Manuscript, primarily in one hand, of a collection of about 43 lighthearted poems, many making reference to places in Scotland as well as to Semiramis, her activities, and her pets, perhaps as a private joke. The first poem is a lighthearted piece titled The tournament, based on The Eglinton Tournament of 1839, a re-enactment of a medieval joust and revel held in Scotland. The poem is annotated with descriptions of each knight's armorial crest, accompanied by elaborately detailed watercolor illustrations of 7 of the crests, many with humorous icons. Other poems relating to Scotland include The dream, on Ness Castle; The fancy ball at Inverness; The autocrat of all the Highlands and her aide-de-camp; and Lines most carefully address'd to Mrs Campbell, Kilravock Castle, Nairn. Poems about Semiramis include The woman of two heads; The dragon; and Semiramiratyamachia, or the battle of Semiramis and the rats. Other poems include Lollipoppiana; The lament of the golden stick; On a gold pheasant, which died of dropsy; and To Jos, an occasional poem to a little girl. Many of the poem titles are written in red or blue ink, and all the poems are signed G. F. C. In addition to the watercolor crests, many of the poems in the manuscript are illustrated with numerous watercolor drawings, most of which have been varnished, and some of which have been touched with gilt. These 24 drawings include peacocks; the gold pheasant; the little girl Jos; a dragon; 5 pet dogs; and many others.
