bishop Lowth. 

Adaptation: n/a

Other variants: n/a

Other: n/a

Unknown
Made to engage all hearts and charm all eyes

p. 107.

Local title: Verses, making part of an Epitaph on Mrs. Lyttleton.

Attributed author: George Lyttleton Esqr

Adaptation: n/a

Other variants: "with gentle, female tenderness" variant of the poem. 

Other: n/a

Unknown
Oft I've implor'd the gods in vain

pp. 48–50.

Local title: A Prayer to Indifference

Attributed author: Mrs. Greville

Adaptation: n/a

Other variants: n/a

Other: Followed by Carlisle's Answer (pp. 147–149).

Unknown
Stop, passenger! until my life you read

p. 187

Local title: "Margaret Scott died at Dalkeith 9th of February 1738"

Attributed author: n/a

Adaptation: n/a

Other variants: n/a

Other: n/a

Unknown
Take, holy earth, all that my soul holds dear

p. 8.

Local title: Epitaph on Mrs Mason in the Cathedral at Bristol.

Attributed author: n/a

Adaptation: n/a

Other variants: Seems to use "?" for both "!" and "?"

Other: n/a

Unknown
The Counsels of a Friend, Belinda, hear

pp. 1–5

Local title: Advice to a Lady

Attributed author: George Lord Lyttleton

Adaptation: n/a

Other variants: n/a

Other: n/a

Unknown
Thee, Mary, with this Ring I wed

pp. 61–62.

Local title: To Mrs Bishop with a Ring—sent by her Husband.

Attributed author: Her Husband.

Adaptation: n/a

Other variants: n/a

Other: n/a

Unknown
Thou who dost all my worldly Thoughts employ

pp. 21–22.

Local title: Written by Mrs Molesworth at Bath to her Husband who was Absent, when she was given over by her Physicians.

Attributed author: Mrs Molesworth.

Adaptation: n/a

Other variants: n/a

Other: n/a

Unknown
Whoe'er like me, with trembling anguish brings

pp. 105

Local title: Epitaph on a Lady who died at Bristol Hot Wells of a Consumption - By her Husband

Attributed author: n/a

Adaptation: n/a

Other variants: n/a

Other: n/a

Unknown
Without preamble, to my friend

pp. 147–149

Local title: Answer from the Countess of Carlisle to Mrs Greville upon her Ode to Indifference (see Page 48).

Attributed author: Countess Carlisle. Also a pencil attribution at the end, "Lady Tuite's[?]" 

Adaptation: n/a

Other variants: First line: "Is that your wish to lose all sense..."

Other: Preceded by Greville's "A Prayer to Indifference" (pp. 48–50).

Unknown
Feature Note
Author attributions

Frequent, most often in headers. 

Binding

11 completely blank leaves in the middle. 

Possibly two different bindings put together, though weight and size of paper appear very similar in both sections; break occurs in blank middle section; binding is coming apart there.

Possibly subsequently rebound as the binding leather is on the spine only, but labelled “Poetry.”

One flyleaf page torn out.

Contemporary binding, marbled paper boards.

Hands

Single.

Indications of use

Occasional footnotes to explain references – implying a somewhat later audience.

Several items indicate “not to be given away/parted with” – suggesting private circulation of these poems. Also implies that the rest of the collection is being shared.

Item formatting

Sometimes a horizontal line entirely across page to show end of a poem.

Organization

Seemingly composed from both ends at once (one end with commonplace extracts, the other with Shakespeare). 

Original poetry

Possibly—several items indicate “not to be given away/parted with,” possibly suggesting the compiler’s authorship. 

Ownership mark

Signature of Louisa Grey on front pastedown. The year "AD 1765" also appears on front pastedown in a different hand. "Louisa Grey, 1784" is visible underneath the front pastedown.