Single letters and papers.
Scope and Contents
The papers include: letters, 1795, 1810, of Sir Alexander Boswell, containing original humorous verse; copy of a list, 1849, made by Cockburn, giving the authorship of articles in the 'Edinburgh Review'; contemporary copy of a speech, ?1617, delivered by James I and VI in Edinburgh (parts being given in summary); letter, 1807, of Sir James Bland Burges (afterwards Lamb) on Sir Walter Scott's literary profits; letter, 1808, of Sir James Mackintosh dealing with Indian affairs; letter, 1830, regarding the copyright of two songs of James Hogg; letter, 1570, of Thomas Randolph to Cecil on Scottish affairs - printed in Alfred Morrison's ‘Catalogue of the collection of autograph letters’ (privately printed, 1891), volume v, page 224; letters of Sir Walter Scott on his edition of Dryden, 1805, the copyright privilege of the Advocates' Library, 1813, the character of Lockhart, ?1824, etc.; letter, 1808, of Southey to Anna Seward, criticizing Marmion severely; and a letter, 1824, of the future William IV on the Scots Corporation.
Dates
- Creation: ?1617-1849.
Conditions Governing Access
Normal access conditions apply.
Conditions Governing Use
Normal reproduction conditions apply, subject to any copyright restrictions.
Extent
181 Leaves ; Folio and quarto.
Language of Materials
Undetermined
Arrangement
181 folios.
The letters and papers are arranged alphabetically by writers.
Custodial History
The letters and papers were bought by the National Library of Scotland with the aid of the Reid Fund.
The manuscript has been formed from various accessions:
folios 1-2, 20-21, 93-94, 108-109, 120-121, 169-174, bought, 1937, Bernard Halliday.
folios 3-4, 91-92, bought, 1937, G H Last.
folios 5-8, 88, 95-96, bought, 1937, Dobell.
folios 9-10, 26-27, 28-29, 89, bought, 1937, John Grant.
folios 11, 82-87, 97-98, 105-107, 134-138, 145-146, 175-176, bought, 1938, Colbeck Radford.
folios 12-13, 90, 103-104, 110-113, bought, 1938, Bernard Halliday.
folios 14-15 bought, Sotheby’s, 21-22 February 1938, lot 644;
folios 16-17 bought, Sotheby’s, 21-22 February 1938, lot 643;
folios 18-19 bought Sotheby’s, 21-22 February 1938, lot 561;
folios 22-23, 127-128, 139-140, bought, 1937, Myers and Company.
folios 24-25, 30-31, 114-115, 118-119, bought, 1939, Colbeck Radford.
folios 32-81, bought, 1937, W M Parker, Edinburgh.
folio 143 bought Sotheby’s, 30 June 1938, lot 495;
folios 99-100, 159-160, 167-168, bought, 1939, Maggs Brothers, Limited.
folios 101-102, bought, 1938, Dobell’s, catalogue 37, number 82.
folios 116-117, bought, 1938, Dobell’s, catalogue 37, number 115.
folios 122-124, bought, Sotheby’s, 28 November-1 December 1938, lot 1076.
folios 125-126, bought Sotheby’s, 28 November-11 December 1938, lot 824
folios 129-130, bought, 1938, Myers and Company.
folios 131-133, presented, 1938, by Miss Bonar, Edinburgh.
folios 141-142, bought, 1938, Colbeck Radford, Catalogue 69, number 119.
folios 143-144, bought, Sotheby’s, 30 June 1938, lot 495.
folios 147-148, 177-181, bought, 1938, G H Last.
folios 149-150, bought, 1938, John Salkeld.
folios 151-154, bought, 1939, William Brown.
folios 155-156, bought, 1939, Bernard Quaritch.
folios 157-158, bought, 1932.
folios 161-162, bought, 1938, Dobell’s, Catalogue 37, number 203.
folios 163-164, bought, Sotheby’s, 28 November-11 December 1938, lot 832.
folios 165-166, bought, 1937, Mr Davidson Cook.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Various, 1932-1939.
- Title
- National Library of Scotland Catalogue of Manuscripts
- Author
- National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division
- Description rules
- International Standard for Archival Description - General
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division Repository
Archives and Manuscript Division
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh EH1 1EJ
0131 623 3700
manuscripts@nls.uk