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A collection of papers relative to anonymous satirical epitaphs upon Peter Needham, D.D., fellow of St. John’s college, Cambridge, and upon Rawlinson, 1730 to 1734 and undated

 Item
MS. Rawl. D. 1191, fols. 62, 66-74, 75b, 77-8, 80-1, 83

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  1. (fol. 62) i. A printed pamphlet of four octavo leaves without title or imprint, containing a. a short Latin epitaph on "P.N."; b. Verses in Latin and English, on Damon and his rejection by Phyllis, beginning, "Distracted with care For Phyllis the fair"; c. Latin epitaph on Rawlinson. By Dr. Samuel Drake: see fol. 75b.
  2. (fols. 66-69) ii. and iii. Two copies of the Rawlinson epitaph and of an English translation in verse; and of an affidavit by Richard Reily, a printer, that they were not printed by him, or in his house, and disclaiming all knowledge of them. The epitaph in full is as follows:— "Conditur hic nondum mortuus qui nunquam vixit R. R. R., legum, qui legem nec novit nee colit, doctor, qui Bataviam, Galliam, Italiam visit, nec Batavia nec Gallia nec Italia visus. Si tumulum spectes, coelo vicinus; si animum, terra defossus. MDCCXXX". Printed, with Germania for Batavia and other minor differences, in Nichols’ Literary Anecdotes, v. 704.
  3. (fol. 70) iv. The English translation (beginning, "Embalm'd here lyes as 'twere with dirst") addressed, "For Marchant Tierman, in Moor Fields, London", and sent by post. On this leaf are subjoined the following notes to Rawlinson. "Sir, I am as positive that this is Mr. Blackbourne’s hand as I can be of any thing that I did not actually see penn’d. R. Gordoun. Sir, I attest the same. J. Bettenham." The paper is also endorsed with the name "Nichols".
  4. (fol. 71) v. Letter to Rawlinson as "Revd. Sir", from his "affectionate brother John Blackbourne", on a business matter, dated at Little Britain, 8 Aug. 1730. This was pinned to the preceding to show the similarity of writing, which, however, appears far too slight to warrant the positive assertions of Gordoun and Bettenham.
  5. (fol. 72) vi. Copy of the translation, headed, "A coppy of Merchant Tierman's letter, May 10", sent by post to Rawlinson, and endorsed by him, "Recd. May 11, 1733".
  6. (fol. 73) vii. Copy of the Latin text. Endorsed by Rawlinson, "14 Sept., 1733. This I recd. from William ... when in Mr. Hilliard’s parlour, which he said he had from Mr. Wells to give me. Witness my hand the day and year abovemention’d. R. R. N.B. He read the translation of this soon after in verse to several persons in the publick room. R. R."
  7. (fol. 74) viii. Note to Rawlinson as "R.R. doctor" which enclosed a copy of the epitaph "to be placed with your rarities" from Sam. Levinz, "layman"; 16 May, 1734.
  8. (fol. 75b) ix. Account, in Rawlinson's handwriting, of the authors of the epitaph; note, "1730, Jan. ... I recd. this from Mr. Gordon". "The epitaph on Dr. Needham, the version of the song, and the epitaph on Dr. R. were made by the Rev. Samuel Drake, D.D., fellow of St. John’s college in Cambridge, and rector of Treton, etc. in Yorkshire, and printed by the same, by the advice and direction of the Rev. Mr. Blackbourne and Mr. Richardson, a happy triumvirate, all met to abuse those to whom they had obligations. The first was very much assisted in his edition of Matthew Parker, as himself blushes not to confess in words, however his neglect and ingratitude speak contrary; the second had been servant to Dr. R., received wages from him, in many instances betrayd his trust, and is truly pourtrayd in Moliere’s Tartuffe; the last, of Irish extract, brought into the government of an hospital by him who for that act of ignorance begs pardon of God and his brethren as having deceived them before deceived himself, tho he has one merit, being the cause of a legacy to Bridewell".
  9. (fol. 76) x. Jocular pretended Roman inscription "Diis Manibus T[homae] R[awlinson]", commemorating the destruction by Richard Rawlinson, by the advice of Charles ..., of 1000 [or 2000 ? "CCICC"] books which T. Rawlinson would have wished should not have perished until the very end of the world. "Found about 100 years since in London House garden"; added in the handwriting of Robert Gordoun.
  10. (fol. 77) xi. Extract "from a letter from St. John's college, Cambridge [from T. Baker ?] to Dr. R. dated 2 Aug. 1733". "The epitaphs on Dr. N. and yourself I have seen, and guess at the author, on whom for many reasons I have looked coldly some time. The persons pointed at are rather the objects of his envy than pity, and that I take to be their case; no unhappy situation".
  11. (fol. 78) xii. "Remarks on the last epitaph"; being a vindication of himself by Rawlinson in reply to the satire.
  12. (fol. 80) xiii. Note from No. XXXV of the Spectator on the light in which libellers should be regarded by honest men.
  13. (fol. 81) xiv. Satirical Latin epitaph on S[amuel] D[rake], S.T.P.; sent to Rawlinson. Endorsed by Rawlinson, "12 Septemb. 1733, recd. by the Penny post". Marked, "Edward’s".
  14. (fol. 83) xv. English version of the preceding epitaph, written by another hand. Addressed to Rawlinson, and endorsed by him, "Recd. by the Penny post, 19 Sept. 1733".
  15. (fol. 85) xvi. Envelope that contained some of the above papers, addressed "To Mr. Locker, att Leathersellers Hall, Bishopsgate Street, London", and marked "Nichols".

These papers have been stitched up by Rawlinson in a portion (fols. 55, 92) of a conveyance from Deborah, John, and Richard Gipps, to Charles Hall and Thomas Sparke of a messuage in Micklegate, York, in the time of Charles II; and in fragments of five folio leaves (fols. 56–60, 87–91) of a commentary on heads of civil law, printed, in double columns, in the fifteenth century.

Dates

  • Creation: 1730 to 1734 and undated

Extent

1 item

Language of Materials

  • English
  • Latin

Shelfmark

MS. Rawl. D. 1191, fols. 62, 66-74, 75b, 77-8, 80-1, 83

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Repository Details

Repository Details

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