Group of seven autograph letters from John Hughes to Harriet Thayer, 1817 and Madame Thiebault (Thayer's married name), 1829-1833
Includes:
- (fols. 1-7) Three letters penned by Hughes in Spanish and English during his Continental tour in 1817 and addressed to his friend Harriet Thayer (1791-1860) at Buscot Park in Oxfordshire. Writing from (fols. 1-3) Barcelona Hughes discusses Don Quixote and provides a witty 'inventory of a day in Spain and its conveniences', highlighting uncomfortable conditions and the difficulties of dealing with mules and muleteers. He continues in a similar vein in letters from (fols. 4-5) Rome (15 June) and (fols. 6-7) Naples (11 Oct.).
- (fols. 8-15) Four letters to Madame Thiebault (Harriet Thayer’s married name) in France where she moved with her husband: (fols. 8-9) Pau (1 Feb. 1829) and (fols. 10-15) Boulogne-sur-Mer (6 Apr. 1832, 18 Apr. 1832 and 7 Mar. 1833). Hughes appears to have kept her informed of news and gossip concerning their mutual acquaintances ('our friend Sir Walter [Scott] announced to us some new tales, which will appear by frequent instalments').
Dates
- Creation: 1817, 1829-1833
Extent
15 Leaves
Language of Materials
- English
Preferred Citation
Oxford, Bodleian Libraries [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MS. Eng. c. 7963, fol. 1].
Shelfmark:
MS. Eng. c. 7963, fols. 1-15
Collection ID (for staff)
CMD ID 7510
Abstract
Group of seven autograph letters from John Hughes to Harriet Thayer, 1817 and Madame Thiebault (Thayer's married name), 1829-1833.
Biographical / Historical
Educated at Westminster School and Oriel College Oxford, John Hughes (1790-1857) was the son of Thomas Hughes DD, rector of Uffington and clerk of the closet to George III and George IV. John Hughes published some of his travel records in An itinerary of Provence and the Rhone, made during the year 1819; wrote for magazines under the name ‘Buller of Brasenose’; and produced an edition of The Boscobel tracts. He was the father of Thomas Hughes (1822-1896), author of Tom Brown’s school days. Further biographical details can be found in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from Samuel Gedge, 22 May 2013.
Topical
Subject
- Title
- Group of seven autograph letters from John Hughes to Harriet Thayer, 1817 and Madame Thiebault (Thayer's married name), 1829-1833
- Status
- Published
- Date
- EAD version 2019
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom
specialcollections.enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk