Manuscript volume of poetry including 'Needwood Forest' by Francis Mundy of Markeaton, Derbyshire, 1776-1797

The collection consists of a volume of about 100 pages containing manuscript poems, entitled 'Needwood Forest by F.N.C. Mundy Esqr With other Poems by different Authors'.

Mundy's 'Needwood Forest' occupies about a third of the volume (37 ff), and is glossed on the facing pages. It is followed by other poems and copy epigrams:

'Address to Swilear Oak' described in Mr Mundy's poem on Needwood Forest, by E. Darwin.

'A Rural Coronation', inscribed to Mr Mundy on reading his poem on Needwood Forest, by A. Seward.

'Sonnet' by B. Boothby.

'On Mr Mundy's poem on Needwood Forest' by E. Darwin junior.

Transcription of part of a postscript to a letter from Mr Greg to Mr Nicholls written 19 Nov. 1764, describing a sunrise.

'A Charm for Ennui: a matrimonial song', by William Hayley Esq.

'A Matrimonial Ballad', anonymous

An epitaph on Frances Kent in Eartham Churchyard, died 28 Oct. 1777.

An epitaph on William Bryant, clerk of the parish of Eartham, and Ann his wife, 1779.

'Verses to Mr Wright' by Miss Seward, on receiving an excellent picture of her Father painted by him, Nov. 1781.

An epitaph on Dr William Clarke and Mrs Clarke, by William Hayley Esq.

An epitaph in a churchyard at Edinburgh, anonymous.

'William and Margaret', by David Mallet Esq.

'The Passions: an Ode for Music', by Mr William Collins.

Five poems all entitled 'Song', by William Hayley Esq.

'A Card of Invitation to Mr Gibbon at Brighthelmstone, 1781' by William Hayley Esq.

'A Receipt to make a Tragedy' by William Hayley Esq.

'Content', written at the request of a Lady, for the Vase at Batheaston, 1781, by William Hayley Esq.

'Riddle', anonymous.

Epitaph for the wife of the Rev. _ , in Kniveton church yard.

An epitaph on Dr Aug. Caesar as it is written in the Cathedral Church at Rochester (translation from theLatin).

Epitaph on Lawrence Brown Esq. by William Mason M.A.

Epitaph designed for Mr Mason's monument in Westminster Abbey.

Inscription for a column at Truxillo, the birthplace of Pizarro, [copied from] p. 225 of 'Letters written during a short residcence in Spain and Portugal', by Robert Southey, 1797.

[In a different hand:]

Epigram by Dr Chorley.

It is possible that the contents of the volume were transcribed by one person from other sources, over a period of time.

The identity of the compiler of this volume is unknown, but it is likely to be somebody connected with the Lichfield poetical circle of the late eighteenth century.

Francis Noel Clarke Mundy (1739-1815) of Markeaton near Derby, was a judge and chairman of the Quarter Sessions at Derby. He was also a poet. 'Needwood Forest' was first published in 1776 by John Jackson of Lichfield. The Botanical Society at Lichfield included as its members Dr Erasmus Darwin (1731-1802), Sir Brooke Boothby, baronet (1744-1824), and Anna Seward (1742-1809), all of whom published poetry, and some of whose works are represented in this volume. Connected with this group was William Hayley, poet (1745-1820), who for many years lived in Eartham, Sussex, and the artist Joseph Wright of Derby.

No archival arrangement has been necessary

Accessible to all registered readers.

This description is the only finding aid available for the collection. Copyright on the description belongs to the University of Nottingham.

Good

Reprographic copies can be supplied for educational use and private study purposes only, depending on access status and the condition of the documents.

Identification of copyright holders of unpublished material is often difficult. Permission to make any published use of any material from the collection must be sought in advance in writing from the Keeper of Manuscripts and Special Collections (email mss-library@nottingham.ac.uk).

The collection was acquired by the library of University College Nottingham in 1944.