Letter forms and themes in the Manuscript Album
Business letters are common. A letter from engineer, George Stephenson, sent from Killingworth Colliery, June 7th 1816 discusses the 'Geordie', or Stephenson, safety lamp:
When you make any of our lamps you must put caps upon the glass perforated with holes a little larger than the bottom holes the Caps must be done with hard solder. you [sic] must let none go away without the caps on; the cylinder glasses, I think I shall be in town tomorrow, to give orders, for more.
A letter from the engraver, Thomas Bewick, sent from Newcastle, October 25th 1816 illuminates his business relationships, especially “the painful & disgraceable [sic] affair of Catnach's” (i.e. James Catnach of the Catnach Press). Bewick explicity states that he distrusts Catnach, had been cajoled by the recipient and Mr. Bell into providing wood cuts for The Hermit of Warkworth and is angered that he has not received full payment for his work. The work had come to 44 pounds 13 shillings and 8 pence but the only payment had been 6 pounds and 10 shillings, leaving an outstanding balance of 38 pounds, 3 shillings and 8 pence (approximately the spending worth of £957.11 today).
Employment is another topic commonly encountered in historic correspondence. The Manuscript Album contains a letter from William Ingram, to Mr. Smiles, April 29th 1804 regarding the possibility of a vacancy for a surgeon at the Newcastle Infirmary and advising him on how to apply. “I am inclined to think that no vacancy will immediately take place as I find that refusals have been given to the application made in behalf of Mr Robertson in three or four instances, yet it is right for you to be prepared, in case a sudden resignation shd happen …”. A list of surgeons at the Infirmary later includes Mr. Edward Smiles so one presumes his application was successful.4
Likewise, William Wyon, chief engraver at the Royal Mint, described to 'dear Louisa' the process for being admitted to the Royal Academy:
The mode of obtaining admission to the Royal Academy is for the Young Man to send in a drawing or model of his own performance with a Letter from an Academician or some one of respectability speaking of his moral character - if the drawing is approved by the Council he is admitted as a Probationer for three months - he then makes a drawing in the Academy which is also submitted to the Council which if approved he receives a ticket as a Student.
Letters can be used as vehicles for self-publicity. A letter from the actress, Ellen Terry, to Newcastle bookseller, Joseph Barlow, on September 26th 1899, is written on paper which has been printed with the details of a provincial and American tour which she was undertaking with the Lyceum Company. (The tour had visited the Tyne Theatre, Newcastle-on-Tyne on September 18th.) Ellen Terry does not overtly refer to the tour herself but does thank Mr. Barlow for his good wishes for her journey. She also encloses a picture for a little girl but, this picture now being absent, the twenty-first-century reader can only guess that it may have been a photograph of Ellen.
Dear Mr. Barlow - Many thanks for your good wishes for my journey - when you have sent all the books off to London for me please let me know exactly how many vols have been despatched. I have 3 with me: Kind regards to yrsister & the enclosed picture is for the little girl who gave me the pen-…[?].
Thank you letters are another form of correspondence represented in the Manuscript Album. A black-edged postcard from Princess Beatrice Mary Victoria Feodore to Mrs. Yorke, December 28th 1901, reads: “I think it so very kind of you to have sent me for Xmas that charming little book stand, which will be so useful to me, & for which I send you my best thanks”.
There are also descriptive letters, such as that sent from Hong Kong by James Bruce Elgin, August 23rd 1860. In his letter to Madame de Bury, he describes his house and discusses Chinese military defences: “I answer from a kind of penthouse room which forms one of the appendages of a … [?] House A row of hideous genii or deities - many of them with an … [?] countenance wh is intended to inspire terror occupies three sides of my dwelling - The fourth side is almost entirely open …”.
Or from Frances Burney, writing to Dr. Charles Burney:
I am called to a sweeter contemplation, - little Willy, whom you will love very much, is just arrived. I have been playing with him till I am breathless, & I have … [?] now made him over to M. D'A who, most opportunely, has lately treated himself with a wheelbarrow, - & upon this he has placed a certain blue coat lined with fur, made for a winter journey in keen cold, & a pillow at the head, & the little man is there seated, with an exulting delight that no future pleasure can ever succeed, if equal. M. D'Arblay is his coachman, & his little face is bright with joy, while his voice shouts its full contentment.
The following three themed sections profile some of the correspondents who are represented in the Manuscript Album.
