2 letters of Edward Gibbon, 1775, to the first Lady Sheffield (as Mrs. Holroyd); 2 letters by Hester Gibbon to Lord Sheffield, one referring to her nephew, the historian, 1786; One letter from Francis North to his sister Anne (later Countess of Sheffield) giving an irreverent description of Gibbon at a party at Lausanne, 1791. Also included are letters by W. Charriere de Severy, 1796-1820, Jean David Levade, announcing the death of Mme. Catherine Charriere de Severy, 1796, and letters to Gibbon senior (36), together with Gibbon senior's household accounts and legal documents (ca. 200 items), 1693-1744.

20 lines of Old English alliterative verse describing the city of Durham, England, and mentioning St. Cuthbert and the Venerable Bede. Following the poem are 2 1/2 lines in prose relating to St. Cuthbert. Dealer's correspondence with Neil Ker, a paper by Donald K. Fry, "A newly discovered version of the Old English poem DURHAM," 1992; and a paper by Daniel Paul O'Donnell, "Junius's knowledge of the Old English poem DURHAM," accompany the text.

Signed document concerning naval expenditures, 1660, together with engraved portrait.

Remarks upon the lives of all the kings of this Isle, from the year of the world 2855 unto the year of Grace 1660, taken out of DIVI BRITANNICI writ by Sir Winston Churchill.
Extracts with precise page references to Weever's book, which was published in 1631.

Hudibras was written between 1660 and 1680 and is a satire on the Cromwellians and on the Presbyterian church written by a confirmed Royalist and Anglican. Hudibras, a colonel in the Cromwellian army, is involved in various comic misadventures and is shown to be stupid, greedy and dishonest. The poem is very well written in Chaucerian couplets and was popular for about 150 years, as long as its political attitudes were also popular. The Nineteenth Century saw the re-invention of Cromwell in the popular imagination from usurper and tyrant to heroic upholder of English freedom, and Hudibras was out. [From Charles W. Daves. Case Western Reserve, 1970]

Six-line poem, initialed, "To Master Wilmot upon the death of his favorite cat Hoppy," three-stanza poem, fair copy, "Song," and print by S.W. Reynolds after a painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds.

"Nugae Deliciae. Containing anecdotes from oral communication... 1815;" autograph collection of 138 literary, political, and musical anecdotes, epigrams, and poems, mostly dating 1760-1810, and involving Thomas Moore, Mrs. Thrale, Pope, Swift, Sarah Siddons, Lord North, Peter Pindar, Maria Edgeworth, Sir Walter Scott, and Garrick and Quin. There are also Hartstonge's autograph manuscripts of 3 plays: "The Fall of Cordova," "Alvaro," and "Alfred and Emma," together with a transcript of "Alvaro."

Original engraved copper plate, 35 cm x 25 cm, accompanied by a print pulled from the plate on nineteenth-century paper. The engraving consists of 68 lines of verse in two columns placed on each side of an illustration of a huge elaborately trimmed yew tree. According to a faded pencil note, the tree was in a churchyard, possibly in Harlington (there is a Harlington in Bedfordshire and one near Hayes in Middlesex).

An unpublished novel narrated by "Mrs. Middleton" in a series of lengthy letters to an unnamed "Ladyship." The virtuous heroine Miss Maria Rivers, "Young, Beautiful, and exposed to a thousad Dangers," is left orphaned and destitute in the first letter. Courted by a dishonorable suitor and persuaded to marry against her wishes, Miss Rivers enters into an intolerable living situation and must fight her way free. Despite significant misfortunes, she keeps her head high and ultimately prevails in a breathtaking conclusion [from dealer's description].

Fanny Burney refers to her visit with Mary Hamilton in London and mentions "...the uneasiness which dampt all my pleasure even in the charming party at Hampton. I hope when she [Mary] hears that the fatal termination of that suspense, made me wish for nothing but to hasten into the country to recruuit both my health & spirits..." This was, perhaps, referring to a disappointment in love, when the ambiguous attentions of a young clergyman came to nothing. In a postscript she mentions "a string of the most uncomfortable circumstances" and asks to be remembered to Mrs. Vesey and Mr. and Mrs. Pepys.

The poem mentions the Gunpowder Plot of November 1605, as well as Shakespeare, Isaac Newton, and John Locke.

Written from Sheffield Place to an unknown physician concerning Mr. Crawford.

Presentation letter.

A presentation copy to Frances, Lady Douglas, of Lewis's holograph manuscript with illustrations by the author.

Lewis mentions "your important affairs" discussing verses by Lewis entitled, "Pleasures and Desires" [publication untraced] which Fox had translated into Italian and other European languages. Lewis recommends a way of avoiding a particular difficulty by altering certain words in Italian and illustrating his points in verse; he also enquires after his correspondent's health and promises to send "the very first copy" of his "German nonsense" [Feudal Tyrants] with the comment "As I understand from Lord Holland [Fox's nephew], that he reads Romances to you."

Discusses the arrival of Sir Sidney Smith in town, and O'Bryen's need to satisfy and make reconciliation with a Mr. Phillips.