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Pinkerton, John, 1758-1826. John Pinkerton letters, 1775 Dec 14-1815 Jan 31.

Title: John Pinkerton letters, 1775 Dec 14-1815 Jan 31.

Manuscript, in multiple hands, of several hundred letters written mostly to, by, and about John Pinkerton, primarily related to his professional life as a historian and poet. Many of the letters concern his or his correspondent's research in Scottish history and their reactions to recently published works on antiquarian topics in the history of the British Isles as well as publications about Scottish literature, especially poetry and ballads, or requests to borrow or obtain copies of books or requests for copies of manuscripts in libraries. Many concern Pinkerton's efforts to publish his own works as well as works of others, including letters from Dodsley and John Nichols responding both positively and negatively to his requests to publish his Scottish ballads and other works, and provide insight into the world of publishing as well as literary societies and libraries in the 18th century. The correspondence contains references to the long relationship between France and Scotland and France as a continued resource for important manuscripts in resolving questions of early Scottish history. In a 23 July 1786 letter to Pinkerton, Samuel Knight discusses his reaction upon reading Horace Walpole's play Mysterious Mother; other letters discussing morality plays refer to a Walpole letter of October 18, 1786; a letter dated 25 August 1792 from Mary Berry expressing a desire that Pinkerton visit Lord Orford at Strawberry Hill. Other letters of note: an inventory of portrait paintings at Taymouth Castle (Scotland); a letter from Charles Vallancy which endeavors to interpret the names of ancient Pictish kings; another which narrates Vallancy's fruitless search for the Psalter of Cashell in the Trinity College library and Gailic duain. Many letters address Pinkerton's interest in geology and geography, including one about "Scots fossils" and others about mountains in South America. Numerous other letters acknowledge Pinkerton's gifts of his own works to them, including one from the Literary and Antiquarian Society of Perth upon receiving a donation of his own History of Scotland. The four volumes are accompanied by two indexes, originally from vol. 4, one alphabetical and one chronological, though some of the letters indexed here have since been removed.

ArchivalResource: 4 v. ; 27 cm.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/702184557 View

Houghton Library printed book provenance file, E-K.

Title: Houghton Library printed book provenance file, E-K.

Index to ownership/provenance information, primarily from printed books, held by Houghton Library.

ArchivalResource:

http://id.lib.harvard.edu/ead/hou01530/catalog View